Meet Ny’Asia Keys | Crochet Artist and Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ny’Asia Keys and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ny’Asia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I became interested in the realm of crochet and fiber arts about two years ago. I was determined to master the craft; I bought a starter kit at Walmart and watched Youtube tutorials until I got the basics down. Once I learned the basics, I started to create garments that I felt embodied my personal style and aesthetic. I would be so proud of myself whenever I would finish and try on the pieces that I crocheted. This pride and excitement inspired me to share my creations with my friends online. I would post these garments on Instagram – with my own personal flair – and I would constantly get so many encouraging comments. After a few months, my friends, both online and offline, began to suggest that I should start selling the pieces that I would make. I was reluctant at first, as I feared that my art wasn’t valuable enough to be paid for. Over time, I became increasingly confident in my abilities. I continued to push out content online, and I began to reach a wider audience receiving even more positive comments. With this increase in confidence and digital engagement, I knew that it was time to start my business. My inspiration to make that leap ultimately stemmed from the opportunity to bring joy to others through the beauty of crochet.

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 business is named Threaded Muse, and that concept is what influences everything that I create. I want the pieces that I create to make the person wearing them feel as if they’re a muse. This is an important reason behind why I specialize in doing custom garments. The pieces that I create should not only affirm one’s personal style, but it should make them feel joyful, powerful, beautiful, prideful, and anything in between. I want my customers to feel excited to wear what I made when they see it in their closets. When I make pieces for myself, I aim to experiment with my style by pushing boundaries within the realm of hyper femininity. It’s so fun to create different shapes, silhouettes, and characters through the pieces that I make. I’m proud of the name that I’ve made for myself in my community and I’m so grateful to have been a source of inspiration for others who partake in this craft. I want my brand to send the message that fashion is experimental, expressive, and a valid method of worldbuildling.

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?
If my best friend was visiting Athens for the week, I think we would have so much fun exploring the city. A general outline of our plans would go like this:

Monday: I love food, so we would first get lunch somewhere Cafe on Lumpkin or Taqueria Tsunami. In the evening we could go skating at Athens Skate Inn. Skating is one of my favorite things to do!

Tuesday: On Tuesday we could make breakfast and lunch at home and then go to Target. It’s definitely unconventional, but my friends and I oddly enjoy just window shopping and goofing around at random stores like Target and Walmart. We could buy games that we could play for a night in at my place. Plus, Target is right next to Joann, so we could buy stuff to do crafts!

Wednesday: Since UGA is known as the heart of Athens, we could spend the afternoon checking out different spots on campus, particularly the bookstore and some of the art museums on campus. Then we could get dinner somewhere like La Fiesta or Outback.

Thursday: Bowling at Showtime Bowl! I love playing sports with my friends (even if I suck at them) and bowling is one of my favorites! Plus the bowling alley has a mini arcade that has lots of fun games to play.

Friday: For the first part of the day, we could go shopping in downtown Athens and check out all of the stores. Some of my favorites are Margo’s, and Wuxtry Records. In the evening, we could explore the bars in downtown Athens. We could go to Cloud, Church, and Wonderbar. I like trying new drinks and dancing with my friends, so anywhere that has good music is great! Plus, downtown tends to be busy on Fridays so there are many opportunities to meet fun, new people.

Saturday: Bear Hollow Zoo. My friends and I love animals so we would have such a great time going there. Plus it’s free!

Sunday: For our last day together, we could spend the day exploring some of the trails around Athens. They’re so peaceful. It would be a great way to end the trip, getting to just talk and spend time together while observing nature and the people around us.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shoutout my community; all of my dear friends, family, and loved ones who encouraged me and believed in me before I believed in myself. Your love and kind words inspire me every day. I also want to shoutout all of the young, underprivileged artists of color out there – keep creating, keep learning, and keep dreaming. You are seen and valued.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yasianay/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010143727020

Image Credits
Kimmi Dulaney