From Struggle to Style: Maasiyah's Dirty Diamond Vision
At just 21 years old, Maasiyah is already building a clothing brand rooted in a philosophy he's lived out since childhood. Originally from Gary, Indiana, and one of 15 siblings, he says struggle has been a constant companion for as long as he can remember. Rather than let that define him negatively, he's turned it into the foundation of his creative work. Maasiyah started his brand out of a simple desire: to make something he could wear that resonated with his own experience while inspiring others facing similar circumstances. That mission has grown into what he calls Dirty Diamond, a clothing line built around the idea that beauty and growth often emerge from difficult beginnings. "Struggle is like the dirt that a beautiful flower arises from," he says. It's a philosophy he returns to often -- the belief that hardship, when used correctly, becomes the very foundation for growth rather than something to be ashamed of or hidden. His faith plays a central role in that outlook. Maasiyah points to God as his biggest inspiration, reflecting on the weight of watching creation struggle -- sometimes growing, sometimes not -- and finding meaning in that tension as one of God's own children. Looking ahead, Maasiyah is preparing to release a Dirty Diamond sweat suit for the winter season, continuing to build out the brand's identity piece by piece. For him, the goal isn't just selling clothing -- it's encouraging people to grow from their environment instead of becoming a product of it. Those interested in following his journey can find him on social media at @officially.dirtydiamond, where he continues to share the message behind the brand: that even the hardest ground can produce something beautiful. Love to all, as he puts it.
Sep 21, 2026
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Yatti LeGree: Healing Through Ink in Atlanta
Jasmine "Yatti" LeGree has been tattooing since 2013, but for her, the work has never been just about the needle and the ink. It's about healing. As the founder of TattedByYatti, an Atlanta-based tattoo brand, she's built a practice around the idea that art can be a form of therapy—for the client and for herself. That connection between healing and creativity is at the root of how she got into the craft in the first place. Yatti has spoken openly about therapy, healing, and self-love as the forces that led her to tattooing, and those themes still shape how she approaches every session in her chair. She describes her inspiration simply as "healing and art expression," a phrase that doubles as both her personal philosophy and her professional mission. Technically, Yatti works across styles, from detailed black-and-grey pieces to bold color designs, custom-building each tattoo around the client's own vision rather than a fixed template. Her motto, "Healing Through Art," reflects that approach: a tattoo session, in her view, is a chance to create something meaningful, not just decorative—a piece someone can carry with them for life. Beyond the studio, Yatti is expanding into new lanes. She's currently developing a podcast and working on event bookings, including music bookings, while also stepping into basketball coaching. It's a varied set of pursuits, but they share a common thread with her tattoo work: bringing people together around creativity, community, and growth. If there's one thing Yatti wants people to take from what she does, it's a set of values she returns to often—ethic, courage, dignity, passion, love, and faith. For her, those aren't just words on a mood board; they're the standard she holds her art, and herself, to as TattedByYatti continues to grow in Atlanta.
Sep 19, 2026
Dorian Jihad Built an Empire Out of Red Carpets and Reinvention
Dorian Jihad didn't break into fashion through internships or agencies — he did it through DMs. Back in 2015, he started reaching out directly to reality TV personalities like Shay Johnson and Ashley Nicole, along with much of the "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" cast, hoping someone would give him a shot. Someone eventually did, and he used that first styling gig to build a portfolio, then leveraged it into his next opportunity, and the next after that. The path wasn't fast. Jihad describes it as a slow climb until Clubhouse and the pandemic reshaped the entertainment industry's relationship to digital platforms. When in-person styling work dried up during COVID, he pivoted, rebranding himself as what he calls the "billboard king" and laying the groundwork for what would become Billboard King LLC and his production company, EHUG Productions. Today, Jihad works as a celebrity stylist, fashion publicist, and event producer, and serves as Fashion Editor at Disrupshion Magazine. His work spans red carpet styling, editorial campaigns, magazine covers, and Fashion Week productions, connecting clients across music, television, and digital media with photographers, designers, and brand partnerships. He also mentors emerging creatives and produces cultural events aimed at amplifying diverse voices in the industry. Fresh off New York Fashion Week, Jihad is now turning attention toward his hometown roots, with hopes of partnering with Newark, NJ's city government to launch an inclusive Newark Fashion Week. The vision includes collaborating with nonprofits Fostering Futures USA and Blessed Ministries to raise money and create opportunities for the community. He's also preparing his eighth NYFW production, the Dorian Jihad Collective. For Jihad, the throughline in all of it is gratitude. He credits his family and friends as his biggest motivators and describes his career as something bigger than himself — a reminder, he says, that he didn't get here alone.
Sep 18, 2026
Atlanta Fashion Week Returns October 1-4 With Local Designers in the Spotlight
Atlanta Fashion Week is set to return October 1-4, bringing runway shows and a discovery platform for both U.S. and international designers back to the city. This year's lineup includes Atlanta-connected names like Jai Lyle, Tracy Nicole and Archie Clay III, along with aakofii, a designer whose path into fashion started while studying electrical engineering before turning to metalsmithing — work that's since been shown at the Smithsonian and in galleries and boutiques around the region. New this year, the event is partnering with Bloomingdale's to give independent apparel, accessories and beauty brands a shot at a retail showcase, with up to 25 brands set to be selected through an open application process. Organizers are positioning the event as more than a runway spectacle, framing it as a real launchpad for independent designers looking to get in front of retail buyers and press. Applications for designers remain open ahead of the October dates.
Sep 6, 2026
LoveShackFancy Opens First Georgia Store at Buckhead Village
LoveShackFancy, the New York-based label known for its romantic, vintage-inflected ready-to-wear, opened its first Georgia location this year at Buckhead Village — the brand's 29th store overall. The 2,100-square-foot shop carries the brand's mainline collection alongside activewear, swim, accessories, home goods, fragrance, vintage pieces, a kids line, and a curated selection of other female-founded labels. The space was designed to fully immerse shoppers in the brand's signature dreamlike aesthetic, described by the company as a feminine take on carved and cast architectural details. The grand opening drew a crowd for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, complete with a live DJ and a pink vintage Bronco set up for photos; the first 100 guests through the door left with gift-filled tote bags. The store's arrival adds to a broader wave of new fashion retail reshaping Buckhead Village this year, positioning the district as an increasingly serious draw for national brands looking for a Southeast flagship.
Sep 6, 2026
Jeffrey Kalinsky Reopens Namesake Luxury Boutique in Buckhead Village
Jeffrey, the influential luxury boutique founded by Jeffrey Kalinsky, made its return to Atlanta on August 2, reopening in Buckhead Village nearly six years after Nordstrom shuttered the brand's Atlanta, New York and Palo Alto locations during the pandemic. The new shop at 3070 Bolling Way includes roughly 3,000 square feet of sales floor plus a 1,000-square-foot styling lounge, with valet service on site. The opening date marked the 36th anniversary of Kalinsky's very first store. The edit leans into major names like Gucci, Balenciaga, Loewe, Bottega Veneta and Dries Van Noten, alongside harder-to-find labels including God's True Cashmere, Valextra, Courrèges and Rier — several of them exclusive to Jeffrey in Atlanta. This time around, Kalinsky is running the operation without outside investors, focusing the space on women's ready-to-wear, accessories and a relaxed, living-room approach to styling meant to encourage one-on-one discovery rather than a typical retail rush.
Sep 6, 2026