Today we’d like to introduce you to Kissa Doody.
Kissa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
From an early age, I knew I was different. I would get lost in daydreams and immerse myself in art classes. By the age of twenty, I had already faced significant challenges, including domestic violence, homelessness, and becoming a mother. An undiagnosed medical condition left me unable to perform simple tasks like walking through a grocery store or brushing my hair. But after my daughter was born, her doctor helped me regain the ability to walk. That turning point changed my outlook on life. I put myself through college twice and worked hard to support both my daughter and myself.
Since childhood, I had always escaped into the world of fashion magazines and music videos. After spending time in the cannabis industry in Boston, I knew I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a fashion designer. I started by creating custom designs featuring brand logos that I wore to work. In April 2024, I officially launched my website, and Kissa Doody Fashions was born—a testament to beauty and resilience emerging from life’s toughest circumstances.
The “Doody” in the name comes from meeting my soulmate, and every design I create now includes a coordinating men’s piece. We love stepping out in matching outfits and often receive compliments. This summer, we even caught the attention of Hootie & the Blowfish at a concert, where we were featured on the jumbotron all night, with the bassist telling me he loved my designs!
Everything for my brand—website, marketing, photography—I’ve done myself, drawing from the knowledge I gained in college. I’ve used my background as a model and actress to share my designs with my social media following, built from my years in film, music videos, and TV. I hold a certificate in web design, an associate’s degree in graphic design, a dual bachelor’s degree in photography and graphics, and a part 104 drone license. This past summer, I created vibrant QR code stickers and traveled to California, New Hampshire, Maine, and Florida to hand them out whenever someone admired our matching outfits. Kissa Doody Fashions is just getting started!
Alright, 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?
After launching my company, my family and I decided to pursue a lifelong dream of moving to Florida (I’ve always hated the snow!). We left Massachusetts in July, but what followed was a whirlwind of challenges. We spent five weeks “homeless,” bouncing between four different AirB&Bs and two hotels across Florida. Our first house deal fell through when the sellers refused to leave, and we believe we uncovered a scam that may require legal action. Our second attempt at buying a house was just as disastrous—Hurricane Debby took out the road, leaving the property in shambles, trash included. To top it off, our real estate agent mishandled things, costing us an additional $2,500.
Last week, we endured Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that left us without power or running water for five days. In the midst of it, we had a tornado warning, which was especially terrifying as I had just injured my hand and needed stitches. To make matters worse, the power company accidentally set one of our trees on fire, and FEMA, along with the local news, visited yesterday to assess the damage and work on road repairs. My car, a Nissan, is now stuck due to the damaged roads, and I’m worried about my hand healing properly—drawing may never be the same again.
Despite all the chaos, people keep asking if I’ll return to Massachusetts. But even with everything that’s happened, we love it here. Florida is still our dream home, even if the journey has been crazier than we ever imagined!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Describing what I do isn’t as straightforward as it might be for others. I sketch my designs, and lately, my teenage daughter has joined in, preparing to launch her own teen brand soon. I take those drawings and turn them into fun, funky textiles, which I then transform into clothing and accessories. My fiancé and I wear the clothes, and I handle all the photography and marketing myself. We even hand out stickers to anyone who takes an interest in our bold styles. Once the designs are ready, I list them for sale on my website.
Right now, I’m working on launching a sassy and eccentric Christmas line, as well as a fairy garden collection inspired by the plants and animals around my beautiful, hippie Barbie dream house. I’ve ordered a custom table cover and tags, so by 2025, I plan to start selling my designs in person at vending events.
To fund my growing business, I create custom designs for other brands and brides. I’ve become known for many things, but perhaps most for being the woman who has faced challenges her entire life yet would still give you the shirt off her back. In a world that feels full of anger and negativity, I strive to be a light—even if it’s just holding a door open for someone with my non-dominant hand. People recognize me for my bright colors and boundary-pushing fashion.
I’m not a rose—I’m a wild sunflower, swaying to my own gusts of wind. I never give up, and I never let darkness win. My therapist would say I’ve become the adult I needed when I was younger, but I believe life is beautiful, and every day you wake up and can walk is a gift. Only you are responsible for your happiness. You can start making a change today—it’s never too late.
And on top of it all, I’m working on an autobiography, though no one knows about it yet!
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I always felt different. Raised by a single mother, with the support of my 14 aunts and uncles, I learned early on to march to the beat of my own drum. I would draw on anything I could get my hands on, and one of my aunts even gave me an entire wall to paint. I filled it with little bits of everything. In elementary school, one of my paintings was selected for a school-wide calendar, which included work from both middle and high school students. By middle school, I was staying after hours to create art, including a massive paper mache lion mask that I was so proud of.
At 14, my world was shaken when I lost my nana, who was like a second mother to me. Her passing devastated me. Around the same time, I endured severe bullying, including an incident where a male student kicked me in the temple, giving me a concussion. After that, I drifted away from art for a while. It wasn’t until college that I rediscovered my passion and dove back into the world of creativity. Since then, I’ve explored a variety of mediums, including painting, 3D design, and ceramics, and I haven’t looked back. Art is my way of healing and expressing the parts of me that words can’t capture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KissaDoody.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/llkissa
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557688297137
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kissa-doody-designs/
- Twitter: https://x.com/kissagwendolyn/status/1779691619119190047
- Other: https://linktr.ee/llkissa
Image Credits
We took them all ourselves 🥳
