Our last story of 2025 features two musical artists and creatives from the Big Apple: Khmeii from Brooklyn and Siobhan from Queens. They welcomed me into their artsy world with open arms, giving me front-row seats to their musical talents. With Khmeii discovering her love for songwriting in second grade and Siobhan studying at LaGuardia High School, music has always been in their veins. I met them in May, and they showed me some of their favorite parts of NYC. Their energy, talent, and genuine love for their craft made the experience unforgettable. Naturally, our conversation flowed into a deeper dialogue about who they are and what drives their sound. Thank you both for finishing off the year as our Creators of the Month. Sunni Society is grateful to share both of your artistic journeys. Let's start with the latest, "Breathe Me." How did the two of you join forces to create such a hit? Khmeii:  “I started writing Breathe Me  back in 2021 and completely forgot about it until two years later, when my DJ and great friend @Adrianisntadub shared this sexy, dreamy, island-y dance track with me. I immediately started scrambling for ideas to lay down. I went back into my vault, found the song, and paired my lyrics with Adrian’s beat, and it was magic. All I needed was a bomb feature—which I never really do. Siobhan has been one of my good friends since high school, and I have always admired her talent. I asked her to join me on the track in March of 2024, and the rest was history! I couldn’t have asked for a better person to share the record with.” Siobhan: “It was quite simple, honestly. Khmeii and I have been friends since sophomore year of high school. When she reached out with the proposal of collaborating on Breathe Me,  it was a no-brainer for me. I was actually so honored she would think of me, considering that I had yet to make my debut as an artist. Nonetheless, she believed in me and my ability, and from there it’s history, really. I wrote my verse and sent it to her, and from there we started planning and taking the steps to make Breathe Me  what you have today.” Earlier this year, I sat in on one of your studio sessions, which I appreciated. As artists, how important is it for you both to keep that process sacred? Khmeii: “I am very private and particular when it comes to my craft. I think every artist has their own method of operation. For me, I prefer keeping the number of people in my creative bubble to a minimum. Too many energies in the room may throw me off—I also get very shy. Art is vulnerable, especially when you are passionate about it. My creation involves a lot of safe and familiar thinking space. I don’t let just anybody in the room. Keeping my process to myself is very important.” Adrian, Khmeii, Siobhan - May 17th, 2025 Siobhan: “For me personally, I think it’s quite important to keep things sacred, especially in the beginning stages of creating. Of course, I love to involve those that I’m close to throughout the process, but for the most part, I want to save it for myself and whoever is actively involved in the creation of the song until it’s ready to be shared. Making art is oftentimes intimate and vulnerable, so I like to keep it close until it’s ready to be shared with the world.” Now Mei, I'm not too unfamiliar with your journey as an artist. I've seen some of your story through the lens of bkshotyou, but I will say your single "Ooooo!" really drew me in! It was fun, flirty, and fierce. My little cousins thoroughly enjoyed it as well. When did your musical career start, and how did you bring Siobhan along for the ride?   Khmeii: “My career started in 2020 during the COVID quarantine! I discovered that I could record and release my own music from my phone. From there, I began to evolve. Siobhan and I met at the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art in NYC as vocal majors in 2016/2017. We have sung in a few choirs and ensembles together. Aside from being peers, she is also my really good friend. We would always talk about her songwriting and wanting to put music out. When I finally got the lightbulb to ask her to feature on the record, it felt like destiny.” Siobhan, you reintroduced yourself as a triple threat—singer, songwriter, and creative. How does it feel to step into the power that your spirit has been longing for? What did this collab with Khmeii awaken in you? Siobhan: “To be honest, it feels amazing! This has quite literally been years in the making. I’ve been wanting to take this step for so long, but it never felt like the right time. There was always some aspect of life getting in the way that prevented me from fully committing. But you come to realize that there never is a ‘right time.’ The right time is right now, and that’s what I think this collaboration taught me. There were times I was overwhelmed or questioned my capability to be a part of this. There were several moments I felt unsure of myself, and that’s okay! Feelings aren’t facts, even when it feels like they are. It was seeing this project through despite these feelings of doubt that truly allowed me to step into my power as an artist. I really can’t thank Khemii enough for this opportunity. She has been such a guiding presence throughout this entire process. When you choose to pursue this career, you’re expected to figure things out on your own. I was lucky enough to have someone who has been doing this for some years to turn to while navigating the process. Releasing Breathe Me  has really awakened a confidence in me and lit a fire under my ass. I’m eager to see what’s next!” Siobhan on set for Breath Me As you step into this new chapter as a triple threat, what’s the next goal you want to accomplish, and what do you hope to explore musically? Siobhan: “I definitely want