Meet DaJa Cooksey of AJAD in West-End

Today we’d like to introduce you to DaJa Cooksey.

DaJa, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, from the beginning, my name is Da’Ja Cooksey, but everyone had pretty much begun calling me Daj. I am from Camden, New Jersey, which is a small city about a mile out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and my mom moved me to Atlanta, specifically the Southside (Clayton County) for a “better life.” I think it was the best decision she ever made for me. I definitely didn’t feel like that at the time.

I have always been EXTREMELY artsy and talented and literally from about age eight, I’d been drawing sketches and saying I wanted to be a designer. I took a fw bumps to finally come here, though. I have a severe entrepreneurial spirit and I’d started successfully at least three business by the time I was 18. I was attempting to find something I was “bad” at because I’d been told over and over that I had to pick ONE thing to do. (which I know now is not necessarily true). I helped my mom begin a non-profit dance team — Platinum Jewels Dance — where I literally did the choreography and ALL costumes/gym wear by myself with my sewing machine and hot glue gun (and paint, rhinestones all that extra stuff), but I literally loved seeing them in my creations.

Then, I moved on to another business which was makeup artistry. I’d fallen in love with painting faces in high school at Lovejoy High School (Hampton, GA where I graduated 2017), But somewhere in my freshmen year of college at Clark Atlanta University, I fell out of love and fell out hard. Which I then moved into HAIR and started a hairline, which I named after my late aunt Tierra Pressley who was shot and killed by being using as a shield the night of my 8th birthday. She was the glue that really held my dad side together and its torn my family apart, yet brought them closer at the same time.

My hairline fell apart, as quick as it started because I’m such a perfectionist that I hated everything, and really didn’t have the money to make it the way that I needed. But I was ignoring what Clark Atlanta was forcing on me (unintentionally, and intentionally). I loved to look good. I love the accessories. I love clothes and different styles. Clark Atlanta is one of the schools in the AUC and it’s KNOWN for being the best-dressed school as a whole. When you step out, you step of ready. We don’t have “Well Dressed Wednesday” and “Fleek Friday” for nothing.

I am a radio personality and professional model, so I always worry about how I look because people are always looking and I don’t mind it. I take a lot of photos, so its good to be ready! My junior year (last/this year) corona (COVID-19) came and shut down all of my plans and my mom actually had to move back to jersey for my grandparent’s health, while I still live in Atlanta, and I was getting so overseeing everyone else brand come to life that I literally said I’m just gonna do it. After I got sent back, I started saving my little work-study checks and handling the things I needed to, to start. I realized that I need to work back on my social media presence and media period so I can tap into my network for help with a little support and promo and then I planned to get started. I didn’t want to get stuck in planning because I’ve done that so many times before. So I just jumped out on faith, and God is still holding me!

I knew I wanted to start with swim because I hadn’t seen many people selling swim. However, I knew I wasn’t going to end with a swim. Back in Camden (I go back and forth about every month now), I see my city is really supporting the black businesses right now, and I saw a couple of people have clothing lines. Beforehand I felt like I hadn’t got support home, only in Atlanta (which is definitely now home too, especially after eight years lol).

I came up with AJAD, which is honestly just my name backwards, but I love the way it rolls off your tongue, it sounds high-end, sounds like fashion, and sound like a big brand — at least tome. I didn’t want it to be “boutique” style, really going for the “basic” style layouts. For some reason, I feel like it seems more professional for this brand (my next brand may be more relaxed lol. I’ve been re-teaching my self how to sew sewing up literally anything I can, so I can begin to add more things to my brand of t-shirts (that I graphically design and print and cut and transfer) and swimwear. My knowledge of graphic design, which is a small business/hustle of mine (@dajdigitalimages), helps me creatively a lot as an influencer it’s easy to see different brands and knows that you don’t like them for whatever reasons. I try to tap into all of those reasons I don’t like something and be the opposite.

AJAD has grown so much over the last few weeks and I know it’s only going to get bigger. It’s also making me happy and I haven’t gotten “bored” I always want to learn more!

Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, but anything worth having isn’t gonna come easy. You have to get through the bad to get TO the good sometimes. I moved a lot in high school due to a single mom that does everything she can for me! Which somewhat left and imprint of relationships that I’ve built, but I will say in college I’ve made up for those relationships, but money has continued to pop up in my life as a problem that I’m determined to fix.

I didn’t participate in a lot of things because of e attempting to save but now I’m able to save the money that I’ve been making from AJAD, put it in the business again (and savings) and “flip it”. Support was another struggle initially, I felt like I would have any support because of me going from Atl to NJ (and back) so much and people would really “know” me. However, the more I pushed my brand, the more people came around. I just had to keep pushing!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
AJAD is a luxury streetwear fashion line. It has everything from swimwear to handmade, custom and painted designs. Established in 2020, AJAD will grow into a fashion powerhouse, that provides quality, and affordable looks for all.” is normally how I summarize AJAD, but in detail, AJAD is made with love, sweat and tears! It is a brand that continues to strive for creativity and professionalism and GROWTH. It provides honest feedback, it provides women the chance to feel beautiful and sexy in their swim and it also caters to children!

Right now its know for swim and t-shirts. I create templates for the t-shirts and cut/transfer them. What sets me apart is definitely the PROFESSIONALISM, the creativity, the price and the work I put into the company. I remain honest and professional at all times with communication and products. AJAD is a brand, everything is packaged and bagged nicely and communication is clear and respectful. I create things that I sell and even alter the swimsuits that I sell as well so that most of the product (if not all) is “custom” and no easily found anywhere else. I feel like it is important to be creative and introduce new things, which I do often. THE PRICE, I always offer special sales and deals and nothing on my website is over $30.00 (at least not yet lol) I know that I’m just beginning so the quality and company (which is already great now) – can only grow. I just wanted to be somewhat affordable, to begin with and still have room for promotions! And it also has to do with what exactly is for sale as well (price).

THE WORK, I put so much into this company, it’s definitely my baby all the way. I don’t have much help just doing a lot of research on my own. I’m a business consultant at times for people, so I pretty much know how this goes, but everyone needs help sometimes and I’m not afraid to ask. I stay up all night teaching myself new things, trying to find better products to establish my brand more, etc. Everything is sent with a handwritten card saying thank you and more! I really take my time with the way the company is presented and handled.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I feel like its a GREAT place for a business like mine. Atlanta is home to people who want to look good for a living, it’s home to people who HAVE to look good for a living. Being apart of an environment that has a demand for my product is essential. If someone was just starting out, I recommend starting WHERE YOU ARE. Start with the people that can support you first without all the crazy promotion. Start where you live, where you’ve built connections and relationships with people and other companies that can “put you on” and essentially establish you simply out of the kindness of their hearts. If you already lived in Atlanta and want to start there, then so be it, but I personally think it’ll be a little harder to force yourself on a city that doesn’t know you when the city is really big on and based on “who you know.”

To improve that last point, I just think that we need to be a little more opening, there are many people moving to Atlanta and they are bringing their businesses with them, we have to be willing to try new things!

Pricing:

• Custom T-Shirts are $20/$25 Double Sided
• Swim is $25-$30
• Logo/AJAD Branded Swim is $30
• Kids Swim is $15
• 6 Ft Please Shirts are $15
• Juneteenth Shirts are $19
• All other Shirts are $20

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopajad.com
• Email: shopajad@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/shopAJAD
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopAJAD

Image Credit:
Darius Rhodes, @DRhodesPhotos

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