“ There was rich history and culture behind each textile I thrifted or repurposed”
I remember being in the sixth grade when my school had our annual book fair. At this point in life I really wanted to be a designer, not sure of which discipline at this time, but I just knew that I needed to design and create. At this book fair, they had a fashion design sketchbook that had the blank models to sketch over, a background scenery for each model, and stencils for the clothing and accessories. I was obsessed but it was $20. So I presented to my mom a well thought out mission statement and purpose as to why she should get me this book that will change the course of my life. Long story short, I got the sketchbook and I filled every single page to the point where I started adding more pages.
As I was pursuing my passion for fashion in high school I didn’t have the funds to go to the craft store and buy new fabrics all the time so I learned to be resourceful and thrift fabrics. As my passion for fashion faded off as I pursued my interior design career, I still had a strong connection to fabrics and textiles and the story that they tell. There was rich history and culture behind each textile I thrifted or repurposed. In 2022 I saw this pretty shade of mauve yarn at the dollar store and I bought it thinking “there is a story that this yarn wants to tell”. Since then I was introduced to my love for fiber arts. Kika is founded on the principles of expression, creativity and resourcefulness. My one of a kind pieces strive to tell a story of culture and identity through the complexity of pattern.