Kierra Nichole’s journey from SCAD to RosaByrd

Kierra Nichole, 26, shows off her New York Fashion Week showpieces. Nichole knew she had wanted to be a fashion designer since she was a little girl, and that desire can be traced back to her childhood. Born in Stone Mountain, Nichole experienced a moment that chartered her life’s journey from that point forward. At the age of nine, while riding the bus to E. L. Bouie Elementary School, Nichole observed a classmate sketching T-shirts on a notepad. Intrigued by the notion that someone could create clothing from their imagination, Nichole’s curiosity was piqued, and she was excited at the notion that what people wore was pulled out of someone’s imagination. From that point on, she said she knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.

Nichole says her parents, Karteua 50, and Rick, 53, were immediately supportive of their only daughter’s vision. “My parents provided me with everything I needed to pursue my passion for fashion from a young age,” Nichole said. 

As she progressed through her formative years, her passion for fashion only increased. In 2016, Nichole entered the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), pursuing a degree in fashion design. During her time at SCAD, Nichole faced both challenges and opportunities that would later shape her career as a fashion designer. Immersed in the intense curriculum, Nichole found herself challenged to expand her boundaries and explore new techniques and mediums within the competitive atmosphere. “I think SCAD was an experience that I’ve never had,” she remembers. “I didn’t feel as though I shined, which is fine. Because I also feel as though that was a training ground or a sandbox, where I’m kind of figuring things out.”

But at the near the end of college, she would drastically change. In 2020, Nichole found herself finishing her academic career during the COVID-19 pandemic. After graduating in May of 2020, the fashion industry was on hold, and faced the uncertainty of an industry that was stagnant. Nichole turned to e-commerce, posting her designs all over the internet for an entire year. Nichole would have her first milestone moment when SHEIN, the online retail marketplace based out of China, discovered her work after tirelessly promoting her designs across various social media platforms. The significance of this moment wasn’t lost on Nichole, who saw it as a validation of her talent and hard work. “They found me. They reached out to me directly, and to this day, I don’t exactly know what piece they saw,” said Nichole.

In the world of fashion design, when opportunities present themselves, the designer makes what is known as a “tech pack,” also known as a specification sheet, which is a set of documents created by designers to explain their design to a manufacturer so that they can turn this information into a finished garment. 

Reflecting on her experience with SHEIN, Nichole recalled that each piece would take approximately two weeks to complete on her own. After submitting six designs, she witnessed them come to life on the marketplace, with a total of 90 pieces being produced for sale. 

Following this moment in her career, Nichole launched her company, “RosaByrd, ” which was named after people on the paternal and maternal side of her family. Rosa is the name of her grandmother’s grandmother on her mom’s side. Byrd is the surname of her grandmother’s grandmother on her  father’s side.

Then, in August of 2022, fate intervened, presenting Nichole with an advertisement on Instagram that seemed tailor-made for her. She was looking for a call for fashion designers for New York Fashion Week. Nichole subsequently submitted her pieces to 5 different shows. This process involved crafting compelling pitches and presenting her unique vision to capture the attention of these industry professionals. Then, in October of 2022, she got her answer.

She was accepted into the Ryse and Flying Solo showrooms in New York City, and would have a little more than a year to prepare. 

On February 8, Nichole participated in the dress rehearsal for her showcased designs at the Ryse showroom during New York Fashion Week. The following day, her creations took center stage, garnering a positive response from industry insiders and fashion enthusiasts alike. Then Nichole geared up for the Flying Solo show scheduled for February 11. 

After leaving New York, Nichole’s Panelist collection would be featured in “Elle” Magazine in Slovenija, which she had done press with during her Flying Solo New York Runway show, “It was the first professional, videotaped interview that I had ever done,” said Nichole. 

Now back in Atlanta, Nichole has plans to expand her business, which includes collaborating with stylists and having her designs featured in editorial shoots, celebrity appearances, and magazine spreads to increase visibility and attract clientele. “I’ve been working on my next collection and am excited to do it all over again next season, ” she said. 

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