Black History Month Staff Feature: Nia Harrison
Photos taken by Katie Chandler, edited by Nia Harrison
Written by Katie Chandler
Every college student remembers the anxiety of getting ready to graduate from high school and not knowing exactly what you want to do or where you want to go. While looking at colleges in high school, Sartorial Creative Director, Nia Harrison, originally planned to study education and become a teacher. It was not until she remembered her childhood passion for clothes that she began exploring the options of being a stylist and working in the fashion industry.
"I remember my mom yelling at me, saying ‘if you change your outfit one more time, I’m leaving you here,’” Nia said. “Then things changed, and it wasn't until late high school that I started caring about how I dressed and presented myself."
While everyone was telling her she needed to go to LA or New York if she wanted to make it big, Nia knew that as a Kansas City native she wanted to stay closer to home. She just wasn't sure where exactly that would be. She certainly did not think it would be Missouri State.
“I toured Missouri State with my friend and I immediately said no,” Nia said, “This just isn't the place for me.”
It took some time, but after looking closer at their fashion department, she began to feel more at home. Nia is currently a sophomore at Missouri State studying merchandising, and thanks to Sartorial, has goals of going into creative directing.
“Sartorial really opened my eyes to what I could become as a creative,” Nia said. “I now really want to work a lot behind the scenes for fashion shows as a creative director.”
Joining just last year, Nia said she never saw herself becoming a part of the executive board but is so excited and grateful for the opportunity.
“I went to a meeting and felt so welcomed after the first time. I thought even if I can't write, at least they like me,” she joked.
While being a director was new, Nia has always had a creative imagination. When thinking about her influences growing up, Nia and her siblings, labeled, “The Basement Dwellers” by their family, were constantly creating new worlds and games. Nia touched on the sad reality of how growing up Black means creating your own world because it's hard to escape into the fantasies you see on TV when no one looks like you.
Due to the lack of Black representation in media, it was up to real-life role models to fill the gap. Women like Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell, and Nina Simone were some that Nia looked up to for being unapologetic Black women. Even as a young girl, Nia knew life would be harder growing up as a Black woman in America.
“There's not a specific day that it happens, but you start to notice you'll only be picked first when it is convenient for others,” Nia said. “Even at school, I'll be picked for the diversity shoots, but those same people won't ever talk to me outside of that. I don't want to only be used for your portfolio to show Black representation. I want to be chosen for my talent.”
It took some time and many long talks with her mom, but Nia learned to love the things society told her to hate.
“I love my hair,” Nia said. “The fact that I can cut it off, grow it back, rock an afro, rock curls or braids.”
When back at home, Nia's older sister braids her hair. While to some it may seem like a regular hair appointment, for Nia and Black people everywhere, it's much more — it's a bonding experience.
“I can't even sit here and say I enjoyed sitting there the whole time,” Nia laughed. “The last time my braids took two days to do, but it's something I’ll never forget.”
Nia’s advice to others is to do the same thing.
“Embrace who you are, that is the least you can do. You can cry and compare yourself all day, but one day you will have to accept how you were born.”
“Walk into a room like you own it. Trying to water down your personality for others won't stop anyone from judging you.”
This won't be the last time you hear from Nia as she's not someone who has any plans of giving up or slowing down.
“Anything I think of, I try to do. Regardless if I fail or hate it years later, I have to try it,” Nia said.
That doesn't come with doubts. Nia said one of her biggest fears is that everything she's worked hard for could be gone at any second. But that won't stop her, and she will not let others tell her story for her.
“I know it's scary, but you just have to keep pushing those ideas out there because eventually, someone will see it and hopefully they'll bet on you.”
Check out some of Nia's work for Sartorial below.