to release my debut solo single. I think that will really put a stamp on my official debut as an artist. People know me as a feature on Breathe Me , but they have yet to know me as a solo artist. I’ll be the first to say that Breathe Me  was out of my comfort zone as an artist. It was a welcome challenge and one that I had so much fun taking on, but it was very different from the type of music I naturally gravitate towards making. And who else would know that besides me? Releasing my first solo song will allow me to introduce myself as a stand-alone artist and familiarize people with my sound. In terms of what I want to explore musically, the sky is the limit for me. I think the beautiful part of starting a journey like this is that, to some extent, you’re really figuring things out as you go. I don’t have everything planned out, and my artistic vision/direction isn’t a solidified thing—but I can figure that out along the way. As I continue to release, I’ll learn more about myself as an artist, and it will shape how I continue to approach creating. What I do know is that I want to try as much as I can. I have genres that I feel at home in, like alternative R&B, for example, but I also want to try genres like house, alternative jazz, or bossa nova. I don’t want to limit myself; I want to explore my creativity to the fullest extent.” You’re both making your mark in New York and recently hosted “Had 2 B There.” How was the turnout, and how important is it to create third spaces as they continue to decline? Khmeii: “ Had 2 B There  has been super success! I started the series out of FOMO last summer, and now I think it’s safe to say that it’s stamped. The turnouts have been great and will only continue to pack out, but what I enjoy most is the vibe that has been curated for these events. It’s super important to create spaces that encourage fun and community. Khmeii & Adrian @ Had 2 B There Photgraphy: @bkshotyou I throw parties and host with the intention of everyone having a great time. I don’t think enough people put effort into their events to assure guest satisfaction. There is a lot going on in the world, and people need genuine human connection. I do my best to show my guests that their host is a real person with real feelings and is grateful for everyone who pops out and shows love.” Photography: @bkshotyou Siobhan: “ Had 2 B There  was so much fun as always, and it was so exciting to be there as a performer and not just a guest. The turnout was amazing. I think the people that gravitate towards you as an artist are very telling, and the energy and audience that Khmeii fosters are truly immaculate. It’s always great vibes and a safe space, which I think is important to emphasize. It’s so important to have safe spaces to exist in, especially for marginalized communities, because it is so often not accessible for us. People deserve to go out, dance, and have fun without being made to feel uncomfortable or worse! It really isn’t a big ask, and yet it’s not a priority for those profiting from nightlife. Khmeii, Dubclub, and the Had 2 B Their  events have always made it a point to make sure that people can have fun at their events and feel safe doing so. No weird behavior tolerated on this side! I’m really happy to have been a part of it and hope to continue creating those types of spaces as I continue on my artistic journey.” Photogprahpy: @bkshotyou Siobhan & Khmeii As the year comes to a close, what are some career goals you’re hoping to accomplish? Khmeii: “In the near future, I would like to put on my own full-length show! I can’t wait to put a bill together. I’d also love to write for other artists. I have sooo many songs that could use a new home.” Siobhan: “I wanna get in that studio, girl!! Of course, I talked about releasing my first solo single earlier, but I want to plan more releases as we enter the new year. That might include a project as well. I also want to build more of an online presence as we enter the new year. Being a college student, it’s very easy for me to go MIA on social media, but this is a primary way for me to connect with my audience. So, I want to engage more and find ways to interact and incorporate my everyday life in my content and online interactions, even while maintaining my other life responsibilities. Overall, I want to build off the momentum that this release has provided me and continue to shape my image, sound, and presence in the industry.” What can we expect from the two of you in 2026? More collaborations, big events, and new projects—what’s on the horizon? Khmeii: “I’m working on my mixtape to release early next year! Hopefully with that comes a few performances and visuals to look forward to. This project is a little more intimate, and it touches base on a lot of my influences while giving listeners a front-row seat into my mind. As for collabs and events with Siobhan… that’s my girl, so we will always be up to something. I’m super excited for it, and I cannot wait to share it with you all!” Siobhan: “Khmeii x Siobhan is not quite over yet. We’re looking to do more performances, as well as recording and performing an acoustic version of Breathe Me , so definitely keep an eye out for that. Regarding myself, there’s not a solid time frame I can give you yet, but I will be releasing my debut single in the new year. You can also expect more music and creative content on social media—from covers, to poetry, and possibly even some unreleased snippets. Overall, you can look forward to new music and content from yours truly ;).” As we close out the year with these two emerging creatives, be sure to stay connected with them on what's next in their artist journey. Follow @Khmeii and @iamsiobhan on social platforms; you don't want to miss the next big drop!

