The Ultimate Creative: Meet Brandon Allen

NAME: Brandon Christopher Allen
AGE: 29
TALENTS: Lyricist, Poet, Actor
LOCATION: Inland Empire

What made you want to start your own clothing line (Poetically Adorned)?

I literally stopped doing poetry. I retired for more than six months. I fasted before God and committed all my talents, dreams and desires to him, and asked him to reignite my life in purpose. I went to a conference in Chicago and received a very vivid prophetic word about my purpose and about businesses opening up for me and creative forums to be able to get my voice out and it would leave a legacy for my daughter. I immediately went to writing and praying and God gave me a vision for a clothing line that makes impact by taking what's inside of me and pour it out on those in need. 

How did you get into spoken word?

I literally have been writing poetry since second grade and I won my first competition. Poetry saved my life. When I was suicidal and attempted to take my life twice in 7th grade, I vented my pain through writing. What once was a dark outlet turned into a place for freedom. My first real poem was in 8th grade and it was filled with emotion, pain, tears, blood and questions...literally! It transformed me into delivering messages of hope, refuge and escape. 

Where do you get your fashion inspiration from?

I am inspired by culture. I see people everyday getting sucked into the everyday cultural norms of society and not exploring outward. So I want to jump in that river with a creative advantage. Knowing I have a source or idea portal that transcends time and thought. I'm more inspired by old school hip hop icons like Karl Kani and old Kanye. I like to describe it as modern fashion meets urban creativity.

Where do you see Poetically Adorned in five years and when can we anticipate the relaunch?

I see it in multiple stores as well as having its own new style store that doesn’t fit in your everyday box. I anticipate relaunching in mid-September looking into a fall release. 

You also started your own entertainment company with Co-CEO John Billinger, The Corner Ent. Why did you decide to begin this type of company?

I always desired to give an avenue and space for the creative to let loose and be empowered to soar. I believe in enlightening the hearts of the people and why not create a stage for that? To give people truth through the eyes of their peers and artists alike. 

When's The Corner's next big event?

We have a couple on the horizon, but we have a new type of experience coming. We are doing an all white party that isn’t your everyday shin-dig. It's an experience that will take people through culture while grooving and tasting their hearts away. 

How has your faith played a role in creating your own apparel brand and entertainment company?

MY FAITH IS THE FOUNDATION! IT IS EVERYTHING! WITHOUT IT, NONE OF THIS WOULD EXIST OR BE POSSIBLE OR BE A REALITY!

Click on the image and visit Brandon's website. Follow his journey on social media.
@iamelisha3

Welcome to the Biracial Experience - Part I

What does adversity mean? Difficulty, hardship, misfortune, etc. But what does this mean for someone who is biracial? 

From the moment I was born, I knew I was different. Being born in NYC, everyone looked like me, sounded like me. I was a reflection of my community; however, moving to California changed my perspective of self and how I view my community. 

No one looked like me, curious stares peering into my soul trying to figure out my mixture compilation. My mother would tell me “they’re staring at you because you’re beautiful” to comfort my securities.

But no one knew that this insecurity would turn into adversity that I would have to fight everyday. You see, no one told my mother and father that I would have to face identification crisis.

My white classmates assumed I was black, and my black classmates knew I was mixed, but with what they would ask. Growing up I got the same old tired questions, “what are you?” and as I got older, that question became an icebreaker or a question men would use to hit on me. And by default because I’m Puerto Rican, men found me attractive. Yet, they were confused because I didn’t look like a typical Puerto Rican. (Meaning, I didn’t look like J. Lo or Rihanna).

And to add another layer to this already confusing identity crisis, add in the typical missing father. I didn’t meet my father until my freshman year of high school. And on top of that, I went through life walking the streets wondering what my father looked like, did I look like him, did he look for me, etc.

At the end of the day, growing up in a single parent home is already difficult, especially when you’re going through an identity crisis. However, as I grow older, I get closer to figuring out whom I am, what I like and what I like to do. 

Adversity can be a positive as it forces you to become a stronger, independent individual. And until I am Super Woman, I will continue to fight the uphill battle of adversity everyday.