Today we’d like to introduce you to Kori Amber
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Beginning…
I started sewing when I was 24 years old. Originally I had aspirations of becoming a fashion journalist with dreams of owning my own high end fashion magazine. I applied for college and got accepted into a mass communications program. In my last year of high school and prom was near i sketched and designed my dress for a locally known Prom dress designer Sir Walter and his wife to make. Fast forward, years after I was still getting so many compliments and even other girl asking me if i could design their dresses. By this time i was in school to become a journalist. One day i called my mom and let her know i made the decision to switch my major to fashion design. She was livid, but would later become my biggest supporter. At 23 years old I got accepted into the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, sold my car, packed my clothes and with no where to stay booked a one way flight to Fort Lauderdale, FL. I had never lived on my own, let alone 1400 miles away from my mom. As scared as I was driven and didn’t want to give up so i lived in a hostel, found a job as a waitress and paid myself through fashion school. I loved fashion school so much from the teachers, the classes, and my peers. I was getting straight A’s with hopes of making the dean’s list. In 2015 just a couple weeks shy of the end of the semester I got a call that my grandmother was taken away from us in Accra, Ghana-Africa. I was devastated, lost, hopeless, and depressed. Going from straight A’s all semester I failed every test and project quickly bringing all of my grades down. So i dropped out. I lost all the drive and interest in becoming a designer. My grandmother was my second mother, I was her mini-me as she would call me, she bought me my first sewing machine.
Although i was no longer in school I did not want to move back to cleveland so I picked up more hours at my job, got a roommate and stayed living in florida.
About 2 years later, still had never touched a machine, i was walking to work and looked over to a plaza that i walked past everyday but never paid attention too, “Sewing Classes Available” hanging on the window. With a little time to spare before work I went in to get more information. I was greeted by this sweet, small, Pakistani lady named Sanjeeda Beig. I was amazed by the entire establishment. When you first walk in there is a small store front, once you walk to the back is this huge like sweatshop. I instantly fell in love. We started with a few classes during the week, when i fell short of tuition money she let me intern for her in exchange for classes. I learned EVERYTHING I know with her from sketching, pattern making/drafting, cutting, and sewing on industrial machines. I stayed under her wing for about 4 years. During those years I landed an opportunity as Jr. Creative Director for Fort Lauderdale Fashion Week, and other internships.
In April of 2023, 6 months after moving back home, I made 2 prom dresses. 1 dress for free, and the other for $400. after 2 years of finalizing the case on my car accident I received a lump some of money. As tempting as it was to use that money and move back to florida I decided to invest it. I decided to bet on myself. In October of 2023, for my birthday I gifted myself a class with my favorite prom dress designer. Although I knew the basic skills I wanted to perfect my craft to take my business to the next level. So I paid $1900 for a one day masterclass with The Prom Boss (Bakrvi), my very supportive parents drove with me and my 3 year old son to atlanta and it was every bit of worth it. I left her class and by May of 2024 Made 17 Prom dresses and made over $11,000.
I worked the entire prom season out of the Library’s innovation center in my neighborhood with help from a retired fashion designer name Bernice Sanders who shares the same birthday as my grandmother. I know my grandmother sent her. She assisted me a great deal near the end due to me not knowing I was going to be as booked as i was and it being just me. I had to turn down 20 girls because I was so booked, unexpected. Although I was upset about having to turn down so many potential clients, it was filled with happy and excited emotions! To be booked and having to turn down bookings made me realize my time was finally here. This year will be multiple interns and employees since my business have grown. We are preparing now for 2025 Pre Made Prom Dress Collection and will start taking custom orders in november 2024.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2021 when the pandemic hit I ended up having a beautiful son. As rewarding as it was to be able to give birth after 6 miscarriages I was struggling to take care of him. I had to work full time as a waitress, with little to no support, and nobody to watch after him while I worked I ended up having to move back to cleveland. I was able to survive 10 years in south florida without coming back home but it was a sacrifice I had to make for my baby. My first month back home I went into a deep depression. I had lost everything! My car in a bad accident, a place I made home, I was broke, I felt like a failure having to move back with my parents. I cried every single night after my son fell asleep confused and defeated. No one knowing of my masked depression, my younger brother gave me the most profound advice that changed my life. I asked him how does he not let anything bother him, no matter what’s happening, he said you gotta chase peace not happiness. It was like electricity that charged up my brain cells. It sounds so cliche but it made so much since. He later told me he got it from a quote said by Kevin Durant.
“That’s just a fleeting feeling it can just go so up and down i don’t want to chase that. Feeling it’s just not an efficient way for me to live i feel like. Just. Having peace.” -Kevin Durant
After that I began my journey to peace, I got up early in the AM, went outside to write in my journal every day. Bare feet to ground in the grass, the birds were chirping as my skin soaked up the sun. It was the best therapy. And slowly but very quickly I could feel me getting back to myself. Realizing this isn’t a set back but a reset and a chance to make my dreams come true.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Fashion designer and started the brand Kor Cartel in 2014 later changing it Cokovenda Janna Collection in 2016. Cokovenda is Angolan, it was the name of a african warrior woman apart of Queen Nzinga’s tribe who my grandmother is named after. Janna is my grandmother’s last name.
At Coko J Collection we make custom swimwear and dresses. We specialize in Prom gowns with the plan to specialize in wedding dresses in the near future.
I am most proud of my special event dress when the client let’s me have complete creative control. When my dresses are being worn Ive heard multiple time before they knew forsure they seen my work and knew it was mine.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I got where I am from networking and having mentors. For any creatives attend EVERY art networking even and fashion shows. Starting off intern, wear your work!
I made myself a walking business card, any networking event I attended I made myself a custom outfit and my outfit would literally network for me.
I didnt finish school I wouldnt be where i am if I didnt have fashion design mentors to guide and teach me.
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