About a month ago, I noticed a golden web outside my window. Mesmerized by its creation, my eyes found their way to its creator, the Joro spider. After raving about it for what seemed like fifteen minutes, I immediately Googled its spiritual meaning. I couldn’t help but turn my attention back to my spider friend. Still in awe of its color scheme—bright yellow and black with a hint of red—my eyes then traced the golden fortress surrounding it. How could something so enchanting also be so invasive? Yet it’s been helpful, keeping the other six-legged critters away. That’s beside my point, though . For the past few weeks I’ve had front-row seats to the circle of life and the creative process: intricate, tedious, sometimes slow. The Joro spider is symbolic of connection, perseverance, creativity, and rebirth. I saw beauty in its ability to adapt and connect to nature, persevering through harsh weather. In some way, it spoke to me, causing me to reflect on my own life and creations—my abilities. I never thought a spider could provoke such deep feelings within me. Even writing this now, I’m filled with emotions of wanting to create, connect, and preserve. It feels like another rebirth process—a shedding of my old self to welcome a new phase of life, one that’s a solid foundation for growth and development. Somewhat like my spider friend, Joro. Being able to witness this process has been both exciting and inspiring. I’ve taken it as a message from God: my web of life isn’t going to create itself. It’s a visual metaphor that creation takes dedication; nobody can build my golden fortress for me. Everything lies in my hands.

Get ready for the latest from Latto, Atlanta's rap sensation. As she prepares to release her highly anticipated album 'Sugar Honey Iced Tea' this Friday, we explore her rise from young star to one of the hottest women in the current rap scene. In the City of Atlanta, she was known as "Miss Mulatto" before we came to know her as "Latto" or "Latto777." Depending on who you ask, they might refer to her by that moniker still.   For most people, becoming a musician is not an easy path, but Latto has done a great job holding the title. Raised in Atlanta and born in Ohio, she was exposed to music at a young age. She began writing and performing her own songs at the age of ten. During 2016, Latto made her television debut with Lifetime's reality series "The Rap Game", which was produced Jermaine Dupri and the one and only Queen Latifah. Accompanied with four other rising talents, Latto and her castmates went through 8 weeks of intense competitions involving rap, fashion/style, mentorship with the greats in music as well as group sessions with her other cast members. She was declared winner of the first season! Winning came with the opportunity of signing to Jermaine Dupri's "So So Def Records", but she declined due to financial constraints and her will to pursue music independently. Since then she has released multiple singles, mixtapes, and albums. She has been giving opportunities to headline for festivals, multiple tours, and landed numerous spots on Billboard music chart! With her rise to fame, talents and resilience have been tested more than once (but she has shown us time after time why she is the "Queen of the South"). Friendships Amongst the Rap Girls The rap industry has forever been known to be a male dominated genre, only ever inviting some of best female MCs into the big boys club. When you look back at the history of rap music, some of the greatest rap groups or duos always had a chick spitting hot shit into the mic. The number of known female rappers increased as rap became more mainstream, but it just wasn't enough. With the result of the numbers being low, competition for the title of "Queen" increased. This competition was either created by loyal fanatics or the artist themselves. With Latto being one of the top girls in the female rap game, we've seen her and some of her peers ban together in solidarity. Just a few months ago, Latto hosted her very firstall-women cypher featuring Flo Milli, Monaleo, Maiya the Don, and Mello Buckzz. This showed the world that femal rap is more than just catty bars, sly tweets or backhanded insults. It's a sisterhood at the end of it all. So when Latto says she's "Queen of da Souf" it's more than just a brag. True queens are able to share the thrown and fix their fellow queens crown and I believe Latto does just that.

