Meet Peri Perkins | College Student and Fashion Designer

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

Hi Peri, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I am a firm believer that it is impossible to grow in life without taking risks, but I didn’t always feel this way. This used to be a terrifying concept to me because I didn’t like change. I preferred living in familiar territory because I was uncomfortable with the unknown, and I knew that nothing could go wrong if I stayed within my comfort zone. After I began college two years ago, my life became the epitome of change and taking risks, and through that, not only did I learn to become comfortable with risk taking, but I’ve come to love it! Taking risks has played a huge role in my career as a designer because it has forced me to step outside of my comfort zone and grow my brand. It is healthy to put yourself and your work out into the world, because that is the only way to gain exposure and experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Free Your Mind is a brand that was created to look at streetwear through the lens of mental health, and tell my story as a young and passionate designer with ADHD. Art and mental health connect in many ways, and Free Your Mind does its part in spreading awareness about an important matter, and doing so in a creative manner. My brand uses art to portray the stories of those who wear it, which means much more than words.

My brand came to life from a school project that I was assigned in my freshman year of college: we were tasked with taking a blank white hoodie and given the creative freedom to do whatever we wanted to it. After an overwhelming amount of support, I decided to turn my project into a brand, and now I’m running a small business and following my dreams as a designer!

I believe that the creative elements of my clothing sets me apart from others. I take pride in the smallest of details, and I make sure to use consistent design elements in my work. The butterflies on my hoodies were chosen to represent freedom, and the angel numbers “444” represent protection and good luck. I hand paint, hand-embroider, and sew denim onto all of my hoodies as well. These elements are the core of my brand identity. They make all of my clothing one of a kind, and physically differentiate myself from other brands. My goal is for consumers to see these elements and automatically associate them with Free Your Mind.

I started my brand in August 2023, and I’ve already gotten the opportunity to participate in NYFW, The Atlanta Streetwear Market, and I even got to meet the mayor of Atlanta and present him with a 1-of-1 hoodie! I have made a lot of strides in the past several months, but it is not easy at all, especially on top of being a full time student. The only way to overcome these challenges is to acknowledge them, find out how to pivot, and keep persevering. I am a very persistent person, which can definitely be a blessing and a curse, but I believe that my determination is the tool that has gotten me to where I am today. As a young, black, female entrepreneur in a fast paced environment like Atlanta, I’m required to have extremely tough skin and a lot of passion, and I am fortunately blessed with both. The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is that it is normal to feel overwhelmed and defeated when a challenge arises, but what is important is how you handle that challenge and rise above it. There have been plenty of situations where I have considered throwing in the towel after a setback, but I’ve had to remind myself that failure is a part of the journey, and the only way to succeed is to keep pushing towards my goals.

I want the world to know that the right choice is to always be authentic, and there is never a wrong time to follow your dreams. I’m extremely grateful to be able to follow mine, and I can thank my brand for helping me find myself as a creative and as a person. This is just the beginning of my journey, but I am excited to see Free Your Mind grow into a global name!

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 still have a lot of exploring to do in Atlanta, but if I had my best friend in town, I would take them to Ponce City Market to walk the belt-line first. Then we would go to Little Five Points to check out all of the unique small shops and curated stores. For brunch, we would go to West Egg Cafe, which has become one of my favorite breakfast/brunch spots. Lastly, I would take them to the SCAD FASH terrace, because we are blessed with one of the best views in the city!

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 owe everything to my family and close friends, because they have been my supporters since I could pick up a paintbrush. Growing up, I’ve always been told that it takes a village to raise a child, and I wouldn’t be who and where I am without mine. My village has supported me through all of my artistic endeavors, especially with my brand. I want to give a special shoutout to my parents and my grandmother for their unwavering faith in my ability to thrive as a designer. Thank you to Granna for constantly reminding me that I am made to follow my dreams, thank you to my dad for sending me to my dream school, and thank you to my mom for being my number #1 advocate and supporter, and believing in my potential.

Website: https://freeyourmind4co.wixsite.com/freeyourmind4co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freeyourmind4clothing/

Image Credits
Maurice (ig: circlboi)