Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaisha Snowden.
Hi Kaisha, 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?
As an African descendant of slavery, I believed I never had any true connection to my ethnic roots which often made me feel as if I had no true culture to connect to. I would see my African friends celebrate their heritage through their cultural traditions and I genuinely felt like I was missing out on a crucial part of my life. This led me to want to make connections with my identity as an African descendant.
Some of the other artifacts in the museum included African jewelry, and with more research, I learned about African waist beads: Ornament beads strung along with twine or string and worn around the waist. Originating from the Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria, waist beads are also seen in other West African countries, such as Ghana, and Egypt. While various regions have their own take on the beads, they are a symbol that connects all African cultures. I could imagine my ancestors claiming this art form, embracing the power they held from creating waist beads.
I wanted to reclaim that same power for myself, to have a better sense of my identity as an African descendant, so I started my business called The Serenity Series in May of 2020, where I sell handmade waist beads along with other accessories. The purpose of my business is to promote body positivity by challenging the stigma of beauty in black bodies while also reclaiming ownership over the black body from a society that considered us to be property.
Originally, I started off by creating waist beads and anklets, attending local pop-up shops, and promoting my products on Instagram. Within 2 years of owning this business, I have consistently made and sold waist beads and anklets while also introducing new products such as hand-painted upcycled tote bags, bracelets, and more recently, sage sticks and crystal necklaces.
I am proud to see the overall growth of my business and the overwhelming support and networking opportunities I’ve gained as a result.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
A couple of months after I first opened The Serenity Series, there was a period of time where I went through a depressive episode, which led me to become inconsistent with my business and temporarily neglect it.
This episode lasted about 4 months and I felt so guilty because I put so much faith into my business and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to come back from the episode with the same energy as before. In search of a healthy coping method, I started to paint in my free time, which was a talent I had not practiced in years.
I started by painting album covers on denim from upcycled jeans and got the idea to sew the pieces together to make tote bags. Essentially, this method of coping was successful and I introduced my tote bags to The Serenity Series in February of 2021, which garnered a lot of support from people who were impressed by my art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I define myself as “a creative”, meaning I specialize in all creative aspects of the arts. From dance to art to poetry, I pride myself on my variety of creative abilities that range throughout all areas of the arts.
I’ve been dancing for about 15 years now and while there have been times that I doubted myself and my talent, I have confirmed my passion for dance and the essential role it plays in my life. I am proud to say that I will continue to pursue dance in college and in my professional career.
I am also an artist, which has reflected most within my business The Serenity Series. In 2021, I had multiple opportunities to create commissioned art pieces for clients in Baltimore. Specializing in acrylic on canvas, these pieces range from portraits to business logos and have given me the opportunity to take advantage of a talent that I have.
Additionally, my other creative hobbies include poetry, acting, and sewing, all of which I cherish because they allow me to cope with the events that go on in my life, and, essentially, the outcome is always beautiful. Being capable of so many amazing things has been something I have grown to appreciate and plan to emphasize throughout my life.
How do you define success?
I define success as a state of being content and satisfied with your accomplishments and where you currently are in your life. I see success as something that can always be achieved no matter where you are in life and honestly, I believe success equates to happiness.
Contact Info:
- Email: theserenityseries@gmail.com
- Website: theserenityseries.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theserenityseries/
Image Credits
Linwood Dubose, @linnyshotit, Von Bokeh, @vonbokeh, Nick Flicks @kitkatnicknacks, @nickflicksphotography, @linnyshotit Donnell Wallace, and @dw_celebrity_photography
