Today we’d like to introduce you to Haze Baraza.
Haze, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
As a Kenyan-born, Texas raised artist and visionary, my path has been marked by a passion for fashion and the arts from a very young age. My imagination thrived as a child, dreaming up designs and an extraordinary future. I was drawing clothes before I was able to read and write, rejecting the idea my real name was Hazel, i was fully convinced it was actually Coco Chanel. Falling in love with fashion from such a young age, it came as easily as breathing. I knew that this was what my life was meant for, but as i got older I started to realize how rare that was.
Especially as a first generation Kenyan, the expectation to go into business, medical, or law has always been encouraged throughout the African community. Luckily for me, my parents have always known fashion was what I was made for despite making a few detours along my path. Growing up in house hold that was more progressive and open in comparison to traditional African households, gave me the courage to fully bloom into the person I dreamed of being.
My household was full of strong personalities, surrounded by immense love, loud conversations, and the expectation that no matter what we would always be there for one another. The air filled with the scent of my mother’s perfect pancakes, the taste of flaky chapati’s hand made from my oldest sister’s hands always making sure my middle sister, my twin brother, and I didn’t drive my parents mad, and the intellectual debates my dad pulled us into to showcase there was never enough knowledge in the world to satisfy his curiosity. My parents had an incredible way of passing down their strongest personality traits transmuting into a house hold full of sarcastic children but hard working members of society.
Quite honestly I wouldn’t trade the happy chaos for any other family, because three facts remained true in our household. One, be authentic to who you are, we will love any way. Two, be self sufficient, because one day your life may dependent on it. and you will thank us later. (Which in all fairness, I eventually did). Three, above all else we will always love you and we have each other. To grow up in a household full of diverse personalities, intense love, and interesting conversations, it is no surprise that I am an artist!
I don’t believe in fashion. I believe in art. When I was a freshman in high school, I had this notion that because I was growing up I should find a more “realistic” profession. I tried to tell myself I had a much greater purpose in life that involved giving shots and saving actual lives, not closets. Even though it was too late, I had already become completely infatuated with fashion; it caught me at first Vogue. All it took was one class junior year to unravel years of hidden lust for glamour. I could not describe myself without a sketchbook or lumps of fabric in my hand.
Then senior year my infatuation with fashion grew even more when I took advanced fashion design, I fell in love with the concept of fashion. Our two main shows reminded me of why I loved it so much in the first place, I even won second place in the Spring fashion show getting me a feature in the Plano Profile. Art simply exists to make us feel uncomfortable, frantic, and angry yet nostalgic and mischievous and whimsical and powerful and beautiful. Fashion is a hurricane of all of those feelings with a dash of the misunderstood and sequin. It has never been about getting the “right fit,” but instead telling your story through your artwork.
Fashion is my art and my clothes are my canvas that allow me to express who I am and who I aspire to be. Charles Bukowski said, “Find what you love and let it kill you.” To live a life without living for fashion would be barely surviving. This was not just a career for me; it’s how I plan to spend the rest of my life. I live for smudged paper, seam rippers, and dress forms. All I want in life is to turn my dreams into goals. I want it to seem as though I reached the impossible, I don’t want to be living a dream, I want to be living the dream. I want to build a life I feel like I’m dreaming in.
Beneath my vibrant creativity, I also battled mental health challenges that began in middle school and intensified over time. My optimistic personality often masked my internal struggles. When my principal remarked that the most important days of our lives (aside from high school graduation) would be my wedding and funeral, I knew I wanted something far more extraordinary—a life where every day was a highlight.
At 18, I was at my heaviest weight and struggling with depression, yet I made a promise to transform myself into the woman I could be proud of. The wellness journey required not just physical transformation but profound emotional and spiritual healing. At 19, a series of panic attacks led me to a mental health facility—a moment I first saw as a setback but later recognized as a chance to build resilience. Meditation, self-awareness, and inner work were the keys to my survival, and they empowered me to create a life that felt limitless. This turning point also brought healing within my family, showing me the power of shared growth. My journey in college was tumultuous to say the least, and I learned a very important lesson early on; talent can only take you so far.
I decided to take a semester off to focus on getting back on my feet and healing my mental health struggles. At that time, I was working at a five star restaurant where I had a life changing encounter with a successful designer. It felt like the universe’s reminder; the only difference between you and them is the distance between this table. I remembered I already knew what my purpose. I spent two weeks stewing on this encounter, that eventually lead to me have a complete mental breakdown 5 hours before my shift and abruptly quitting my job.
