Utilizing JUKI sewing and quilting machines, our Ambassadors capture the strength, craftsmanship, and infectious enthusiasm reflective of the JUKI brand in every piece they create. Read more about their sewing journeys and view their videos below.
Lead Designer and CEO, Sylvia Mollie Collections
KENYA FREEMAN is the Senior Lead Designer and CEO of Sylvia Mollie Collections – an American lifestyle brand that embodies bold femininity with transitional ready-to-wear pieces, and effortless makeup. Inspired by two bold women in her life, Sylvia (mother) and Mollie (grandmother), Kenya set out to create classic garments that instills power and confidence to fearless women making an impact in the world.
Born in Norfolk, VA, Kenya had love for designing and sewing at an early age, which naturally guided her to study Fashion Design at American Intercontinental University in Atlanta, Georgia. After years of blood, sweat, and tears (and faith), Kenya earned her first big break in 2013, where she showed a collection at WWD Magic in Las Vegas. In 2016 she won the Emerging Artist Award from the city of Atlanta, and was a top designer and finalist on Season 16 of Project Runway. She’s also a brand ambassador for Ford. Kenya most recently launched a new plus size line called Curved by Sylvia Mollie. This is only the beginning for Kenya Freeman and the Sylvia Mollie brand, with the launch of her latest collection, fall plus-size collection, and nonprofit.
Founder and Creative Director Kiki Kitty is an innovator andvisionary. Kiki’s career took flight in the 90s when launching the first multimillion dollar women’s urban brand; Fubu Ladies. Over the years, Kiki has also created ground-breaking collections and creative projects for Sean Combs, Justin Timberlake, Jay Z, Beyonce, Nicki Minaj, Tommy Hilfiger and Rihanna. Yearning for the creative control and the fulfillment of owning her own brand, Kiki made the decision to get back to chasing her dreams, launching her first solo project K.Milele in 2012.
K.Milele is a celebration of all of Kiki’s gifts, passions and the embodiment of her expressions. Re-identifying with her younger self, pulling into the forefront the art that has driven her since childhood, Kiki embraces her given name, K.Milele [ Kianga Milele ], meaning “Sunbeam Everlasting”.
Samantha strives to help women feel confident, strong and comfortable in their own skin. She believes they can all be beautiful warriors.
About the Label
Samantha R. Crossland began her fashion design career with her label “Blasphemina’s Closet”, one of the first Lolita clothing lines in the US, in 2000. After closing “Blasphemina’s Closet” in September of 2013, she started anew with her new eponymous label “Samantha Rei”.
“Samantha Rei” embodies the sweetness, femininity and attention to detail that has come to be expected from the designer. Samantha Rei draws her inspiration from such illustrators as Chris Riddell, Brom, Tony DiTerlizzi, Brett Helquist and Mihara Mitsukazu as well as stories like Alice in Wonderland and Snow White. Her hero Alexander McQueen along with designers Vivienne Westwood, Hirooka Naoto, John Galliano, and Anna Sui have all influenced her style.
In 1998, Samantha began attending the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, Minnesota, choosing to hone her skills as an illustrator and painter so she could pursue comic book art. After graduating in 1999, she spent some time at the College of Visual Arts (CoVA) in Saint Paul to major in illustration before continuing her education at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for Apparel Technologies. She’s been featured in Huffington Post, Shojo Beat, the American Gothic and Lolita Bible, Gothic Beauty, Glamour UK and Vogue UK. Samantha was named one of 2014 City Pages “Artists of the Year” and 2016 Best of the Twin Cities “Best Fashion Show” and 2016 and 2017 Reader’s Choice “Best Local Fashion Designer.” In 2015 she authored and illustrated a how-to book on subculture fashion design called Steampunk and Cosplay Fashion Design and Illustration. Samantha was a contestant on season 16 of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the final season to appear on the station. She’s on the cast of the upcoming The Collective.
Mah-Jing Wong is an American fashion designer. At age 11, he discovered his love for creating clothing, and it was through his grandmother teachings, he learned how to hand sew and create patterns from cutting out the weekly newspapers.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Fashion Marketing from the Arts Institute of Philadelphia. While in his senior year, Mah-Jing Wong began interning for top fashion designers “Zac Posen.” This experience ignited him to launch his clothing brand in 2011.
Mah-Jing Wong was top 6 on Emmy Winning Reality Show “Project Runway”.
Industry experts have described Mah-Jing Wong’s work as “Japanimation Pop Art” and his fashion exemplifies bold looks using simple silhouette with hand dyed prints and geometrical shapes – awakening the inner confidence in any women.
There is a high quality of work in every garment that he creates. All designs are cut, constructed and shipped with care by Mah-Jing Wong and a dedicated team.
“Be Diligent and Be Limitless”
Rob Appell is a creative force to be reckoned with. He’s full of boundless energy and enthusiasm for life! When Rob’s not behind a sewing machine, you might find him out catching some waves on his surfboard or playing the guitar. As a California native, he spends plenty of time at the beach and loves the outdoors. His wife, Jenny, and two children, Brayden and Ruby, are the center of his world.
Rob’s quilting journey began while he was working at his mother’s quilt shop, the Cotton Ball. After becoming more familiar with fabrics and spending time as a sewing machine technician, he realized that he’d caught the quilt pox and there was no cure! From then on he was hooked on sewing and even started designing his own quilts and showing them in exhibitions. Within a few years, Rob began designing fabric for Free Spirit and quilts for Michael Miller. For the past four... years, Rob was the host of Man Sewing for Missouri Star Quilt Company, filming over 250 original tutorials, and now he’s on to new adventures with Michael Miller fabric on his new channel Making it Fun where he sews projects using the J-150QVP. He travels across the globe, teaching his unique quilt designs, and sharing his expertise. He loves teaching people to sew and he can’t wait to share his passion with you. Get ready for some high voltage edu-tainment—you know, like education+entertainment, with Rob Appell!.
It all started with craft shows, branched out to Etsy, add some boutique shops and eventually Amazon Handmade! Mix in a popular website with modern patterns and projects, a viral YouTube Channel, brand partnerships and a hyper active Instagram! This all sums up what Nicole Moore has created in just a few short years…
“I was either going to have to give Etsy my social security number (for tax purposes) or obtain my business license,” says Nicole when she is asked how she got started. Sew Much Moore In Store was established in 2016. You can visit her website and media channels HERE.
Fast forward five years, Nicole created her second company, Creative Day Job. In this addition role, Nicole is helping sewers and quilters turn their hobby into a business by navigating the technology and overwhelm so they can start earning income from their craft. The Creative Day Job hosts multiple online courses that serve creative entrepreneurs (mostly in the sewing and quilting industry).
Nicole is often asked if she were to give a piece of advice to someone about starting or creating their own sewing/quilting business, it would be this: “Just Get Started”. There’s always going to be something to overcome or some obstacle that might get in your way. But if you just get started and keep moving forward you can do it also! To learn more about the Creative Day Job, you can visit her website HERE.