Meet Katara Banks | Fashion Designer & Actress

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

Hi Katara, why did you pursue a creative career?
Since a young age I’ve been in the arts rather it be singing, acting or dancing. It’s just always been something I’ve been drawn too. I personally think it also has something to do with where i grew up (Lima Ohio) not many people have heard of this place because it’s extremely small with little to no opportunities available. So when my family moved it gave me the opportunity to blossom. truly believe working with the arts is what my calling is.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Designing clothes really just came to me I’d say i was extremely wrapped up in my other arts and talents that i never payed enough attention to actually designing. Though designing has always been there, I remember getting into deep trouble with my grandmother as a child because she would come home and there would be large holes in her fancy leather coats and she couldn’t figure it out until she would see all of my Barbie dolls in custom leather outfits that i hand sewed lol. From there it pretty much just stuck with me i didn’t start back sewing until prom 2017 i had 2 proms to attend and since i had already wore one dress i had to hand make my other, i won prom queen that year. In a industry saturated with “fast fashion” it could become very frustrating trying to set yourself apart from others. When i started designing my main goal was to not create things that are basically already out there i was hellbent on that. I would spend months just sitting on designs because it was too similar to an other design i had seen already. I never sketch so everything comes from my mind don’t get me wrong i can sketch but my designs come out better when I’m laying down at 3 in the morning visualizing the garment from stitch to finish. When i got the opportunity to work with coach in 2018 it was probably one of my proudest moments if not top 10. I was in good will one day and randomly passed by a vintage coach purse something in my mind said “ go back buy the purse and turn it into a bikini” at the time i only knew how to hand sew so i brought the purse turned it into a bikini posted it tagged coach and they reached out to me. I remember working at a job i hated on my lunch break and receiving an email from coach i almost passed away right then and there. The deal i had with them is what funded the beginning of my business. I remember buying all the machines needed and letting them sit for months because they intimidated me lol so many needles and threads i thought. I remember crying countless times because i didn’t have the money for school or a manufacturer at the time so everything i know is self taught. I reached out to people for mentoring but it never happened i was extremely depressed because i didn’t know how I’d make it work but i figured If God called me here then he’s not gonna leave me hanging i just have to keep going and keep trying was my mindset . I started my website and launched a few pieces but i wasn’t consistent because i wasn’t feeling like i was good enough due to experience. I was very “woe is me” but you gotta keep going i have an amazing man who loves and supported me through it all . I started looking at designers who actually make all of their clothing i started looking at their stories and seen a lot of similarities that really pushed me as well like i can do this it might take time but this is my calling! I’ve learned a lot of lessons along the way but they all boil down to “ keep going” i know it’s hard and it doesn’t seem like things are going as planned but KEEP GOING cause honestly if you stop then you are only stopping yourself in the wise words of my granma “keep that mf rollin” I want the world to actually know my full story and that I’m a real person and everything you see on social media isn’t bubble gum and rain bows. There’s a real person behind this brand i want my audience and customers to know the creator so many times we just know “the brand” and that’s it it’s so much more Intimate when you know the creator behind it

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?
I treat my friends like family so if we are going out I’d def take them to The Real Milk & Honey because the vibes are always immaculate along with it being black owned the food is always bomb! Def would do brunch there as well as drinks. I love seafood so of course I’d take them to my fav seafood spot infusion crab atl has some of the best crab Legs after we’d def hit up allure as a former bottle girl i love supporting and turning up with my people !

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost I’d live to give a big shoutout to God I’m more than grateful for really everything. Being an only child and only grandchild of course I’d like to shout out the beautiful women in my life that have helped to shape the woman i am today i wouldn’t be here without their teaching love and wisdom i love you mom and grandma! Looks like that lesson on hand sewing you taught me at a young age is paying off lol ! I’d also like to shout out Ashanti’s Children’s theater who took me in at a young age and molded my skills and helped me with honestly a lot ! Shout out to broad ripple high school but honestly it’s really my theater teacher who deserves this! Ms booth this one’s for you ❤️. Thank you for believing in me always I’m forever indebted.

Website: Www.signedkbanks.com

Instagram: @thekatarabanks

Twitter: Katarabanks

Image Credits
Photo shoots by @kingkutz_studios @through_her_lens