your new favorite founder girlie has entered the chat
a peak into the world i'm building & the vision for my brand - the archives
my word for 2024 was “expansion” and it’s hilarious because my original vision for expansion was across digital platforms like substack, youtube, tiktok and even podcasting. little did i know, shortly into the new year as i transitioned from mexico city to los angeles, i realized i was being called to pour myself into something much bigger.
early summer 2024, i started gathering my girlfriends at my place for vibey, curated theme nights called record club. think iconic vinyl records, a cute theme, getting really dressed up to sit in a cute living room, thought provoking questions, fantastic conversation, wine and light bites (like when we had caviar!!). plus the occasional tears, community pep talks, creative inspiration, and the space to just - be. the intention was to bring people together to revisit classic, iconic vinyls, explore their themes, and how the art translates for each person in the room, but what i’ve been able to create is nothing like i imagined when i had an idea for theme nights in 2023.
i want to create a new world that doesn’t center me or my “content”, but centers people who can see themselves in me and my work - dreamers, creatives, art lovers, changemakers, romantics - and their experiences and crafts. those who love to connect and converse about culture and art. people who wish museums were open as late as clubs are. the girlies obsessed with design and aesthetic. those who want to add a little more color to their every day lives. people who love to read books, listen to podcasts, travel the world, learn new skills, and find new hobbies.
because sometimes i feel like we’re missing something - a place to land when emotions get high and shit gets tough. one to gather. to grow together. to teach each other. to laugh, cry, relax, play, create, and find joy. i want to create spaces to explore these ways that we take care of ourselves through art - because i believe that art is a tool for self and community discovery and preservation. i mean do you not feel a million feels when you listen to solange’s cranes in the sky or frank ocean’s self control? or when you stumble upon a perfect photograph from the 70s, or when you’ve just watched an incredible film that makes you want to tell everyone all about it?
i want to document it all. i want to curate spaces for stories to be told, created, captured, and archived in ways that feel more full than just instagram and tiktok posts. i want to learn how to organize people. i want to watch people build relationships and community within our little community. i want to take money from corporations and pour it directly into community initiatives around preservation, joy, and art.
because i feel like community care is at the root of my purpose as much as storytelling is. i’m deeply invested in the preservation and care of black women - our joy, our stories, our experiences, our mental health, and our creativity - so dammit i’ma combine it into this beautiful, intentional, thing called the archives.
a ceiling does not exist for me. i’ve proven this to myself year after year. the vision is clear, but i’m so excited at all the impact and work that will come from this little dream of mine. what you’ll see this year is simply phase 1 of unlimited possibilities.
but i’m realizing that i can’t do anything alone, so this will be community work. i’m calling in all aligned partnerships, resources, mentorship, and knowledge sharing. i want to build with people and entities that share common values and goals. whether you dm me a post about a small business grant, or you come to some of my programming, or you purchase one of my products, you’re helping to build this world. i appreciate you endlessly.
if any of this sounds like your ~vibe~ then join “the list”, your official entry into the community where you’ll receive invitations to spaces like conversation clubs, pop-ups, workshops, field trips, and eventually our retreats. become part of our cute little projects (hint: a very aesthetic global yearbook). follow and engage with thearchives.jpgg on instagram for your weekly doses of art, aesthetics, history, and great energy.
grow with us. watch this space.
xx kay
