Jamila Jabulani shares her confidence journey through fashion
Written by Becca Wolfe, Images courtesy of Jamila Jabulani
Second-year fashion marketing and management transfer student Jamila Jabulani originally aspired to pursue a career in fashion design. However, after high school she found herself leaning more towards fashion marketing and management. Jabulani transferred from Johnson and Wales University in Miami. She made this decision because she said she believes that SCAD has a better program for her personal fashion industry journey. She also said the thing she admires most about SCAD is the wide networking pool the school provides to its students.
Throughout her second year of high school, Jabulani found herself wanting to pursue fashion as a career. “Fashion has honestly gotten me through a lot, and helped boost my confidence. I felt like being able to wear what I wanted to wear was a way that I could express myself,” she said. Growing up, she said she was shy and it was through her clothes that she was able to represent who she was, without drawing too much attention to herself.
Artists such as Virgil Abloh have inspired Jabulani to look further into the creative processes of art and how they configure their ideas. One aspect that she said she admires about Abloh is his perseverance he showcases throughout his work during the pandemic.
Throughout the pandemic, Jabulani transferred and started school at SCAD, without having any previous traditional art knowledge. Due to COVID-19, the adjustment to online school has brought forth its own challenges. She said she has found that she is a hands-on and in person learner. As of right now, Jabulani is taking foundation classes and working further towards her creative career.
Jabulani said, “Right now, in the fashion industry, there is starting to be more diversity. You can definitely see a change from the 90s to now.” Jabulani said she is glad to see changes such as the body inclusion movement, diversity in color and diversity in body types.
When looking towards her future creative career, Jabulani said she would like to see herself as a personal stylist, and would like to eventually build her own business. An important aspect within the fashion industry she spoke about was that not everyone may not be able to shop for themselves, or know how to. Jabulani is looking to create a place within the industry that ultimately helps people. In all of her work, Jabulani just wants to give people the confidence that fashion gives her and see them happy in what they choose to wear.
