Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciarra “August” McLean.
Hi Ciarra “August”, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After spending over a decade doing marketing in the fashion and beauty industries around the northeast, I moved to San Diego late summer 2024 for a change of scenery and pace. Since moving, I’ve found renewed joy in creating art for myself in addition to creating for small businesses, and have been embracing that through connecting with local creatives and eateries.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am thankful to say the struggles I’ve experienced have made me more appreciative and willing to see the bright side of things. A lot of my ventures that have shown me the beauty of San Diego are directly inspired by circumstances I didn’t think I would overcome, both since moving here and what I experienced back home in New Jersey. It’s been a joy to grow – and with such a vibrant community. I’ve connected with so many on how hard it is to be yourself in a world that doesn’t always value you, and that has inspired me to keep going.
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?
I am a marketer by trade but an artist at heart. I prioritize working with small businesses because I value being directly involved with my community. The wonderful thing is that can still have global reach! I’ve helped ideas that started small go international, and have seen that success given directly to the community that helped support the growth. I have represented brands and their products that were long time dreams of siblings to Walmart, Target, and Sally Beauty for national distribution, which has also given me the privilege to travel. I come from a family of educators and did 8 years of work in weddings, so I pride myself on being able to break down complicated marketing and sales data into simple terms and keeping my patience in high stress situations.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve been creating as long as I can remember! It has taken me practice to keep the creative juices flowing, but I’ve built a habit over time of trying new things just to challenge myself. I’ve dabbled in textiles, photography, painting, and music, but I won’t stop there. A fond childhood memory of mine is my brother and I trying to make a stop motion claymation, only to be shocked when an hour of work resulted in a 1.5 second video. As an adult I’m still learning to love sharing my art, I chose a pseudonym for my branding so I wouldn’t be restricted by one medium. I am left handed and an August Virgo, so I was built to be creative. My favorite has always been the intersection of fashion, food, and media. My ideal day is getting dressed up to see a concert, play, or movie and then going out to eat!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lefthvnded.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lefthvnded/
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@lefthvnded
