Today we’d like to introduce you to Oneita Parker.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Oneita. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I graduated from FIT in New York with a degree in fashion design. Both my parents are artists. My mom was also a fashion designer and is now a photographer. My dad is a fine artist specializing in painting and ceramics. I began sewing and designing when I was eight years old and have never looked back. When I moved to Hollywood in the late 90’s, I began working as a costume designer. To date, I have costume designed close to 40 feature films and projects for television, as well as dozens of music videos and commercials. A couple of years ago, I decided to return to my roots as a fashion designer and launched my own line of wearable art, which featured high-end jackets, pants, and dresses. I did that for two seasons and now make bespoke pieces at my studio in Downtown LA. Some of my clients are celebrities and musicians.
A few pieces can be seen on my website https://oneitaparker.com. Now, on to The Proper Bunny! https://theproperbunny.com My wife and I started The Proper Bunny because I wanted to bring to market a more accessible collection. We are starting small with Proper Bunny graphic tees and Afropanda graphic tees. I actually have about 16 more designs plus new characters, but due to Covid19 sourcing is limited, so we are waiting to launch the additional pieces. And, then there are the MASKS!!! Like everyone, I wanted to help. I have a stock of stylish, comfortable 100% cotton prints and solids that I have collected from all over the country. These are textiles I love! I believe in comfort as much as I believe in color. I make all of my own clothes. I want everything to fit comfortably and feel good against my skin. And, now I am sharing that feeling with others by making the masks. It’s the perfect way to share my aesthetic at a time when we all need comfort.
Great, 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?
I love what I do so all challenges are just part of the equation of solving a problem so I can keep doing what I love to do. I’m an artist first, so I would say it took some adjustment working in the film and television industry because it is such a BUSINESS. But I have survived, even thrived. Since moving to Los Angeles from the Bay Area, I am a native Californian, I have been fortunate as costume designer. I got into Local 892 right away. I have been hired to costume design many films, but there is always more, right? I am still trying, waiting for my “big break” so to speak to design a few TV series’ and films with budgets over $20m. So, yeah, while some parts of my path have been smooth other roads are still elusive. I am thrilled about The Proper Bunny though. I think we are off to a fantastic start. In early June, we were featured in a few articles and added to many lists of black-queer owned business and ended up being featured in the Huffington Post. What a rush!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Proper Bunny – what should we know?
The Proper Bunny presently sells social masks, graphic tees and hot beverage mugs. We will be launching more designs in the future. Each week or so there are new mask styles and eventually more graphic tees. I create a few different products at The Proper Bunny. I design and make the fashionable, 100 % cotton social masks with a wire snugly stitched inside across the top for easy molding to each customer’s own nose. I also illustrate and design the graphic tees with The Proper Bunny and The Afropanda, plus their friends all featured as graphics. I am putting these whimsical characters into stories, comics and animation. I’m in the process of working on a particularly fun one called Odacava The Afropanda: Life After The Last Disaster.
I think what sets us apart is that we are a local to Los Angeles womxn small business. Everything we do is made right here in L.A. I am black, queer and female so that sets us apart too, even in L.A. We get a lot of feedback about the comfort, vivid colors and quality of each mask we make. It’s great to know that our customers get compliments when they wear our masks. I am thrilled by the fact that we are doing something that helps the community and population at large. To date, we have sold in every state, but five and I am elated that the business is having an impact and being successful.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Los Angeles is a great city to start a business if you don’t mind working hard and love what you do. Californians are an eclectic bunch no matter what way you slice us, we make a great pie of several thousand flavors all together!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theproperbunny.com/
- Phone: 213.418.2006
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theproperbunny
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/theproperbunny
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/theproperbunny
- Other: https://oneitaparker.com/
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