MAMi Magazine Holiday 2013 Issue | Page 82

MAMiMagazine KUSHINDA LITTLE A Prelude to Chasing the Devil Appreciative A Creative Director, whose work philosophy revolves around the notion of THE ELEVATION OF STYLE, she tailors an aesthetic for her subjects that is befitting to their personalities. The result is an image that is more authentic and easily received by the public. Whether it’s one of her celebrity clients or an elaborate editorial, the task of creating an honest and original image is no easy feat, but Kushinda has skillfully mastered what many can’t even fathom. Her life begins in Denver, Colorado where she born in 1980. At age 3 I lived in Germany where she spent some of her childhood, then to Sacramento, California. Qoute “Sacramento is a very easy and relaxed place; it’s all about individualism there. So I was able to really grow up and be myself without any judgment” While attending high school in the bay area Kushinda began to work at a clothing store. And one time the music group 112 came into the store and she put together looks for a show they were having that night. Quote “At the time I didn’t even realize it, but I was styling and around that same time I realized I wanted to be a designer.” She ended moving to Atlanta in 1998 and began to take private classes with a Russian couturier named Nina Gleyzer. With each class Nina saw that Kushinda had a lot of potential and drive and became Nina’s apprentice. She worked under Nina for 5 years and learned in depth about fabrication, construction, and pattern making. Kushinda moved to Brooklyn, New York. And has worked with various media networks such as Fuse, Lifetime, Walmart, Le Fueng Branding, Salvatore Farragamo, J Crew, Banana Republic and Oxygen as a Creative Director and have lent my talents to editorial clients such as Flaunt, Vibe, ID, Esquire, Metro Pop, Men’s Health and GQ to name a few. Her recent endeavor is the creation of my swimwear line; Yummy Honey Swim. This was spearheaded once she realized the market for swimwear for the average size women, who are youthful and sophisticated, is underserved. Quote “ My designs not only are innovative including such additions as detachable hoods, reversible limited run of MAMi Magazine 82