It's Pride Month and we're celebrating by featuring some of the members of the Queer Community in Kingston.
You might have seen Ali and Grace already as they are integral members of Team NAMAI!
Read the full interview below...
Tell us a bit about yourselves and what you do at NAMAI...
Grace: My name is Grace and I am the studio assistant here at Namai. I do a little bit of everything to help out! Some days i’m organizing the shelves, doing laundry, shipping orders, prepping for markets, and recently trying my hand at photography! I love coming in and having a different project to work on every day. In my free time I love to go for hikes, play with my film camera, and sew cute clothes for my friends.
Ali: I’m Ali, the Studio Manager here at Namai. I ensure each product reaches Namai’s standards before being sold. I track all our deliveries, manage all our repairs, and make sure everyone’s order is shipped in a timely fashion. If you have a Namai jacket, it probably passed through my hands at some point.
When I’m not working at the studio you can find me walking my dog Sammy, cuddling with one of my three cats, or in the corner of my living room working on an art project. Lately I’ve been repairing the holes in my partner’s work pants.
Can you tell us about how you evolved your personal style in order to feel more like yourself?
Grace: I think I am constantly evolving my style just by trying out new things all the time! I have loved mixing and matching certain silhouettes like baggy/ more masculine styles with feminine elements like blouses and dresses for a few years now. I was very tomboy as a kid but as i’ve gotten older I have come to embrace way more girly things, so I like to honor both of those sides of myself and blend them together.
Ali: I stopped shopping where I felt like I was “supposed” to shop, and instead just wore whatever I wanted. I started buying men’s clothes, second-hand flannels that were 4 sizes too big, and sometimes even t-shirts from the little boy’s section. I realized it’s not WHAT you’re wearing, but instead it’s HOW you wear it.
What’s a piece of advice you wish your younger queer self listened to/could hear right now?
Grace: If I could talk to my younger queer self I’d tell her to not be so afraid of being herself and experiencing life. Life is too short to hide from your truth. There’s a whole community of people out there that are waiting for your joy and presence.
Ali: Stop trying to figure out your “label.” You are who you are and you like who you like, and you actually don’t have to explain it to anyone. For a long time I felt out of place in the queer community because I couldn’t figure out my gender or sexuality. Then I decided, who cares! I’m just queer and proud, that’s all that matters.
What is your go-to item of clothing and why?
Grace: My go-to item of clothing right now is actually a pair of burgundy loafers my partner recently surprised me with. I feel like I can style them with anything and dress them up or wear them with a pair of basketball shorts if I feel like it. They are timeless and anything goes!
Ali: An oversized crop top is my version of a little black dress. I’m practically always wearing my bottoms high-waisted, so having something a little cropped on top is essential for me.
Which Namai product makes you feel most “you”?
Grace: I would say the kaira patchwork jacket feels the most “me” lately! She is short and sassy and ready for cool summer nights out ;)
Ali: Lately I’ve been loving the Kamu shorts. They bring out a skater vibe in me that I always wanted to embrace. They’re my go-to shorts this summer.
