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

Hi Sizzy, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
My brand is all about authenticity, self-love, and love of others. My goal is to provide a safe space for people to live in the fullness of themselves. As I grow older, I am learning to love and accept everything that I am. I’ve found empowerment in leaning into my own intersectionality as a black man, who happens to be gay; masculine, but also feminine; quiet, but very powerful; emotional, yet controlled. In this time of increased activism, I believe that it is extremely important to understand and keep intersectionality at the forefront. If Black Lives Matter is to be the mantra, then that means that all black lives must matter. We cannot advocate for only certain members of this community. If my brand can do anything, I want it to bring people together within themselves while simultaneously uniting communities as a whole.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
To be quite honest, one of the biggest struggles that I’ve had since starting my journey to entrepreneurship has been what to call myself. Because I do so many things and always felt that they were disjointed, I felt the need to compartmentalize my art. I have very recently come into the realization that what I am is simply an artist. I design, write, sing, paint, and will one day perform. I credit my discovery of the world of “drag” for helping me come to this point. Seeing drag performers and all that they go through in order to put that final product of what we see on stage helped me to understand that I can combine every aspect of my creativity into something that makes sense. I believe that that is what sets me a part in the fashion space specifically. Love & Osker is no longer simply a clothing brand, but a creative collective. The brand is a reflection of all that I am and that I do. It is empowerment for my clients to celebrate who they are and the story that makes them special. Love & Osker lets people be who they were created to be.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have already done this with my best friend’s when they’ve visited me. My favorite “put on” location thus far has been Jenni’s Splendid Ice Creams, specifically the one in Midtown (Atlanta). Whenever my friends come into town there are two places that are kinda mandatory: Jenni’s and Juicy Crab. They are hooked on both and almost force me to go now when they come. HA.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my recently departed grandfather, Webster Matthews. He spent my entire life making sure that I had what I needed to become a strong black man. When I came out to him as gay, his initial reaction was not that great. But seeing him evolve over time to not only grow to understand me, but also the gay community, gave me hope that people can change if they make the choice. He gave me love; he gave me hope, he gave me everything.

Website: www.loveandosker.com
Instagram: @loveandosker | @sizzygalore
Twitter: @sizzygalore
Facebook: www.facebook.com/loveandosker

Image Credits
Pink Background images are of Stylist & Blogger @aliscia.marie in a custom look that I created for her. The woman in Jeans and the green top is my mother, Artavia Matthews (@taetheagent) in a sculpted green dress from my upcoming capsule collection. The rest of the images are me.