Today we’d like to introduce you to Zaria Akins.
Hi Zaria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been a creative and from what I remember crocheting was one of the first mediums that I played around with. My mom taught me how to make things like blankets and scarves but from there I decided to expand into clothing items and other accessories. When I realized that I could make the visions of what I was seeing in my head, that made me want to expand into sewing as well. Although crochet and sewing are huge parts of my creative path now, that isn’t where it all started. My love for the arts started on stage and in the spotlight as a theater kid. Acting has been my true first love since I can remember. I would audition for local commercials, compete in pageants, and find whatever theater production I could participate in. Even though the arts have been part of my story for a long time, I am just now allowing myself to live in it and truly share it with the rest of the world. For a while I felt as if I had my hands in too many buckets, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized it is a blessing to be able to share my art with everyone. So now I choose to create freely and hope it inspires the next artist to realize they aren’t doing too much if it is making them happy and helping them connect with those around them. I started trusting myself and what I can do which has opened so many doors in such a short amount of time.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It absolutely has not been a smooth road. Being an artist of any form always comes with it’s challenges, and a lot of times it can be me standing in my own way. I’ve struggled internally with not being enough, my work not being enough, and worst of all comparing myself to those around me. Wondering what others think of the things that I create. At some point I got so deep into my head that I actually stopped creating for years. It was like my vision was blurred from all the what-ifs floating around in my head. Eventually I got over that pattern of thinking but it really made me realize we are our own worst enemy/critic. Then of course you have the droughts of not feeling creative and feeling like you’re on a road block. These days its so hard to keep up with the trends that its easy to get stuck with thinking what could be next.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Overall I am an artist. I am known for my crochet work and acting, but I also model and design/sew. I am most proud of truly pushing myself to expand my crochet business, Sunni Thingz. In the matter of one year I have gotten Sunni Thingz in a boutique, Pattycake Conventions by Danielle Fuller, and as well as sold out of my most popular item the crochet durag multiple times. My work has been sent to multiple states as far as California and Texas. The thing that sets me apart from others is I try to not make one item the same. There will always be one knack in the item that will make it differ from the next even if its technically the same product. I take my time with my work and create with intent. I don’t look at what I do as business but as my art, my form of love and connection, and that will always be the thing that sets me apart. Whenever an item is made by commission I always love to make sure that I send some form of affirmation or encouraging words to the customer I am creating for. Things carry our energy and I want to make sure that people feel warm and happy when they receive my items.
What does success mean to you?
Success is more than just the monetary gain and ‘clout’ received from making and pushing out my art, but its about feeling confident in the things I make. Success to me is continuing to push through even when things are getting hard and finding ways to love it again. I feel as if I am successful when I put my everything into something and walking away knowing I’ve done all that I can. I feel as if I am successful when I touch someone and help them realize that their potential is beyond the limits placed in their minds including my own.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zariaamakaylaa?igsh=MTFzOHFwbDZ0OHVwdg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CedWjH8zU/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zariaakins?_t=ZT-90TRxDGwdJ7&_r=1
