The truth is today’s market is crowded as ever in the fashion industry but there is always space for new talent—especially when one’s individuality translates into the pieces being created. Several words come to mind when I think of Batani-Khalfani. Thoughful. Insightful. And inspiring. Batani explains what it is to be a fashion designer in today’s era:
“People are not buying a product they are buying a part of you. When people are moved by what you do then they want to patronize you. When you know who you are and are able to translate that, that’s what sells.”
I agree. There are many fashion designers that have seamlessly interwoven their own essence into their designs.
Project Runway has always been a perfect way to engage new designers with their work. That’s where the striking Batani-Khalfani captured the hearts of new fans after showcasing her unique designs. Stepping into Season 16 with her vibrant and jaw-dropping looks, Batani embodies the spirit of authentic being who is a multi-faceted fashion designer, entrepreneur and spiritual entity. Project Runway provides designers from various backgrounds and experiences a limited amount of time to use materials and resources to create a design based on a theme. During the current season, Batani’s unique way of creating colorful, vibrant and striking designs always caught the attention of her audience.
Visit Batani’s Instagram page, and her feed will shower you with empowerment, love, and motivation. She engages with her followers to be proud of the skin they are in and proclaim themselves as the powerful individuals that they are. I find Batani’s clothes to provide the perfect mix of essence, empowerment and beauty.
Batani’s future is looking bright as she prepares for bigger projects with her designs as well as empowering youths through her L.E.A.D. program she’s created with a colleague.
It was an absolute honor to catch up with Batani and pick her brain about her inspiration and background. Check out our exclusive Q & A below:
Tell us a little about your background/ upbringing?
I grew up in Los Angeles on the Eastside of Los Angeles in South Central in a household of about 11. I am the second child of my mother’s and the thirteenth child of my father’s. I’ve always been very quiet and to myself. I expressed myself through art whether it was drawing, painting, dancing, writing stories, poetry or even putting together a unique outfit. I’ve always been fascinated by people, cultures and have always had a natural affinity towards butterflies.
Where did your inspiration of becoming a designer come from?
I view your style as very afro-centric and paying homage to West Africa. Where did that inspiration come from?
My style is very universal. It encompasses different elements and different dimensions, different ways I am feeling and different thoughts. My style cannot be described as one thing as I am a multi-faceted being.
You are bold and eccentric. A queen as you have mentioned. What is the importance of realizing your value as a Black woman?
The realization of being a creator, which was called into existence for me, provided me with the ability to be a co-creator which is something that empowers me. The realization is that my thoughts also create my reality daily. If I want something and don’t have it yet, it’s because I have not created the space for it. So then I get to work to cultivate that space so that at the time when the universe sends it my way I am in acknowledging it and ready to receive. We women give birth to life, therefore we birth our own lives in its complete existence. Being a woman is being a star, the sun, a quasar, the whole galaxy. Nothing rises until we do.
Describe your reaction when you found out that you were going to be on Project Runway:
I am always calm. So when I found out I was on Project Runway I was like cool. When I told my friends, they were more excited than me and asked me if I was excited. My excitement is not jumping up and down…if you ever see me do that then I may be acting, [laughs]. My excitement comes in the form of appreciation. It’s a humbling experience and it keeps me grounded. I was just thankful when I found out but I knew people would be more excited than I was. Your fans loved the fact that you embraced color and Ankara fashion on Project Runway.
What has your relationship been with your fans?
People have always loved my style, designs and personality. I love people and I love being around people. I have a lot of friends from everywhere. I am very down to earth because I am compassionate. My fans really like that I am unique in everything I do. I am interesting and people want to know who I am. I authentically show myself so I think that what has translated most while I was on Project Runway.
What is some advice you have on aspiring designers who want to make a statement with their designs?
My advice to any designer is as it would be to any person, is to just be your authentic self. In a world that tells you in order to get X, Y, Z you have to be A, B, C it’s always best to be yourself. What hits you can’t miss you and what misses you can’t hit you. What’s yours is yours. Design is art and art is subjective. It doesn’t matter if one person or 100 people don’t like what you do, there is a whole world out there. If you like what you do, love what you do, others will too. People are not buying a product they are buying a part of you. When people are moved by what you do then they want to patronize you. When you know who you are and are able to translate that, that’s what sells.
What’s next on the horizon for Batani-Khalfani?
Next for Batani-Khalfani is a lot of things. I am looking forward to what I will behold in the next 6 months, the next year and the next 2 years. I have a lot of big plans but those are between me and the universe. When all is in divine alignment that is what the world will see.
However, currently I am doing virtual style sessions where I am styling people around the world straight from their homes. If you’re in Los Angeles, I can do in-person styling sessions or if someone in another city wants an in-person styling session I can be booked for that as well.
The Powe (red) dress as well as the Jianni dress are all available and more via BataniKhalfani.com
They can log on to my site, iambatani.com and book their appointment so they can get the most amazing personal style. I am also releasing my hand-painted collection on my website very soon as well as my art. My friend Joi Liaye and I will be speaking to and empowering the youth as a part of our program called L.E.A.D (Love, Empowerment, Action, Dedication). We will be speaking across the country so if anyone wants to book us to speak at their school or event they can contact us at weleadyouth@gmail.com.
The Batani Experience Tour is coming in 2018 to a city near you. I will be going across the country and the world with an exclusive fashion and style suite incorporating fashion beauty and makeovers.
Interview by Bridget Kyeremateng
Bridget Kyeremateng is a content creator and writer based in New York City originally from California. She is a proud feminist, activist and music lover. Bridget has degrees in Black Studies and Feminist Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Editorial Photography by Lena Ocean/Richmond & Ashford Exclusively for Cachet Digital
Bottom three images of fashion designs shot by Photographer Sean Nicholas
