We had the good fortune of connecting with Armani Blair and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Armani, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Love, Armani represents my journey to self-love. I started wearing wigs faithfully at the age of 14 in 2008, well before they were as common as they are now. The problem wasn’t the wig itself. It was the fact that I adopted it as my own and neglected the hair that grew from my roots. Twelve years later, I realized that you cannot accept who you are if you do not embrace your roots. Our ancestry is the foundation of where we come from, and you must return to it to gain knowledge of self. This revelation marked a rebirth for me, and just like a baby, I had to learn to walk in my natural hair. For the first time ever, I began searching for protective styles to help me (it) grow, and through that process, Love, Armani was born. Inspired by the undeniable beauty of black women wearing headwraps, I designed beautiful crowns for women to wear as a symbol of our royalty. The crowns hold the essence of who we are and it is a gift to us in celebration of us. Love, Armani.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When delving into the world of headwraps, I had a hard time finding ones that spoke to me so I created my own. They are designed using luxury storytelling fabrics in vibrant colors and prints from all throughout the world. I call them Satin Crowns. The Satin Crown is like no other headwrap because there is an energy that lives within them which naturally draws the attention of the very women whom they were inspired by. It is the most rewarding feeling to see how women transform once they put on their crown. Their spirit becomes one with them because they are just a physical representation of the Queen that they are. It is an honor to be a part of a moment so magical and I know that this is what I’ve been called to do. I want the world to know that Love, Armani is 26 years in the making and this is just the beginning.
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?
Friday Night, I would take them to dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant in Buckhead called Chai Yo. Their Chilean Sea Bass is unmatched and I highly recommend. Saturday, we would go by the Atlanta Indie Market in the West End where you can shop with local entrepreneurs and creatives. There you can find beautiful items such as handmade items like jewelry,clothing and paintings just to name a few. They also have amazing food vendors! Sunday, we would stop by Ponce City Market and ride scooters through the beltline which is decorated with breathtaking murals.
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 would first like to shout out every individual that has come into my life. Each person I’ve interacted with has been divinely placed in my life to help me become who I am today and for that, I am grateful. I would like to also extend a special shout-out to Beyonce for creating Black is King. The imagery and message behind the film is a part of what inspired me to do what I am doing now. Thank you Beyonce.
Website: www.lovearmani.com
Instagram: @shoplovearmani