Today we’d like to introduce you to Kinyatta E. Gray.
Hi Kinyatta, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
It’s a funny story! I was taking a trip to a tropical destination three years ago, and that particular year I was very meticulous about what I wanted to wear and what kind of beach towel I wanted to take with me. I wanted a glamorous beach towel with an illustration of a stylish, fashionable, and sophisticated woman of color in a swimsuit on it. So, I began searching on the internet to look for beach towels fitting that description, and I could not find what I was looking for.
Typically, you won’t see illustrations of people on beach towels, and illustrations of black women on beach towels were even rarer. That’s when the idea formed in my mind… and I embarked on a mission to create exclusive beach towels with illustrations of black women (in bold-colored swimsuits at the beach) in light of discovering the lack of diversity in beach towels products in the travel space. The FlightsInStilettos Glam Girl Beach Towels were born! Each beach towel design has a story behind it. For example, the Author Bae Beach Towel illustration was inspired by my authorship journey.
I’m a published author of five books with recurring LGBTQ themes, the most popular title is “Passing As Straight.” In addition, in 2022, I launched the Stylish Writing Center, a collection of over 20 inclusive and unique guided journals and diaries that I wrote, designed, and published. My authorship journey and subsequent launch of the Stylish Writing Center were inspired by my desire to honor my mom’s legacy as a noted author and playwright.
Last, but not least — In 2022, I launched the Noire LGBTQ Business Directory which aims to help consumers locate, shop and support LGBTQ-owned and LGTBQ-friendly businesses worldwide. You can learn more about it here: https://www.noirelgbtq.com/.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it has not been a smooth road. It’s challenging convincing people to buy into your idea and win them over as customers. Face it – people are pretty comfortable and used to arriving at resorts and getting a beach towel from the pool boy! As a travel influencer, my job has been sharing the joys of traveling with your own unique black-woman-affirming beach towel! I am in the business of designing beach towels that make a statement, and it’s something that the world is catching on to, one beach towel design at a time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
FlightsIn Stilettos I design luxurious microfiber beach towels with black-woman affirming illustrations. Typically beach towels do not have illustrations of people; however, as a creative, I sought to change that by adding illustrations of women of all shades on large, soft luxurious beach towels.
Stylish Writing Center
I use that same logic to design luxurious hardcover journals/writing notepads. Our blank journals are exquisite, with original illustrations of high fashion and sophisticated women depicted at glamorous travel destinations.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Wow!! This is huge!! I was invited to be a part of the cast for a brand new reality show called I Am The Entrepreneurs Social Connect, which airs this fall. I was discovered on Instagram by the producers following my Instagram account @flightsinstilettos. That’s all I can share! Look out for the show this season on the blkgtvnetwork!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://flightsinstilettos.com/, https://www.noirelgbtq.com/
- Instagram: @flightsinstilettos, @noire_lesbian_life
- Twitter: @fstilettos, @noirelgbtq
Image Credits
Ksenia Pro Photography