Meet Lurain, a Miami native raised in Jamaica. Lurain recently told us about her musical path. She explained how living in Jamaica affected her love of music and how the island is nothing short of beautiful. Inspired by some of the greats of reggae, she discussed bringing the island vibe to Atlanta to shake things up. Thank you Lurain, for starting off the new year with SUNNI SOCIETY. Connecting with new artist is what we strive to do. I'm excited to share your journey with the artistic community! Big up Sunni with the money! Thank you ever so much for this amazing opportunity to share my kool story with the community. I love art! Respect and nuff blessings to you. Born in Miami and brought up in Jamaica. What was that like for you? I'm happy to say I had a chance to visit the island about a year ago and was in awe of the beauty. Having access to it daily had to be an euphoric experience to you. Growing up in Jamaica was so fun and adventurous, I miss Jamaica so much! As a kid, you would always be around music whether it's church, your neighbor’s party, walking on the street or even your grandma playing the old reggae tunes while cleaning the house. Music has always been with me! Jamaica is the best country in the Caribbean and on Earth (sorry to the other islands). What I miss the most about Jamaica is being able to go to the river or beach to cool off and ease your mind from everyday life problems or stress. The nearest beach here is in Savannah and that isn’t even real. Another thing I miss is the food!! I love food, I want to be a food. One of my favorite things to do after school was go to the shrimp lady and buy pepper shrimp eat it and wash it off with a bag juice. I miss that! I am beyond glad you got to experience the island yourself and see the beauty that reigns there. When is comes to your love for music, how much of an impact did the island have on your passion and what made you bring that passion to the City of Atlanta? Like I mentioned before, being on the island music would always be around you no matter what! You’d go to the beach a one or two Bob Marley or Beres Hammond would play, you go up to your neighbor’s house music is playing no matter what you do, music would always be there. I remember when I was younger my dad had a microphone to this day I have no idea what for but it was just there. I would take the microphone and host my own concert with it at home no one but me and the couches, I would often freestyle and write to instrumentals or even sit down and create a beat with my bare hands or whatever object I can find around the house. I decided to bring my passion to the city of Atlanta because new sounds are needed, the scene is overbearing and oversaturated, almost everyone is the same, just different fonts. It’s like where’s the originality these days? I’ve always been a rebel and never a follower. I always strive to STAND OUT so why not STAND OUT with nuff vibes behind it? Exactly! Like they say back home and ting don’t watch crowd don’t medz people just believe inna yuhself and MOVE! Selah. Outside of the island culture, what are the other sources of inspiration you draw from? Who are some artist who inspire you to keep going? I get inspiration every single day whether it’s big or small. There is inspiration outside everyday, trust me. I also like to venture off into other countries’ culture and music, one country I fell in love with is Brasil. That is how 5AM IN SAO PAULO was born, shoutout to my Brazilians, te amo! I love Brazil, Brazilian people and their music. My favorite genre is baile funk. Hopefully I get to visit and experience the culture live in the flesh, hopefully perform my song. That would be AMAZING! There are so many different artists from all over the world that inspire me to keep going. Artists like Asake, Mohbad (may he Rest in forever Peace) Shallipoppi, Sho Madjozi, Koffee, Vybz Kartel, Rihanna, Asap Rocky, Valiant, and more. Their work and love for music inspires me a lot! If you could make a song with any artist right now, who would it be and why? I know I just listed a bunch of artists prior but oh my god, If I could make a song with any artist right now it would be Chris Brown. His past aside, the man is pure talent and true embodiment of art. It is a dream collab of mine that literally would be so fire see the day when that opportunity presents itself to me, I’d probably think it was a prank. But yeah super talented individual and super passionate about art. After all art is freedom and he express himself like many of us do through different forms of art. As a masc Caribbean woman, do you feel like the music industry is becoming more diverse? Do you think it's easier in this day and age for artist of diverse backgrounds to have more breakthroughs? Yes, of course! Everyday new artists from every part of the world are emerging and that is super dope. People are getting to express themselves whichever way they want and I love that because fuck society fuck the norm JUST LIVE AND BE YOU. It is super easier to since nowadays people are becoming more open minded and accepting, now there is still going to be the naysayers but f*ck em who cares what they think? Your song "5am In Sao Paolo" feels like a preview of Summer 2024. Will you be releasing more similar songs in the near future? OH ABSOLUTELY! I have many MANY more tunes planned strictly for the gyal dem enjoy and dance to ;) VIBES! I don’t want to say too much but know vibes are on the way! What are some gems you have learned along the way during your musical journey? How will you continue to apply them this year? Some gems I learned on this journey is to study the business so no one screws you over, you cannot be too trusting of everyone, big things take time, and to always be yourself no matter what. There’s plenty more to learn!! Before I close off this ting, I want to leave another quote I go by everyday by the LEGEND BOB MARLEY: “One good thing about music is that when it hits you feel no PAIN” Remember art is freedom so be free keep expressing and be YOU One Love! Big up yuhself and BELIEVE!

