Check Out Donnika Jackson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donnika Jackson.

Hi Donnika, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The story behind Anik Designs all started with me re-discovering my love for sewing once the pandemic began. The name Anik Designs comes from my name Donnika; I got the idea to take the last four letters of my name and scramble them to make different brand names by a women I met while fabric shopping after I began telling her about my aspirations to become a designer. After creating a list of different names, Anik was the name that stood out. I added designs to my brand name later on after I felt that it rolled great off the tongue. The pandemic gave me the time to think about what I really wanted, which was to start a Cut and Sew fashion brand. I later enrolled into design school at Seattle Central’s Apparel Design program, there I met so many people and learned so many different techniques throughout the program. Within my first year of the program, I decided to extend my resume by participating in three different Runway shows outside the program; Ebony Fashion Week, The Mesh Fashion Show, and Trap x Art Fashion Show. These fashion shows helped me gain so many connections and learn more about my creative direction and sewing abilities.

Today Anik Designs is now two years old and has come out with over four different clothing collections, including three Runway capsules. I am currently a graduate of Seattle Central’s Apparel Design program, having had came out with a Summer 2024 collection titled Dirty South. The collection Dirty South is paying homage to my southern relatives, specifically my grandpa, who grew up in Mississippi as a cowboy.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Obstacles and challenges I faced while running Anik Designs is creative blocks. After I would drop collections and capsules, I’d have problems coming up with new and fresh designs for new projects or future collections. When I would struggle with creative blocks, I would remind myself of things that inspire me to design and create clothes that are uniquely made for my customers. I would create mood boards or use colors, animals, and silhouettes that I would see around my city or just wherever I happened to be at the time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an Apparel Designer. I create C.U.T.E (Captivating, unique, timeless, and enticing) garments for my customers so that they can feel their most confident in Anik Designs. I specialize in womenswear, but I’ve begun stepping more into accessories and menswear. I am most proud of my accomplishments and the things I’ve been able to succeed after only being in business for two years. What sets me apart from others is my care for not only creating the garment but my care for the person wearing the garment. I want all of my customers to feel the most confident they’ve ever been in Anik Designs because you can appear more unique if you wear Anik Designs.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Some apps that helped me develop my skills and techniques were Adobe software (adobe Illustrator, adobe photoshop, adobe indesign, and adobe acrobat), excel, pro-create, Cochenille Design Studio, and 2D/3D CAD.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://anikdesigns.net/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/anikdesigns?igshid=YzcxN2Q2NzY0OA==
• Other: https://donnikajackson.com/

Image Credits
@Maxineevephotos @guerita.jpg @bopabeauty @hairbymarraa @Dvsquared.com @ebonyfashionweek