Today we’d like to introduce you to Nika Grady.
Hi Nika, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been pretty creative as far as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, I would win coloring contests in my classes. In 2005 my family moved to Texas after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. We were displaced for months before we settled in the hill country. I remember learning to crochet at a camp while other kids opted to dance and play games. Then fast forward to high school, I took the home economics class where we learned to sew a pillowcase and a pair of boxer shorts. I was like the only person who understood how to use the sewing machine. I’d help other kids thread their machines. It came easy to me even though it was the first time I’d ever used a machine or even saw one in real life.
Then I went off to college and I honestly lost sight of how creative I used to be until my senior year. My friends always wanted to go to the pool parties but I never had a cute swimsuit. I would go to Dillards and other stores in the mall to find cute bikinis but the biggest issue was the fact that they were sold as sets. And I needed separate sizes for my top and bottom. So one day, I got on YouTube and watched a ton of videos on “How to make a bikini”. I went to Walmart and bought the cheapest sewing machine. I think it was $59. I went to the fabric section, grabbed metallic spandex fabrics and went home and made my first bathing suits. One for me and one for my best friend who was also my roommate at the time. The next day we went to our apartment pool to take pics and everyone asked where we got our bikinis from. I made a website a few days later and that’s when ARION was born!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely NOT been a smooth road. I get discouraged a lot. It has been a roller coaster. Sometimes I feel like I’m doing good and then I feel like I hit a wall and I’m uninspired. I try not to go long periods of time without creating. It’s always something though. I’ll be doing good. Getting lots of orders then all of a sudden it stops or my machine breaks and I have to figure out ways to overcome.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a fashion designer, mostly known for my swimwear and reflective designs. I don’t think I have a single design I’m most proud of right now but I’m definitely proud of what I have in store for the future. What sets me apart from others is the fact that all of my products are handmade by me and they are very unique. You won’t find clothing or swimwear like mine anywhere else!
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
To be successful, you have to take risks! I take risks all the time. I buy lots of fabrics and materials to create things I have in mind and sometimes they don’t turn out the way I envisioned them. That’s a big risk with money because essentially, I’ve wasted money with fabric I can’t use anymore or destroyed.
Contact Info:
- Email: Info.shoparion@gmail.com
- Website: Shoparion.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/Shoparion_
- Twitter: Twitter.com/shoparion_
