Today, we’d like to introduce you to Maliik Small. Maliik was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Juwaun Wilson.
Hi Maliik , we’re so thrilled to have you sharing your story with us today. Maybe we can kick things off by having you introduce yourself to our readers? We’d love to have you go into your story and how you got to where you are today.
I feel like I was always a creative person since I was young but I never really had the chance to truly explore it until my accidents. Before I was a creative I was an athlete and that became my identity for some time. It wasn’t until I tore my acl that other options or ideas started to enter my mind. Shortly after recovering from my injury I get in a car accident resulting in hip surgery leaving me unable to walk for some time. With limited mobility I had no choice but to try different outlets and forms of expression. I first began messing around with my friends designs which inspired me to create my own. I began to become more invested day by day working on and learning more about designing. It took a year or so before I finally landed on the name and vision that truly captures what I want for myself and the world. Surf Kyds was born and the idea of keeping your dreams safe and following them. The pandemic gave me time and finances to being perfecting my craft along with ideas, I purchased a Mac book began to learn photoshop and never looked back. Now I have sold hundreds of pieces that I have produced from my own mind, though the work isn’t nearly finished or completely paying off yet it is still a journey I am excited for and passionate about.
Please tell us more about your brand, Surf Kyds
Surf Kyds is a brand that makes products focused on style and functionality. While making pieces that are comfortable they are also unique and inspiring. What sets me apart from others is the consideration or everyday use and wear that goes into the creation of the pieces making them not only easy to wear but multipurpose as well. What I am most proud of as a brand is the effect and feeling that my products have on people, the ability to make someone feel good, give them moments of joy, and the surprise when they discover all of the different details/uses of the design. Those are the moments of immeasurable happiness that make life worth living.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Juwaun Wilson and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Juwaun.
Me and Jawuan actually discovered each other through sports and bonded over the years while playing. Little did we know that our brotherhood would blossom into a creative collaboration as well. What I admire and love about Jawuan is his fearlessness to express himself through creating wether its fashion or content he commits to the vision regardless of how it may be received. Something that I also admire greatly would be his consistency, he is constantly creating, coming up with new ideas, and producing content from fashion to modeling or lifestyle inspiration.
Website: Www.surfkyds.com
Instagram: The_liikend
Linkedin: LinkedIn.com/in/Maliik-small-48a879241
Twitter: Just_swavy
