Today we’d like to introduce you to Khadijah Sholarin.
Hi Khadijah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Sholarin , and I am the founder, owner, and lead designer of Sholarin Co. Long before I understood what a brand was, fashion was already speaking to me. I began designing around the age of eight, sketching silhouettes and imagining garments while watching commercials from early 2000s fashion powerhouses like FUBU, Rocawear, and Baby Phat. By the time I was 12, I was sewing my own clothes. Those brands—especially Baby Phat—shaped not only my aesthetic but my belief that fashion could be bold, expressive, and rooted in identity. From an early age, creating felt instinctual, not aspirational.
I officially launched Sholarin Co in 2017, building my following organically on Twitter by upcycling thrifted garments and documenting my process in real time. I had no investors, no formal structure—just consistency, creativity, and intuition. Through Twitter threads, long before they became a mainstream marketing tool, I taught myself how to tell a story digitally and connect directly with an audience. In 2018, a pair of lace-up flare pants I designed went viral after being shared by a popular blog, generating tens of thousands of impressions. Shortly after, the design was replicated by a fast-fashion brand. At the time, it was painful—but it was also validating. It showed me that my ideas carried weight and that my vision was worth protecting.
My first ten orders were handwritten in a composition notebook on the floor of my childhood bedroom at my mom’s house. I collected payments through Cash App and carefully wrote down names and addresses by hand. That moment—small, messy, and deeply personal—was when I knew I had struck gold. As the brand grew, I struggled to find my niche, not realizing that creating what I loved would resonate far more than chasing trends. Still, experimentation led to another breakthrough when a silk pajama set went viral, reaching millions of impressions and expanding my audience even further. Behind every viral moment was relentless posting, tunnel-vision focus, and an unwavering drive fueled by my desire for independence and creative freedom.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, Sholarin Co experienced explosive growth. Within one week, I went viral across multiple platforms, receiving hundreds of orders in just days. As a one-woman operation, the demand quickly surpassed what I could realistically fulfill alone. While I eventually completed the orders, the emotional toll was heavy. The pressure, public expectations, and broken trust during that period led me to step back. What followed was a time marked by personal trauma, reflection, and distance from the brand I had poured everything into. For a while, I truly believed I was finished.
Today, after relocating from Atlanta to Miami and reclaiming my creative footing, I am preparing to reopen Sholarin Co with intention, clarity, and boundaries. The brand will relaunch in March 2026 with a Made in Miami swimwear collection, marking not just a return, but a rebirth. This next chapter is rooted in craftsmanship, lived experience, and hard-earned wisdom. Sholarin Co now stands as a testament to resilience—proof that when fashion is built from truth, patience, and self-trust, it always finds its way back.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey, however, has not been without its obstacles. I have been entirely self-funded from the beginning, navigating the demands of entrepreneurship while simultaneously healing wounds from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Building a brand while managing mental health challenges required me to show up even on days when survival alone felt like work. I did much of this alone, with little to no support from family and minimal help from people I once believed were friends. That isolation created a constant sense of vigilance—never fully knowing who was genuinely rooting for me and who was simply standing nearby, waiting for the moment my success became visible. Learning to protect my energy became just as important as protecting my designs.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
When people ask me what I do, it’s never an easy question to answer. I describe myself as a designer for the luxurious risk-taker. My work is for women and men who value quality and understand that true quality comes at a cost—but who are also bold enough to stand apart. My audience is drawn to pieces that command attention without asking for permission. They are the kind of people who walk into a room and immediately spark curiosity—Who is that? Where did they get that? Their presence alone shifts the energy. That is who I design for.
As for what I specialize in, I resist the idea of being boxed in. My creativity is fluid, instinctive, and expansive. I design across categories—carnival wear, wire bras, prom looks, everyday athleisure, birthday pieces, swimwear, and exotic dancewear. I don’t limit myself to one lane because my ability to create isn’t singular. I am capable of building worlds through garments, and each collection or piece serves a different expression of confidence, sensuality, and power.
What I am most proud of, however, is my work ethic under pressure. Every fashion show I have produced—from 2018 through my most recent in 2024—has been created just two to three days before the event. Those who have worked alongside me know the intensity of that process. It requires precision, stamina, trust in instinct, and an unwavering belief in my ability to execute. The clock has never intimidated me—it sharpens me.
What truly sets me apart is my ability to pivot through adversity. I move quickly, decisively, and creatively when faced with limitations. Whether it’s time, resources, or unexpected challenges, I adapt without compromising vision. That agility—paired with craftsmanship—is the foundation of my work. It’s not just about what I create, but how I create it, even when the odds are stacked.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
One thing that often surprises people who know my work is that I’m not particularly strong at sketching. In fact, I often skip the sketching process entirely. Translating ideas from my mind onto paper has always felt more challenging than bringing them directly to life. My process moves instinctively—from concept straight to pattern drafting and construction. I go from what’s in my head to the garment itself. Even I sometimes laugh at how unconventional it sounds, but it’s simply how I work. The fabric becomes my sketchbook, and the finished piece is where the idea finally speaks.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sholarinco__
- LinkedIn: Khadijah Sade
- Twitter: @sosowhosews
- Youtube: @sosowhosews
Image Credits
Photographers: @kyssproductions @kanarielens
Models: @therealrednicole (red hearts) @_onmypretty (pink guns) @thedaniellemonae (silver swirls) @sededraaa (dragonfly) @cocaaachanel (red swirls) @_ahciaa (black triangles) @kristiking_ (sky blue)
