July 29, 2020

Meet Chanique Quinones of Geek Junky in Downtown

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chanique Quinones.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Chanique. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was raised in The Bronx, New York in a big yet close-knit family which included my brother, sister, mother, grandmother, great aunt, my aunt and my two nephews. My dad was apart of my family but he was unfortunately deported to Panama in 2000.

For my high school year, I attended F.L.A.G.S H.S that cater to foreign languages, The Arts, international and exchange student studies. I was a Japanese honor student and this is where my love for Japan’s culture started. I found myself addicted to anime, learning different writing styles, speaking the language, eating the food, learning the cultural differences, and indulging in the Harajuku fashion.

After Highschool, I received a full scholarship to attend City college for zoology which I ended up letting go because of an abusive relationship. My abuser lived across the street from the campus and that made me feel extremely uneasy so I decided to attend Bronx Community College for veterinarian assistant. I received my certificate in Veterinarian assistant and worked at the Bronx Zoo for six years with some amazing people.

Then I decided I wanted a change in life and moved from The Bronx to Florida, then to Atlanta. When I came to Atlanta, I felt incomplete in my life and decided I wanted to back to school for something new. I loved to sketch and draw when I was growing up and decided to try designing and found a school that would fit my needs. I attended the Art Institute of Atlanta-Decatur and this was my start to a passionate career I am happy I pursued.

While in school, you are required to do an internship for three months and I did my internship with a designer named Yadiyda. During this internship, my passion grew into an obsession to learn, create and push the limits in my creations. I graduated in 2014 and stayed in the internship for two more years until I wanted to branch out and create full time for my brand.

In my journey of creating, I’ve become a traveling designer, designing for team collaboration; creating for editorials, magazines and film. As my journey continued in the fashion industry, I started to realize other genres available to designers like costume, tailoring and so much more. I realized everything I did was pointing and preparing me for my future career as a Costume Designer in Union. Even though I am not in the union yet, I am constantly taking steps to make my passion a reality.

Living in my truth, positive affirmations and sending out positive energy has guided me in all I do and I can not wait to see my future unfold.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My biggest challenge when I first started was the passing of my Mother. It was unexpected and I did not know how to deal. I found myself depressed but still wanting to sew. I felt that sewing was my outlet and my connection to my mother. Before she passed away, I made my first top during my internship and showed my Mom and she told me how cool it looked and that I should continue sewing. And that’s what I did, I sewed while mourning, I sewed while reminiscing over the good memories, I sat in front of my machine when I was depressed and as time continued sewing became my coping mechanism and the transformed into my passion.

As I get older, I realize life can be hard or easy and everyone deals with obstacles, struggles and all the above in ways that work for them. But how do I view them; do I change my outlook, do I let life beat me down? And to those questions, I say “No”. You take life one day at a time and control what you can control and what you can not control; let it go. This is when I knew my purpose in life, what steps I needed to obtain my purpose and to be successful in what I do and only then these obstacles/struggles were circumstances I embraced and learned from.

Geek Junky – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Geek Junky brand is an unconventional line that creates accessories and clothing mainly from unconventional fabrics and materials. Geek Junky brand is inspired by Japan’s Harajuku whimsical culture Mixed with vibrant prints, silhouettes and street fashion.

The Geek Junky brand specializes in garment and accessory pulling for tv/films, editorials, and artists in all genres.

What sets the Geek Junky brand apart from other artist would be I cater strictly to pulling and not purchasing. I have a connection with the pieces I create and I want to share this connection with the world over and over and I find that pulling gives many people the opportunity to experience this connection. I also do not repeat a look so each piece have its own story to share with the client that bonds with the look.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I defined Success to living in your truth and allowing growth, accountability, common curtesy and love to guide me in all I do. And everything that comes in direct result to that is a gift.

I look out for bad intentions, bad energy and focus on the goal at hand.

Pricing:

Consultation | $50.00

Contact Info:

Email: chaniquequinones@icloud.com
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/GeekJunky
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/GeekJunky

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