The ironic and inevitable consequences of existence. A tribute to my grandmother, Shirley Sims Jefferson. The proverb "two tears in a bucket, bucket f!ck it" suddenly occurred to me a few days ago. It’s a saying I’m way to familiar with. It was spoken to me throughout my childhood. I consider the saying to be a scripture in the unwritten book called Life. Recently, I experienced a loss that is slowly changing my outlook on life and what it means to live. The loss was my dear grandma, Shirley Sims Jefferson. "Baba" is what my brother and I called her. She left this realm and became one with the wind. Before her passing in December, earlier in the year, I felt a shift within myself. A small shift, but a shift nonetheless. Maybe my frontal lobe is in the process of gearing up for when I hit 25. I’m not sure, but something is different. Since feeling that shift and the passing of my grandma, my outlook on life has changed slowly but surely. I want to live life to the fullest. My grandmother was a grande dame. She traveled to all 50 states and 7 countries, worked in the tech industry, and assisted my grandpa at his famous record store in LA, “Jazz City Records." An advocate for unhoused children, she was a “Jill of all trades.” One of her sole reasons for moving to Atlanta was fueled by the love of her grandbabies, my brother and I, Shirley's grandbabies. Nobody messed with “Shirley grandbabies”. When I got older, I had the time to stay with her for a few months to keep her company, and it was the best time with her. Memories I will forever have with her. Her passing has left me with multiple emotions. Sadness. Anger. Confused. Bamboozled even. Sadness because she is no longer here to hug and kiss me. Angry and confused because she was so smart and resilient that I figured she would be here forever. Outsmart life at its own game. Bamboozled because I feel foolish for even thinking of the impossible. Even God’s son had his day. I sum all this up by saying we can't escape life's inevitable. Isn't it ironic that we’re put here to have these experiences but aren't able to experience them forever? My bucket is now full, ready to be emptied. I miss you, Baba and I wrote this for you.

SUNNI SOCIETY was made to be a bridge between artists and communities. This company was founded primarily with the intention of assisting up-and-coming artists in promoting their work and engaging the public in discourse about the state of the world. I was gently reminded a while back that art is political. The connection between politics and art is growing stronger every day, and I find it difficult to voice my opinions about the way the world is right now. Not because I do not care, but rather because I sometimes think that most people find my way of thinking radical or extreme. But it is depressing to see that while the world is screaming out for a hero, "our" government—like other governing structures worldwide—basically gives us its ass to kiss. According to Gaza's Health Ministry, over 11,100 Palestinians have been killed so far. Children, the elderly, mothers, fathers, and entire families are now buried in Gaza. The current state of Gaza and the world is a result of colonization. This war, the erasure of people, started more than 100 years ago, when British foreign secretary Arthur Balfour wrote a letter to Lionel Walter Rothschild (most definitely do a deep dive on this family if you haven't yet), a token in the British Jewish community. In this letter, he proclaimed that the British would establish Palestine as the national home for Jewish people. This profound letter of only 67 words had a crippling effect on Palestine that is felt heavily today. In 1913, a British mandate was created and lasted until 1948. At that time, the British facilitated mass Jewish immigration, fleeing from Nazism. Facing protests and strikes. Palestinians were left to face the forever changing demographics of their country and the seize of their land that was handed to Jewish Settlers. Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/9/whats-the-israel-palestine-conflict-about-a-simple-guide Palestinians have been at odds with Israel for YEARS since that life-changing letter. This is a story to which many people from various communities can relate. Being killed, kidnapped, or having your land and resources taken away. At least eight genocides are currently taking place: Palestinian, Congo, Tigray (Ethiopia), Armenian (Nagorno-Karabakh), West Papua (New Guinea), Uyghurs (China), and the Burma Myanmar people. Until we start working together as the village we were meant to be, we will always feel the pressure of our government's problems and will always be the ones to receive the SCRAPS while they continue to live comfortably and "untouchable." It is past time for us to get serious about the state of the world, or it will continue to crumble in front of our eyes. Below are article links that can further inform you about the current events happening in the world. https://republic.com.ng/october-november-2023/congo-cobalt-genocide/ https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142142 (Tigray Genocide) https://time.com/6322574/cultural-genocide-armenia-nagorno-karabakh-essay/ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/27/armenian-rally-azerbaijan-los-angeles-gop-debate https://jacobin.com/2023/11/indonesia-west-papua-colonialism-development-repression-resistance https://www.voanews.com/a/uyghur-news-recap-sept-15-22-2023-/7280783.html https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/17/myanmar-airstrike-village-apparent-war-crime https://scenenow.com/ArtsAndCulture/9-Palestinian-Artists-Who-ve-Lent-Their-Voice-to-the-Resistance

