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Ashaka Givens, Fashion Design
"The spirit transcending my work corresponds with my motto", says 30 year-old Fashion Designer Ashaka Givens, "creative expression has no limits, and always delving deep within yourself is the key to individualism". Ashaka's designs reflect a wide range of themes from patchwork to leather and raffia, which usually focuses on her intrinsic relationship with nature and the body. Singer, Erykah Badu referred to Givens as one of her favorite Designer to work with in People Magazine. Badu donned a stunning hot pink jersey dress two years before the color became a rave, in the 1998 Grammy Award telecast. Givens continues to set trends by designing wears for Common, The Roots, TLC, avant-garde rapper Andre of Outkast, and other artists.
Ashaka's pieces sculpt the body, complimenting a sleek back, sexy collarbones or a tight midriff. "I love working with jersey fabrics because it's easy to wear and comfortably drapes over a women's frame," says Givens. "For men, I tend to favor working with leather and denim to create funky takes on a classic look". Because of her preverbal remixes on classic outfits (for example, a deconstructed sleeveless sweater hoody for Common's Ghetto Heaven video), Ashaka Givens has become a regular staple at The Grammy's, Soul Train Music Awards, music videos, as well as Instyle, Essence, and People Magazines.
Born in a small town outside of Rochester, New York, Givens moved to Manhattan in order to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology. Givens also attended Manchester Metropolitan University in England, where she studied tailoring and design, ultimately acquiring a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Design in 1996. While still creating one-of-a-kind accouterments for artists, Givens has launched her first retail line "Ashaka Givens", with the mission to create trend-setting images that reflect the soul through the vehicle of fashion.
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