Hailing from the mighty borough of Brooklyn, designer Kimberly Goldson wants women to be fashion forward, and luxuriously fly in an affordable way. Goldson – not quite an industry veteran, yet no novice to the game of fashion – has paved a lane for herself with her signature luxury brand and her starring role as a finalist on Project Runway’s Season 9. She was also one third of the trio of talented Black women designers selected in 2018, via Harlem’s Fashion Row, to collaborate with Nike and LeBron James on a sneaker aptly titled “The Strongest.”
Goldson most recently showcased her latest collection for HFR’s 13th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards. The designer is as true to Brooklyn as her unique, individualistic style is – spreading love (through design) ‘cause that’s the Brooklyn way.
What prompted your inspiration for becoming a womenswear designer?
My inspiration initially came from not seeing my style and aesthetic in the streets –so I started designing and making my own attire. Women began to respond to my point of view and that’s because it’s a mixture of luxury with a hint of my Brooklyn influence. My designs have that “Brooklyn Girl Magic” dashed into the framework! My mother’s style, work ethic and hustle also inspired and influenced me to create pieces for women that would make them feel good, that they could afford and that could also keep up with the top designer brands.
What are/were your greatest challenges as an independent designer?
My greatest challenge as an independent designer has to be funding. We are a self-funded brand and that creates a lot of limitations because we don’t have the resources to compete with larger brands to make ourselves well-known to service more customers. We’ve been in business for 8 ½ years now, and doing it all ourselves, my sister and I. Funding, to be able to compete on a level playing field and reach more customers through our e-commerce site is THE biggest challenge.
What advice quote or words of wisdom would you give to an aspiring, emerging designer like yourself?
The main thing I would say is: if this is your God’s driven purpose then do not stop. You have to stay in it to win it. And as cliché as that sounds, you cannot give up. It is a challenging job. It is a lonely job. It is emotionally, mentally and physically draining sometimes, but I live by Galatians 6:9 which says: Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time if we do not give up. It has been 8 ½ years where I have retired overnight and woke up and say to myself “ok I can’t give up.” So, my biggest word of advice is to keep pressing.