Nine days later, I took a leap of faith and drove to California with just $600, 1 suitcase, all my art supplies, sewing machine , 10 pairs of shoes, and my BIG ass dreams. Although achieving my dream career has been demanding, I’ve learned that self-belief is the backbone of any success. The past four years in California I have launched my personal brand, Haus of Baraza, become a fashion stylist, professional makeup artist, speaker, and transformation coach. My life’s purpose has expanded from fashion alone to serving others through my story, inspiring them to overcome their obstacles.
Part of living the dream is never settling. Being successful, which is being financially stable, having a loving family and nice things, is settling. There is so much more to life than ourselves. As my career expanded I realized I was not just meant for one thing, I was meant for everything. I was meant to use all my gifts, talents, and aspirations. Money isn’t enough for me, but generosity, love, and peace is. I can’t even imagine any other way to spend my life. I have become inflamed with enough madness to want to grasp my dreams, help others, and still be able to experience what life has to offer; which I will never be sorry for. My life’s motto is to be fearless on the pursuit of happiness! Have the courage to go after the life you’ve always dreamed of because there is someone waiting to be inspired by you.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all! I have always done my best to openly discuss my own mental health struggles in hopes of helping others not feel alone throughout their journey. Despite knowing the artistic gifts I had, I struggled deeply with my mental health especially depression and in my 20’s anxiety. Feeling worthy of the life I desired was one of the most challenging transformations I had to go through. I personally believe in life we don’t get the life we want, we get the life we think we deserve, so I had to do a lot of inner healing before the blessings I truly desired came in. I transformed my mindset from scarcity into one of abundance, and I can honestly say it saved my life. Understanding abundant love in every form helped me give myself the same grace, compassion, kindness, and strength i often gave and lent to others.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In short I am a fashion creative entrepreneur who designs confidence and curates beauty from the inside out! In long form I have expanded my career from being not only a designer, but as well as a fashion stylist, professional makeup artist, creative director, model, speaker and transformation coach. I mainly specialize in bringing confidence out of my clients whether that may be in the clothes I style, the makeup I empower them to wear, or the clothes I design and showcase that you can have it all in this lifetime.
I would say I’m known most for staying true to my authenticity, uniqueness, and fashion/art being the main obsession in my life. I’m most proud of becoming the woman I sought out to be, because it gave me the courage to share my story in hopes of helping encourage others to go after the life of their dreams as well! Humans are the only species who pass down their evolution through stories, there are several peoples’ life stories that gave me the courage to be who I am today. I want to be that guiding light for other people who struggle with their potential and life’s purpose.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m honest about what i’ve been through, I refuse to shy away from who I am. I am abundantly optimistic even in the face of adversity, and I want to leave this place better than I found it. Haus of Baraza’s foundation is based upon my deep desire to imagine, inspire,and innovate. I’m constantly thinking about ways I can uplift the environment around me and the community around me to reject being jaded by life, and instead enthralled by it! My life’s purpose is fully about helping others see that for themselves as well!
What does success mean to you?
By two main life mottos:
1. Live a life I feel like I’m dreaming in!
2. Be fearless on the pursuit of happiness! Which means to have the courage to go after the life of dreams through the spirit of abundance.
My version of success doesn’t just mean fiscally successful and have a cookie cutter life. My version of success means legacy, it means changing millions of lives, it means finding peace, it means having the career, the healthy body, the dream partner, the close community. I want it all and Im crazy enough to know that I will get it. I’m on a mission to help others know they deserve that as well!
Pricing:
- Signature Styling Package $1,200: Style & Image Consultation, Look Book, Colour Analysis, and Personal Shopping
- VIP Styling Experience $1,500: Style & Image Consultation, Look Book, Colour Analysis, Luxury Personal Shopping, Closet Purge, Makeup Consultation
- Design Pieces Commission Based
- Freelance Makeup Service $125: Skin care prep, Mini facial, Full face makeup with luxury products from Charlotte Tilbury
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/styledbyhazeb/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haze-baraza-4681b5295/
Image Credits
1. Photographer: Jeh’mon Norris Models: De’Shaun Patacsil, Zyan Hooks, Arielle Jade
2. Photographer: @Trelleyflickitup Model: Haze Baraza
3. Photographer: Shruti Saraswat Models: Caitlyn Vallair, Kristen Sumrell
4. Photographer: @raidyyaseen Model: Zuzy Taha
5. Photographer: Lee Judson Model: Izzy Atkinson
6. Photographer: L’xplore Photography Model: Haze Baraza
7. Photographer: Elisabeth Haby Model: Haze Baraza
8. Photographer: Jeh’mon Norris Models: De’Shaun Patacsil, Zyan Hooks, Arielle Jade
