Today we’d like to introduce you to Keyara A’nya.
Hi Keyara, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
As a young art kid born and raised in Baltimore, MD, I have always had a deep love for creativity and fashion. To be honest, it’s something that has come naturally to me, and over time I’ve recognized it as a true gift. At the age of 12, I was given a vintage sewing machine by my grandfather, which had originally belonged to his father. From that point, I spent endless nights watching YouTube videos in hopes to learn how to sew. After a few persistent months, I was able to teach myself the basics and started doing small creative projects. I later enrolled in a few sewing classes to advance my skills, and by 13, I found myself designing my first collection for a runway show. From that moment on, I knew I was destined for a future in fashion. Designing wasn’t just something I loved; it was my passion. I recently graduated from SCAD in June of 2025 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. There, I was able to further develop as a designer and lean into my streetstyle identity. SCAD gave me many opportunities to connect with many different people and brands that increased my industry knowledge.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I will say no road is ever truly smooth; we all experience our ups and downs in everything we do. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to find who I really was as an artist and if the work I created was actually any good. I know many people can relate to the idea of imposter syndrome, and unfortunately, I have fallen victim to it as well. I spent a lot of time constantly critiquing and doubting myself. I never felt truly 100% confident in my work, but honestly, that relates to how I overthink in my own personal life. As I’ve grown as a more confident person, I’ve been able to truly believe in myself as a designer, and you can even see it in my work.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My goal is to always create with purpose, I love to focus on the construction and function of my pieces, putting the needs of my audience at the forefront and developing quality pieces. Minimalism is often seen as boring or bland so to make more of a statement I strive to find ways to elevate my designs through texture, manipulation, and embellishment. The pieces I create are meant for universal in styling, whether you want to dress it up or down, the options so be endless. I don’t create pieces that you can only wear once and never again, but instead pieces that can worn with any everyday look.
My goal is to always create with purpose. I love to focus on the construction and function of my pieces, putting the needs of my audience at the forefront and developing quality pieces. Minimalism is often seen as boring or bland, so to make more of a statement, I strive to find ways to elevate my designs through texture, manipulation, and embellishment. The pieces I create are meant to be universal in styling, whether you want to dress them up or down; the options are endless. I don’t create pieces that you can only wear once and never again, but instead pieces that can be worn with any everyday look. My brand focuses on elevated streetwear clothing and accessories with minimalistic styling. I specialize in all things from alterations to custom pieces, and coming soon, I will be releasing an accessory collection, primarily focusing on bags. As someone who never goes anywhere without my bag, I knew my first product line had to be something you’ll always find with me. My brand is all about relating to the consumer, and no better way than to use my own and those closest to me as inspiration. I believe what sets me apart from others is my determination. When I set my mind to a goal, I put my all into it and will not stop until my vision is brought to life.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters to me most is, of course, family; honestly, nothing in my life would be possible if not for their endless support, undeniable love, and constant pushes of motivation. My family believed in my goals, and I absolutely give all thanks to them for getting me to where I am today. I would also say mental health is really important to me; everything I do must make me feel good and bring joy to my life. I feel as though if you aren’t truly happy in what you’re doing, you will never succeed to your fullest potential. That being said, I take a lot of time to take care of myself and my own mental health, so when I step into my profession, I am putting my best self forward. You will see examples of this in my work, specifically my senior collection, which focuses on overthinkers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keyaraanya.wixsite.com/portfolio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/5.15thebrand
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keyara-dunlap
Image Credits
Jordyn Simmons (@jiggs.pics)
Cameron Smith (@camxyou)
Zion McCray (@okayzip)
