Meet Kate Tisdell | Founder of Talia and Nasya Clothing Brand

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kate Tisdell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I think I’ve always known that I would start my own business. How that came to be reality has been a truly organic process. As most people’s lives became more internalized and isolated due to the pandemic, I actively sought to maintain and further my daughters’ connection to the African continent beyond just knowing that their parents are from African countries. The Adinkra symbols, which is the centerpiece of our first collection, really became the entry point for me into this journey. The Adinkra symbols were a tactile, approachable way to teach my children about their roots. In my personal rediscovery of these cultural touchstones through the eyes of my daughters, I realized they could be an entry point to bring the bold, colorful DNA of African prints into our everyday lives. Through Talia and Nasya I hope to communicate the Africa I know to the rest of the world in a tangible way.

What should our readers know about your business?
There’s a saying that Africa is about the vibes. We as Africans are about feelings, non-verbal expression of emotions and deep roots and attachment to our community and family. This is what Talia and Nasya is all about. We are a brand that invites our community to explore the meaning of African symbols and the stories and life lessons they hold. Through the discovery of these symbols, a person can either reflect on where they are in their lives, or who they are striving to be. This level of intentionality sets us apart. When I see my daughters freely express themselves through our clothing and connect deeply to the Adinkra symbols, in those moments, I feel like I am moving towards my purpose. Seeing them celebrate their African heritage through our clothes makes me so happy because I am certain that others would relate and connect to these symbols as much as my family has.

The road to building my company has been filled with ups and downs that have served as learning experiences. The hardest part of establishing this business is the struggle of balancing being a mother, wife, family relationships, graduate school and maintaining a full time job.When I first told my husband I wanted to turn Talia and Nasya into a business, he definitely expressed concerns. However, as the business plan began to unfold, he really took to the vision and has truly made this possible for me to pursue. There is a certain level of persistence you must have in order to pursue your passions and dreams, because it doesn’t come to reality without sacrifices. In experiencing these struggles, I have really been shown the value and depth of my community, which has provided me with incredible support. I really have an amazing tribe that wants to see me win.

I want the world to know that by supporting Talia and Nasya, you will be joining a community that is focused on sharing an Africa that one might not see or hear about everyday. One of my favorite quotes is from the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, which says, “Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our story.” This quote summarizes the vision for our brand which is a world where we see a better future for the African continent, one defined by the luxury and antiquity of our arts. I want to mention our upcoming Sankofa collection which commemorates the 2nd year of the American public celebrating Juneteenth. The symbol Sankofa will transport you to the African continent, recall the value of returning to your roots, and encourage free expression of African cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from Eastern African patterns, the Sankofa collection intentionally accentuates the vibrant green, yellow and red colors found in flags across the continent.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I live in the DMV we would be going on a tour on Capitol Hill and DC Monuments and various Smithsonian museums; that’s more than enough to take over a week 🙂

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many amazing people who’ve been a part of my journey and supported the development of Talia and Nasya. With that said, I want to recognize my incredible husband who provides the support I need allowing me to pursue my dreams. I am so grateful to him and so glad that I have a partner that cheers me on as I continue to fly high. Finally, I want to recognize my team; Veronica, Yveline and Maddy, the three dynamic women supporting me as I develop this brand. They have contributed their time, effort and brilliance into building the foundation of Talia and Nasya, and for that I am eternally grateful.

ersonalKateTisdell

Website: https://taliaandnasya.com/

Instagram: @taliaandnasya

Linkedin: Kate Tisdell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taliaandnasya

Tiktok: @taliaandnasya

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowE9FTkoJQm8gdJ0VFMjTg