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

Hi PhaeMonae, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Well starting my own business really came about because as a creative I had been giving so much and elevating companies I had been apart of to new heights while not being truly acknowledged or appreciated for my efforts. I had even been fired from my. last job for basically doing it “too well”. The thoughts of owning a business felt daunting but my peers kept encouraging me that it was time and I was more than capable of doing it. So. after a few months of searching for employment and not getting anything I decided to LLC myself. It was a rough 1st yr transitioning into being my own boss. I had never been so poor lol, I have always had multiple jobs since I was first eligible to have one. Obviously being self-made comes with a lot of learning curves too, so I truly just became super transparent about my situation and what ways I needed help on social media and fox started passing along resources to me. I also found it important to stay visible and apart of community physically as much as possible. I have seen so much art, been in nature often, and spent lots of time hanging with friends and family. I believe all the pouring into self helped to spark lots of inspiration and motivation. I write a lot of grants also to help keep me afloat artistically and it seems over time I am becoming very good at that.

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 generally an anthology of real people’s stories. I am my 1st muse but I seek inspiration from those I am inspired by and those I empathize with as well. I try to use my point of view with fashion to entice an internal riot or promote jovial expression. I want my wears to make you feel something when you see them. I am a maximalist so the devil is in the details and the styling is always very clear and on point. As a performance artist I think similarly I look to tell stories in order to connect people more deeply through the gaze of socially charged art offerings. I think dreamscape is a perfect way to describe my approach to live and video performance. Although I have some training from working in fashion I am completely self-taught. I have no professional training and so my technical skills have transformed overtime thanx to trial and error and “YouTube-university”. I definitely love a good challenge and am very big on dreaming up major visual impact. I truly believe I can do anything as a DIY girly and if I don’t I know the creative in me can always find a pivot point. I am most excited about my abilities to advocate for social change through my art practices and really being considerate of how things were but where things need to go. I was afraid of my inherit leadership before but now I know intuitively thanx to my ancestors and daily reflections that I am here to shake shit up and disrupt with pure LOVE. None of this is easy but the truth is I don’t know how to be anything but what I am “ARTIST”, even if it wasn’t for sale if you’d see me walking down the street you’d know I am deeply to the core Artist. I am still learning to take proper breaks for myself. Work life balance was hard working for someone else but there was always a clocking\ out time. When working for yourself and trying to build momentum it is super easy to burn yourself out and not do anything for yourself. I have a complex around needing to deserve rest, and everyday I am trying to be better about resting because I feel like it and for no other reason than that. I want everyone to know about my brand is that I may not seem like I cater to “everyones” taste value however what I do is cater to my truth and within being inherently me I hope to inspire folk to be boldly them too.

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.
Ok my spots honestly have been getting shut down left and right ATL is changing a lot a lot very rapidly post pandemic. I think it really would depend on what they were interested in and I would cater to that. I am a weird art scene kid so most of my adventures include my fellow weirdo queerdo’s in ATL. I mean EAV has lots of dance fun for sure like The Basement, 529, Marys, and Banshee. They’ve also got some good bites, and the city is pretty vibrant most hours of the day. Avoid Edgewood at all cost lol, however ourbar is always the perfect vibe. I love my friends at Fishmonger (owners of Octopus bar\Soba and the OG 8 ARM that is now shutdown). If its the summer obviously Chakakhan Hacienda Parties, Atl streets alive, and anything daytime festival vibe honestly. I also love the drag scene here, it is the most diverse and truly has some incredible talent here! I also love to eat a cute daytime lunch at El Tesoro and feel that it a humble flex for ATL energy. OOOO but don’t forget the vegan spots like Healthful essence , Tassillis Raw, and Healthy Essence’ by the Westend YUM! Im a big nature girl so if they are down for some hiking, the waterfalls in georgia are a must or even like the farm spots where you can pick fresh flowers and fruits etc. are absolutely where you’d find me mostly.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Aurora James was a big turning point in my 1st steps of owning a business. I read her latest book “Wildflower”, is a memoir about her life and rise in fashion and philanthropy. She invests and offers the knowledge she gains and the resources that surround her to people of color always. I really appreciate how although she is in an industry wrapped around self-image she has found a way to make people think more about the situations surrounding real life and real people and not just what’s next in fashion. I would also say my mom and my closest friends here in ATL are also in need of a shoutout because the way they poured into me, supported me, offered me financial help, and even modeled my early fashions really helped me feel empowered to keep going forward.

Website: https://PhaeMonae.squarespace.com

Instagram: PhaeMonae.555

Other: phaemonaestudio.com

other website

Image Credits
Camille Breslin
DeMauge
Kimara Dixon
Aboubacar Kante
Smiley (Brittany Gary)
Ashley White

I think this is all of them eek sorry

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