In Conversation with Khalika Abrams
Tell us about your background:
Born and raised in New York, I had an eccentric upbringing. My mom, a singer, dancer, and actress, left home in her early 20s to pursue her dream of performing on Broadway. She accomplished that, and kept a roster of nightclub gigs and studio work, arranging songs for the likes of Aretha Franklin. We moved around a lot. The result, nine different schools before high school and homeschooling throughout most of high school. Some moves were -let’s say- unintentional, leading to moments of homelessness (sleeping in subways and on the Staten Island Ferry) and even asking strangers for money and food. Needless to say, fashion wasn’t a daily focus but, it was a subconscious seed planted and nurtured throughout my childhood: helping my mom prepare outfits for performances, using old pillowcases to use as fabric, to make clothes for my dolls. And as a teenager, illustrating with a croquis drawing set I found at a secondhand shop. Yet, the thought of fashion as a career never crossed my mind. It was strictly a hobby.
In college, with a little more education about the fashion industry, I quickly abandoned my pre-med major for fashion design and marketing. Working retail full-time through college, I discovered my love for visual merchandising. I had the opportunity to work for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Club Monaco, and Burberry, as I worked my way up in the corporate totem pole. It was when I relocated to Los Angeles that I was able to use the culmination of all my experiences to step into the role of Creative Director. At A’GACI, I worked side by side with the company owners to spearhead an aggressive expansion schedule and solidified the brand’s identity. Being that the company was family-owned and very budget conscious, working hyper-collaboratively with P&A, operations, marketing, and e-Commerce departments was a necessity. I led a buying team in creating seasonal collections that maximized merchandise assortments and created the ‘right’ advertising to customers. From there, I produced company floor set, window display, and product launch directives for the store fleet. It was more than a full-time job and took a lot of personal sacrifice.
In this current chapter of life, I’m pivoting to business owner. KurateD LA is a styling service for professionals looking to invest in their personal brands. Our mission: a commitment to helping our clients reduce overconsumption and incorporate sustainable options into their wardrobes. It's such an uncomfortable feeling launching my own business versus working for someone else, but I truly believe things happen for you and not to you. As I near the launch, I look forward to using all the accomplishments, mistakes, and advice that have molded my 20-year career, to elevate my future clients' personal brand and style.
What do you wish you’d known when you started out?
I wish I had more education about the fashion and retail industries overall. Although I feel accomplished in my career, I was very green until about 5 years in. I believe students need access to more information to choose the best career path, instead of learning a skill and figuring it out after they graduate. Moreover, if companies invest in educating interns/entry-level employees about various departments, skills could be matched to the right positions for long term success.
Best career advice you've ever received?
Learn to speak the "language" of other departments because partnership is key. The ability to connect to your co-workers and the targets they need to hit, will not only cultivate partnerships but also attain company goals more quickly. So take time to learn the terminology and processes of other departments.
What leadership qualities are important to you?
Communication and Relatability. In my career, I've learned that getting people to buy in and be productive heavily depends on how well you communicate and relate to others. Early in my career, I traveled 75% of the time, training store teams. I learned quickly that a one size fits all approach wasn't going to work. Accessing how each team processed visual directives, allowed me to tweak my communication and training to be more relatable to the team. In turn, I was able to trust that when I left that location, they would retain what we reviewed.
What has been the biggest challenge in your career so far?
Pivoting to business owner, for sure! Most of your top line goals and timelines are communicated to you when you work for a company. Working for yourself, it's all coming from you and it's easy to over analyze and lose time.
My biggest challenge while working retail was my ability to say no firmly. I've always been a workhorse and excited to take on new challenges I feel passionate about. However, I had to learn, there's power in saying no. First, it relieves stress. Second, it allows you to give the best of yourself to the project you say yes to. Your completed work is a representation of point of view, how much you take on is not.
And for fun, what is your favorite wardrobe staple?
I own about 20 blazers and wear them all! I rarely meet a blazer I don't love...
Instagram: @khalikaabrams
