Meet Trailblazer Shauna Carr

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shauna Carr.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Shauna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I ‘ve always had a passion for fashion since I was a little girl. I taught myself how to craft and watched my mom sew. I went to Fashion Industries High School in NYC and had my first internship at age 15 at a fashion studio in Manhattan. I was so serious about fashion and my education, I wanted to try my best and make some sort of impact on my community. I can’t believe that by age 17, I had a few paid internships in the industry, was on student government, took a college class at Hunter College and AP courses and volunteered with various organizations.

I attended Syracuse University and concentrated in Costume Design and Fashion Design. I first started blogging for MTVU for their Spring Break in Panama City. I already loved reading, writing and had several advanced ELA classes but never thought I would be a writer, I really thought I was going to be a designer.

I had graduated from college and became a wardrobe technician working for off-broadway theaters or assisting designers. I had to hustle in NYC and had various clients such as Toys’R’Us and FAO toy store, The Julliard School along with being a bridal seamstress.

I started blogging in 2012, I quit my job as a seamstress as was freelancing and raising my son. We would go to auditions and photoshoots and I kept seeing the same moms at these places. I also noticed there was no online content that featured kids of color.

I was so happy to be a mom and dress my kid in the flyest clothing and I thought why isn’t anyone blogging about Kids Fashion? Where are all the kids with swag who wear independent brands?

That’s how Fresh Kid Nation was born, It took 2 days to think of a catchy name and I drew out a logo and had my sister design the Afro Kid logo with gender neutral colors (see I was way ahead of everyone)

I asked to attend kids events, birthday parties and kids fashion shows. I reached out to new designers for interviews. I went to trade shows in NYC and asked my friend to attend Atlanta’s Apparel market. Sherika Anglin was my first mommy blogger! There was such a great kids fashion industry also happening in Atlanta and London England!

By 2015, I lost my domain name, due to my own negligence. I forgot to renew, I was in Graduate School, working full time, and someone bought it and tried to charge me 1000$.

I simply waited and was able to get it back in 2016, then I took blogging more seriously. I wanted to have more mommy bloggers in NYC, Atlanta and added London, Miami, and LA in 2017. Last year I hosted two kids events. This year the Behind The Seams event went to Miami and London. Next year 2020, we are going to Atlanta with our Behind The Seams event that features designers, and networking. I’m excited to start launching an e -store as well, so proceeds can support running the site and keep events affordable.

Today, Fresh Kid Nation covers events in NYC, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, and LA. I have about 10 bloggers in these areas and adding a few more kid bloggers. Fresh Kid Nation hosts the only kid’s fashion networking event in these cities. Fans can rock our accessories or apparel. Kids can participate in photoshoots that we host to collaborate with.

Has it been a smooth road?
Running a blog is intense. You don’t make money off of it, people are constantly borrowing contents, asking for favors or merchandise. As the blog has grown a following, I have to rely on the kindness of my team! My family, my son MJ and husband often accompany me to events, speaking engagements and run our pop up shop while I’m at an event taking photos. I’ve spent thousands over the years on equipment, events and reimbursing my bloggers when I can for travel.

Our Miami event sold 3 tickets, 3!! I ended up giving away so many tickets, and we had a fly intimate event. I was so devastated that it wasn’t a sold-out event like the two previous ones. I did get great feedback on how to promote and it didn’t deter me from continuing with an NYC event and London event a few weeks later.

I’ve met so many awesome friends from social media. I don’t know how I could even run this blog with out my Mommy Bloggers and Kid Bloggers! Real queens fix each other’s crowns and support for real! There have been other moms who will ask me to speak at their events or send my son on a casting call. I’ve had designers send gift bags and apparel to show their gratitude. At the end of the day, Fresh Kid Nation is a niche blog, kids fashion and a majority of people want to see kids succeed.

If you want to blog, you need to have a website, Instagram and twitter to be taken seriously! Fresh Kid Nation has been around so long because I simply started with a website and then added the rest of my social media pages. Most bloggers with out a website last 2-4 years when they realize how much work it is. I’ve been able to make legit industry contacts because I consistently create well-written articles.

We’d love to hear more about Fresh Kid Nation.
Fresh Kid Nation was created in 2013 to celebrate the unique fashion style of cool kids from all over the world of various backgrounds and abilities. This blog is for young people and their families who want to see themselves represented in fashion and entertainment.

By 2020, Fresh Kid Nation strives to feature new children’s collections, interview young entrepreneurs and children’s charities. Also, cover children’s trade shows around the globe, provide behind the scenes footage of family events and to host informational events for families on how to navigate the industry in Atlanta, Miami, New York, and London

I’m most proud of our Street Style Photo Shoots! We have captured kids from London, Atlanta, NJ, Philadelphia, Chicago, North Carolina, etc. I’m hoping to bring the shoot to Atlanta and LA next year. Kids get an opportunity to model and build their portfolio. I don’t charge for these shoots (unless its a fundraiser) I often collab with designers who send clothing items for the models. I’ve worked with established models and kids with no experience. I cast kids from all backgrounds, sizes, and abilities. What sets FKN apart from other kids blogs is that we feature so many unique kids and we have an actual event that informs parents.

Our events are self-funded, That means they generate enough funds to cover the venue costs and gifts for attendees.

I try to capture their inner beauty and joy!

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I strongly believe that my parents instilled the entrepreneur spirit in me. My mom always had a side hustle, doing hair or crafting gift baskets. While she stayed at home with me and my sisters, my dad was a full-time truck driver and DJ. He would work on the weekends and our house was full of records and equipment.

They didn’t do their side hustles as legit businesses but I was always intrigued. I knew I would run my own business one day. Now, at age 35, I co-own a tutoring company and run Fresh Kid Nation. Of course, I have a full-time job, because rent in NYC is crazy!

Pricing:

• Behind The Seams Tickets 10$-15$

Contact Info:

• Website: www.freshkidnation.com
• Email: freshkidnation@gmail.com
• Instagram: @freshkidnation
• Facebook: freshkidnationstyleblog
• Twitter: freshkidnation

Fresh Kid Nation

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