Rising Stars: Meet Jessica Akagi of Shawnee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Akagi.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I have always been creative and loved organizing events, whether a themed party or a family get-together. I enjoyed making matching t-shirts, designing backgrounds, and creating treasure hunts. As the oldest of four siblings, I was a natural caretaker but also loved crafting and setting up elaborate dinners for my parents. I would stage photo shoots for my siblings, direct plays with stage design, video, and dance routines.

The arts have always been a significant part of my life. I grew up singing for my church youth group and school choir and played the lead female role in my high school musical. Following the pandemic, I started designing t-shirts as a creative outlet. As a full-time nurse of 20+ years and mother of five girls, the daily grind and effects of nursing took a toll on my mental health. My twin daughters were delivered prematurely and brought home from the NICU only three months before the lockdown occurred. Balancing work at the hospital, schooling my three older girls, and caring for my newborns was challenging. With no parties or family get-togethers amid the pandemic, I longed to celebrate, contribute, and belong. I didn’t realize how important it was to me until everything stopped during Covid.

Choosing to continue in my creative process was healing for me. My t-shirt designs allowed me to focus on all the good and positive things in my life, and my business was born. Wildheart7 features designs centered around my love for Kansas City, the Midwest, and my quirky, brimming full life as a mom of five daughters. My family, friends, requests, ideas, and themes inspire my t-shirt designs, and it has allowed me to connect to those I care about while conveying my feelings. Building this connection between my two worlds helped me feel whole and happy again. Out of the need for my company’s promotion, I also started blogging about my twin daughter’s antics. They are chaos in a bundle, and their actions are so wild and unbelievable that I thought others might get a kick out of them too.

You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been fairly smooth?
As a nurse, it has been a challenge to break away from the closed-lip atmosphere of the medical field and express myself creatively. Journaling my frustrations and experiences started me on the path to healing and eventually led me to create Wildheart 7 tees. The name of my company is a nod to my wild family of seven, whom I love with all my heart. Building a brand is challenging, as it forced me to open up about my private life, which I had previously avoided. Starting a simple t-shirt company should be easy.

As a nurse, I deal with emergencies for a living, but Wildheart 7 forced me to open up. It has also been a challenge to make myself stand out in a competitive market while juggling the responsibilities of caring for my twins and three older daughters and continuing my work as a nurse.

My sister and her company, Systems to Serve, have been instrumental in my company’s success. She has been a huge lifesaver in helping me set up my website and all of the backend systems it takes to start a business. Thanks to the support of my husband and mother-in-law, I’ve been able to carve out time to build my business. They understand the importance of integrating these two passions and how they fulfill me.

One of the biggest struggles has been consistently promoting my business on social media. While I’m used to dealing with emergencies as a nurse, putting myself out there and marketing my business is still challenging. Nevertheless, I’m determined to express my life through my designs and connect with others who share similar experiences.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a nurse with two decades of experience, my professional journey has been fulfilling, but my passion for creativity has always been a part of me. Creative and talented people have always surrounded me. I grew up on the family farm and lived next door to my grandparents; I was surrounded by talented individuals who made all sorts of things. My grandfather crafted benches and toys, and my grandmother painted them. After working there for 42 years, my dad recently retired from Hallmark and is an extraordinary artist. I may have gleaned some of my imagination from him. These experiences allowed me to think outside the box and develop my artistic abilities.

Since I was four years old, I’ve always dreamed of becoming a nurse. After high school, I pursued my lifelong dream and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Emporia State University. I took some undergrad art classes in college but now wished I had taken more. I’m proud of my Midwestern values, our history as free-staters, and the unique people and places that make up our community. All of these elements come together in my t-shirt designs. My family’s deep roots in Kansas also play a significant role in my work. I’m thrilled to share my passion for creativity and my love for the Midwest through my work. I’m most proud of how my designs reflect my personality and values. Each t-shirt reflects who I am and what I stand for. I want my customers to feel like they’re a part of my family and community. People will feel connected to the Midwest and me by wearing my designs.

What does success mean to you?
Success means having a stable foundation to explore my creative side. While I hope my business continues to grow, I value self-expression and having a creative outlet to share many of life’s joys and experiences. As someone in my forties, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of having these things in my life. Of course, increasing profitability would also be excellent!

I dream of taking my five daughters to the places that have inspired me, like Yellowstone National Park, the Oregon coastline, Ketchikan, Alaska (where extended family lives), and the Florida beaches. These places are not only personally significant, but they also serve as both an anchor and inspiration for my nature-inspired designs.

As my business grows, I look forward to expanding my designs. My ultimate goal is to create a brand representing the Midwest and its values while providing distinctive, high-quality products. If you are searching for unique, Midwest-inspired designs that reflect my fun and creative personality, I invite you to check out my website at wildheart7.com and shop at Wildheart7.com/shop. Be sure to follow along with my blog as I chronicle the many shenanigans that come with raising twins!

Contact Info:

• Website: wildheart7.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildheart7tees/ and https://www.instagram.com/jessicaakagi
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/wildheart7tees
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-akagi7/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/wildheart7tees/ and https://www.pinterest.com/jessicaakagi/

Image Credits
Jessica Akagi Placeit