We love to see artists that celebrate the Black community, specifically as it relates to women.  As a Black woman, one way that we connect to each other is through experiences.  If you’ve ever spent your whole Saturday at a beauty shop, then you understand the memory lane we’re traveling down.  We may not have understood the depth of those visits, but essentially the beauty shop was a staple that personified the Black experience for women.  We were able to have conversations that served as therapy sessions, showcase our latest styles, and reinvent our personas with one swipe of a hot comb.  We came out of the beauty shop as fly as we wanted to be, and that set the blueprint for many of us to feel confident in our sneakHER style.  

The intersection of various industries is typically where you find the most beautiful ideas being born.  A sacred vehicle that merges worlds and drives connections for individuality and creative expression.  Keia Kodoma is a trailblazer in our sneaker/streetwear space, and she is special for a number of reasons.  For starters, she is fearless in her artistic style.  Her creations serve as a beacon that draws you into her personal experiences.  With that in mind, her bold style empowers us all to create as she bridges the gap between a seasoned sneaker lover growing up in the golden era and a newcomer thinking about their first pair.  Keia has a very authentic way of weaving the past with the present that showcases a narrative of the beauty in our Black experiences.

Her latest creation of the ‘Hair Force 1s’ had us stop mid-scroll and do a double take.  Aside from being an artist, Keia is a beautician who linked the hearts and hardships of Black women through the rotating beauty shop sessions.  Some of the hairstyles we love today were the originators fueling our street style, and were seen as a blank canvas.  In Keia’s words, “Salt-n-Pepa walked so we could run”.  Mixing her passions of sneakers and hair, Keia wow’d us with her remix of the classic Nike Air Force 1.

“Customizing sneakers has always been fun, but I love to challenge myself and actually build on the sneaker with fabrics and materials that are not your normal go to’s.

I approached the whole execution like an actual client, literally, a quick weave, interlocks, finger waves etc. The earrings came towards the end, they were the missing link I needed., a true representation of the Round the Way girl I always adored since I was a kid.” 

Keia isn’t new to the game and had an affinity for a fly sneaker rotation since the 80s.  In an ode to Black women, the ‘Hair Force 1s’ are meant to send an empowering message.

“I want the Hair Force 1s to make Black women feel proud. We have been conditioned to feel a certain way with negative condensations of our textures or styles.  This sneaker was my way of saying be unapologetic and love exactly how the creator made you to be. Our hair is part of our journey through life and every Black woman has had their ups and downs with their standards of beauty or what it should look like. I want this sneaker to celebrate that journey and to say there’s art, beauty, and an unspeakable shared bond.”

In many ways, Keia’s creativity is also her calling to serve.  Regardless of what the outside world may dictate as cool or innovative, Keia’s passion for empowering other women through her talents has catapulted her creative career.  More importantly, she continues to build a table for everyone while convening the sneaker community and beyond.

“In 2002, I learned in my early 20s that 1% of the world was wealthy and I might always be a part of the 99% working class. I decided then that I would always do what serves my purpose.  It wasn’t until 2017 that I really thought of what legacy looks like for me. While for most, it’s generational wealth (don’t get me wrong, of course I want some version of that too), but legacy for me was making work that shows my daughter, nephews, and nieces to take risks while believing in yourself and own your creativity. 

Life can get hard, and our communities spend most of their time trying to survive the struggle, rather than actually living and enjoying life. I love the idea of my legacy to leave is proof that success is what you make it.”

Make sure to connect and keep up with Keia Kodoma on INSTAGRAM.