A girl with big dreams and a sewing machine. Learn about this sustainable fashion designer and how she hopes to leave a mark in the sustainable fashion industry and create room for more diversity in creative fields. My name is Kierra Lee, and I'm from Atlanta, Georgia. Growing up, I was always very interested in fashion design after watching shows like America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway. When I was eight, I was introduced to a seamstress who was one of my grandmother's friends, and I thought it was amazing that she was able to create pieces from her drawings and inspirations so beautifully. Shortly after that, I ended up convincing my parents to pay for sewing lessons for me to learn, and I realized it was something that I was very passionate about. I feel like I sometimes strayed away from fully pursuing it when I was a child and teenager, but ultimately I realized in high school that it was something I wanted to continue with as a career path. As for what's most fulfilling about my work, a lot of what I do is very sustainably minded, even with my own brand and what I'm currently also doing with Levi's as a 3D product development designer. In everything I do, I'm conscious of the harm I'm causing to the environment. This includes the materials I choose, the patterning techniques I use, and even the messages I spread through my designs. As a designer, I strive to uplift marginalized communities and showcase their stories in a beautiful light, especially when it comes to the black community. First off Kierra, thank you for blessing SUNNI SOCIETY with our very first interview! When the thought of looking for a creator came to mind, you were the perfect person to kick it off with. I've been following your journey for years now, it's taken off quickly. Overall, how are you feeling with your success in your life and career? This is very sweet, and I’m happy that you thought of me when deciding who would go first. I’m always watching you too, and I think this is an amazing idea, so I definitely look forward to seeing how far this goes in the future. Honestly, when it comes to the success of my career so far, I'm very grateful, but I also know that I still have a long journey ahead of me, and it is really just starting. Even though I've just graduated from design school, I feel like there's so much more that I want to do. I've already managed to land a job with Levi's, which is an extremely great company. I look forward to seeing where this takes me and how it elevates me even more as a designer moving forward. Recently, you just celebrated graduating from Jefferson University. Congratulations on that cycle completion! How was your experience at Jefferson? You accomplished so many amazing things, would you mind sharing a few projects you worked on while in attendance there? Thank you so much! Jefferson taught me a lot about myself as a designer, changed my perception of the fashion industry, and made me realize just how much work goes into making clothes. The experience I had at Jefferson was amazing because I was fortunate to have some amazing teachers and meet some great friends. I also competed in numerous scholarships and won six out of the seven I entered. This year, I won the Virgil Abloh PostModern scholarship a second time as well as a Skims scholarship. As part of that project, I created an eight-look collection for the brand Patagonia, which explored the possibility of smart technology and a digital world while pushing boundaries on racial diversity in winter sports. In my last semester, I also completed my senior collection, which won an industry award from various fashion companies in the Philadelphia and New York regions for real-world design. Archive 319, let's get into that. As you know I'm such a big fan your line! I truly do believe your work speaks for itself but I would love to hear your thought process behind it all? Why did you choose the sustainable fashion route? Thank you so much. Honestly, I just had a really great teacher in school who taught me a lot in a class that I took, which was called Sustainable Concepts in Design. This class focused on the harmful rhetoric associated with fast fashion and the problems of textile waste, especially overseas. I was also able to volunteer at an organization called Fab Scrap in Philadelphia, which collects textile waste from companies like Urban Outfitters, Free People, and 200 others along the east coast. My perspective on the kind of designer I wanted to be completely changed when I realized how much waste these companies produce and simply discard, as well as how it affects the environment in nations like Ghana, where the majority of the clothing we dispose of ends up in people's backyards, destroying the ecosystems of their land. The fashion business is the second biggest