Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanis Duran.
Hi Joanis, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As a Queer Afro-Latina born in the Dominican Republic, and raised in Sunny Miami. This city is known to be a melting pot of culture, food, styles, and rhythm under the sun but lacks representation of our Queer and Afro-Latinx community. For a child who didn’t mirror the portrayal of cis-white Eurocentric Latino, my parents did their ultimate best to empower our Black and Latinx Roots in the face of adversity.
Yet, there were moments that reminded me that I wasn’t Latin enough- nor welcomed. Since the age of six, I knew my heart would walk the beat to a different drum but the world wasn’t ready- ’till this day there are children facing the same discrimination. Fast forward to my early twenties, is when I decided to come out to my family and friends and there isn’t a day that I look back. So when Lady Gaga sings “I was born this way…” that’s my anthem to anyone defying our rights.
My fashion journey started when I landed my first job at the age of 17 and held odd jobs here and there but fashion kept calling me back. Possessing a formidable 19+ years of fashion experience, I’ve learned how companies use our BIPOC and Queer employees as their tokenism to keep up with appearances, profiting from their craft while stealing credit, demanding more, and still underpaying us in a white cis-gender industry.
In 2017, Kalani + Wolf was born, and at this precise moment, I realized the value of the US. Creating a community that’s reflective of myself, values, ethics, and community was all the reason to change the industry from within.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The struggle is real let me start by saying that. When you’re done facing one challenge another one is right around the corner just with a higher threshold. Living in Miami, you’re dazed by the beauty of the city, waters, and greenery has inspired me to push forward to address the invisibilia of underrepresented communities.
Through my journey, I landed in sustainable fashion where I was filled with glee, floating in the air and connecting with so many people but soon learned that in this industry validation and visibility for BIPOC and Queer community was not part of vision. It wasn’t long where I found myself losing my passion once again and at the crossroad. Being a Queer Woman of Color having to bring her own chair to table no matter how over-qualified you’re not welcome, overseen, and unrecognized was pill that I was not going to swallow but I made sure everyone in the room knew my name, title and my mission.
In 2017, Kalani + Wolf was born and at this precise moment, I realized the value of US. Creating a community that’s reflective of myself made me feel welcomed, validated, heard, seen and empowered to continue the work for many who feel like an outsider.
I came to understand that our communities lack representation and accessible retail and creative safe spaces for our beautiful and ever so diverse BIPOC and LGBTQ+ families. The demand for inclusivity birthed a broad spectrum of ideas for our retail and creative space.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
One of the biggest accomplishment, I was awarded this March 2022 by Comcast Rise as Woman Entrepreneur for Women’s Month and International Women Day for our story and mission to open Miami first Queer Afro-Latina-Owned retail and creative safe space for our BIPOC and Queer community.
Kalani + Wolf is sustainable fashion brand. Our entire collection is locally handcrafted from high-end vegan dead-stock fabric. Our motto is “Never Apologizing, Never Conforming”, and stand 100% behind it and where we’re going. We pride ourselves in celebrating women and all their glory by providing a platform that promotes shameless self-love, body confidence and sexiness. Kalani + Wolf welcomes all body types and complexions – one which mirrors our communities.
Expression of individuality and authenticity is kind of a big deal around here. Beauty is multi-dimensional regardless of size, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical abilities or skin color.
Our biggest goal this year is to raise our first round of seed money of $25,000 to open our first retail space before pitching to investors. Kalani and Wolf is a keystone retail and creative safe space where BIPOC, LGBTQ+ Allied brands, and the community come together to shop, grab a bite, and socialize. Our handcrafted sustainable garments and accessories promote shameless self-love, body confidence, and individuality. Our pledge is to minimize our carbon footprint, that’s why our store will be an “eco-friendly building,” constructed using 100% discarded shipping containers.
Our mission is to share our space with authentic BIPOC and Queer designers who resemble and target our communities needs. We aim to provide a curated collection ranging from apparel, skincare, jewelry, home decor, apothecary, books, arts, and so much more for all genders. During our research, we found that local retailers lacked authenticity, values, and knowledge of what our communities needs are and had no desire to provide a sustainable curated service. As a key retailer for all people of color and LGBTQ+, we discovered creating a customer experience that’s educative, inspirational and product discovery are a must.
Our highest priority is to embrace social awakening, inclusivity for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, LGBTQ+, and allies who take part in creating a sense of belonging and visibility in Florida.
Donors head to https://ifundwomen.com/projects/kalani-wolf to make your monies contributions, check out our rewards from stickers, tees, hoodies and joggers made from 100% Supima Sustainable Cotton.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I remember when I started to find my voice, standing up for myself and not allow others to define me that was my freshman year in High School. Throughout my childhood, I was voiceless, adults and other kids my age around me either known or unknown would make assumptions based on my color which would determine how the latter of day or that specific moment would transpired.
Being a child of color a Black-Latina at that already society has dictated certain outcomes for you and as we age, we start to challenging those preconceived ignorant notions. The feeling of liberation, discovering who you are, your capabilities, learning and unlearning made me enjoy and appreciate my childhood even more.
Another favorite memory of mine was my walk from the school bus stop to my home after school. My imagination was on full throttle, I’d take the time to create stories of who lived in the homes, snatch avocados from the trees for my dad to enjoy at dinner time, smell the flowers, sometimes put on Britney Spears on my CD walkman – “not going to lie, but her album was on repeat”, and enjoy playing my Nintendo Super Mario and Donkey Kong.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@kalaniandwolf.com
- Website: www.kalaniandwolf.com
- Instagram: @kalaniandwolf
- Facebook: @kalaniandwolf
- Other: https://ifundwomen.com/projects/kalani-wolf
