Behind the Seam: A conversation with Cleva Kah of eMagi
Story written by: Will Johnson
Reading the article written by Cleva Kah, “I Am Alright with Me: A Journey from Body Shame to Body Pride,” touched my soul. I related to being the awkward kid who was uncomfortable with his body and uniqueness. His journey through battling personal insecurities projected onto him in high school hit home for me as I struggled with the same issues, along with social awkwardness and sensory overload. The article was a heartfelt and uplifting read for someone like me learning to embrace his own uniqueness.
Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing the author of the blog post, and we discussed that growth in embracing uniqueness while designing pieces. When reading his come-up story on embracing his uniqueness, one of the moments that stood out to me was when he described his experience at a modeling audition. Despite seeing himself as hideous and sporting a scar from an accident, he revealed that one of the agents had noticed him and was impressed by his looks and his confidence. I asked what the turning point was for him in that moment to which he replied, “It let me know that people don’t see me like how I see me…to hear that from strangers that were in a position to actually have a say that you listen to, I was like, wow.” To have been seen in a different light meant something special to him and would lead to a life-changing career choice as a designer down the road.
Self-acceptance has been Cleva’s main goal when curating his designs for clients. His approach is to dress clients and models in ways that bring out their best and most confident selves. “Image is a reflection of the self…I’m trying to bring in aspects of my clients into all of my pieces,” he stated. That philosophy is what ultimately drives the eclectic style and vision that he looks to achieve in all his creations. Though, he still designs in the headspace of creating certain vibes such as a colorful, flirty type, or a ‘grown and sexy’ type, his newer line is currently on tour for in The Royal Prin’s Golden Runway Tour.
Since debuting in 2003, Cleva’s passion for designing never wavered. Through each stage of his career, the eMagi brand forever remains a part of him. “This is my baby…I can’t get rid of it; it’s on me forever,” stated Celva. That deep loyalty is portrayed through his work as well. He also does not allow external voices to drive the direction of what his designs are to be, “If my designs are my art and my business, then you can’t tell me that my art is this or that.” Standing firmly on that integrity as an artist and as a businessman strengthened his relationship with the craft over the years.
Having had the opportunity to delve into the creative world of Cleva Kah and the eMagi brand, it sparks a feeling of both enlightenment and inspiration to embrace the true self. His brand is an extension of who he is an individual and how he perceives those he works with. He is currently working a new line and has already released a few new pieces on the eMagi website as well. It was an absolute pleasure to get a glimpse of the icon that he is in his own right.