polluter in the world, and I could not allow myself to be a part of that same problem. I didn't want to add to this already severe problem. Fast fashion...what are your thoughts on how it affects people and the world? I hate fast fashion. When my family and friends indulge in purchasing garments from businesses that will essentially fall apart over the next year or so, I complain to them about it so much. But as time goes on, I've realized that many people are unaware of how damaging fast fashion is to the environment because it's damage hasn't affected the United States. However, it will eventually happen, and I don't think we'll be prepared when it does. The living conditions in the countries where these factories and power plants that make our garments are located are quite unfortunate and honestly hard to even look at, but I do believe everyone should see them. I remember watching a film about a small village in India whose drinking and bathing water has the color of oil because of the dumping of wastewater into rivers by H&M and other textile factories. The fact that children in the village suffered from birth defects as a result of the terrible circumstances they were forced to live in really shocked me. I am convinced that racial discrimination is a contributing factor in the fast fashion industry because, if the same situation occurred in a European country where the people you see on your screen are children with blonde hair, blue eyes, and light skin, I think the response would be very different from what we continue to tolerate happening globally. What are some new things you have been able to experience due to your career? What doors has it opened for you? I feel like the things I've been able to experience in my career are mainly from good connections and proper networking. I've had opportunities to go to galas where I'm in the room with professionals that work at some of the biggest companies in fashion and have been able to pitch myself to them on the chance of getting a job. I've been able to visit the Vogue headquarters and meet Anna Wintour, which was extremely interesting for me and definitely changed my perception of how I viewed her before. I had the incredible opportunity to visit the LVMH headquarters on two occasions, which was truly amazing. During these visits, I had the honor of attending panel discussions on design and had the chance to ask questions of individuals whom I greatly admire and look up to. However, none of this would have been possible if I hadn't believed in myself and pursued opportunities regardless of the potential outcomes. Today, I am part of a network affiliated with hundreds of big brands, and a significant factor in securing my current position at Levi's was the organization's encouragement and assistance in applying for the job. I am immensely grateful for this support. How do you plan to wow the people again? What can we expect next from Kierra Lee? I don't have a fixed career path in mind, as I believe in taking things one step at a time. My ideas flow naturally, and my interests tend to evolve as I progress in my career. However, one constant for me is my unwavering commitment to advancing sustainability within the fashion industry. No matter where my journey takes me, I will always work towards implementing more sustainable practices and solutions. In addition to sustainability, I am deeply passionate about fostering diversity and inclusivity within the fashion industry. I firmly believe that the industry must open its doors wider to people of color and underrepresented groups. This is a vital change that the fashion industry needs, and I am determined to continue working towards creating more opportunities for individuals who share my background. My goal is to contribute to a more inclusive future for an industry that has historically marginalized people like me. For more updates on Kierra and her journey follow her insta linked below and check out her website! Website: https://www.kierralee.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archivesof319/ https://www.instagram.com/kierraxlee/?hl=en

so*ci*e*ty noun the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. an organization or club formed for a particular purpose or activity. Recently I got a spark. An idea to start a blog. I feel that most of us can relate to getting a "new idea" or "spark". Some of these sparks or ideas can either grow into an immense flame, or start to dim. Sunni Society is not a new idea per say, it is simply a flame that over time began to dim... and this is me, reigniting my spark. This is me, Sunjori, growing my immense flame. Sunni Society will be somewhat of an online club, opened for the public. We will feature all things fashion/style, entertainment, mental/physical health topics, and a few nitty gritty hot takes of my own as well (wink, wink). This will also be a way for me to show love to some of my favorite creators, big/and or small. Love is missing in our "society" nowadays, and I hope with this platform that we are able to spread love back to our society and build a community filled with talent out of this world. Stay tuned! Be on the lookout, and get prepared! Sunni Society is here for a good and LONG time! Peace, Sunjori Michaela