Meet Adiellah “Adi” Bates | Artist, Designer, Dancer, Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Adiellah “Adi” Bates and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Adiellah “Adi”, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is community. The community raised me to be the woman I am and gave me the platform for, and support in, my business ventures.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is channeled thru clothing design and graphic design and I am proud of being able to do both! Currently I am working towards combining the two but currently I use graphic design for marketing my clothing line. It has been a long slow road to where I am today but there’s still a long road ahead. I started my clothing line, Aya Donna, in 2011 and have been growing thru the process since then. There have been challenges, but challenges are learning opportunities. I’ve also been dabbling in graphic design for a few years now but just recently completed a Graphic Design Certificate program. This program took a lot of focus and dedication but also gave so many tips, tools, and resources that I can use in my business and to help others. Difficulties and challenges are a part of life and overcoming them involves continually pushing forward. Learn from the difficulties, walk towards the challenges, and learn as much as possible from every situation. I hope my story let’s people know that you can do and be as much you want to be. I can be a graphic designer, clothing designer, dancer, marketing manager, and as many other things as I choose. There is no limit to self discovery or self expression.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If a friend came to visit me in Atlanta (in a post COVID world) I would take them to at least 2 African Dance classes -Uhuru Dancers on Saturday, and Giwayen Mata on Sunday. We would visit the Village Market ATL, stop by Craft Savy Market, find out what Buy From A Black Woman was doing. Get food at a wide range of restaurants, shop from local vendors, walk/run/hike, and probably check out some tourist places that us local ATL people don’t visit very often and close out at least one night with some Kizomba.

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?
I dedicate this shoutout to my families: My mother who nurtured creativity and business ownership at a young age. My Uhuru Dancers family who gave me the platform to express myself and grow into a designer, an marketing manager, and a dancer. My sister circle of creative, driven, intelligent, and talented women who inspire and support. My Giwayen Mata family who embraced me with all of my abilities and quirks and gave me opportunities that allowed me to be challenged and grow.

Website: www.AyaDonna.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/aya_donna

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

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/giwayenmata

Image Credits
Kevin Parker