bon Tortuga

When you work hard and make cool things and finish them with good persons... that’s some good-life shit. Thanks for @jeajaofoakland for teaching me about #cowlneck construction and to @shoptaylorjay for the ease in creating a #wrapskirt 🖤🖤 @iama11ien #a11ien #hausofa11ien #bayareafashion #customlook #denim #originsball #houseofenergi #ballroomscene #bestpiercings #bettyjump #oaklandfashion (at Son's Of Italy Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs6Q8StAwge/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=auxk4oraqpk9

We won 💥💥! #bestpiercing #category for the @houseofenergi Origins Ball... Check out @iama11ien for some of the process. **I loved directing my amazing friends and team @butiamthebbtop and @tkixbb - both of whom walked and KILLED IT. #originsball #houseofenergi #sffashion #a11ien #hausofa11ien #oaklandfashion #bayareafashion #golden #trophy #ballroomscene #queerfashion (at Son's Of Italy Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs3stCEgMTs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ppuaky7bs6wk

Sunday. #itsraining #wegood #hausofsoftfruit #workmeeting #planning #a11ien #oaklandfashion (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsUKLWigwkP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wfl5z033ayqw

No tree - just spirit. ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ Thanks for the assist @asmrxsm 🥶 🥶 #fashionablechristmas or something, but #hellacheer in #hausofsoftfruit #fruitvale (at Fruitvale Village) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWg1UxgbHB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wrad1bl0lu8j

#fittings with amazing fabulous beautiful generous folks, like @tambusia 💥 That skirt is by @shoptaylorjay 💥 Love to be #atwork #designing #oaklandfashion #bayareafashion #textiledesign #handpainted inspired by the #treeline around #nabesna #alaska 💙 (at Fruitvale Village) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrQljxgASt0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qokxjlki1t04

A few weeks back my gear was featured in a @redbullmusic shoot with #bayarea son @p_lo 💥💥 Thank you @tylerlikesartnotfashion 🖤 @amberasaly 💙 and @academyustyling 🖤 for the support and luvv. Creative days with good peoples are delicious. ・・・ #plo #redbullmusic #bayareafashion #oaklandfashion #repurposed #textiledesign #amberasaly #themissionsf (at Mission District, San Francisco) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGaMu-A0F2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1tjxcmhjnjwlj

Been teaching friends @tkixbb and @asmrxsm some textile trix 🖤🖤 this one sewn by TK 🖤 #textiledesign #repurposedtextiles #repurposed #discharge #oaklandfashion #fashiontextiles (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq82mV4A_e9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ancpb3xytx5z

My sister Jody has always been in my corner. From coming out as queer to coming out as an artist, she has had my back from ‘go,’ and I’ve had hers. She was married a few months ago to the love of her life, Bryan. For my present to them, I made my sister’s dress. It was a nine-month process of fittings and samples and more fittings. The last few weeks before the wedding entailed hand-mounting two fabrics together to create ‘two’ dresses for the occasion. For the ceremony there was a bell skirt with a fuchsia silk band; it came off for the reception to reveal a fun cocktail dress that let my sis @jody_aklife dance and bop around Vegas unimpeded by her couture. I loved going on this journey with my sis, and am forever grateful for the assistance and advice I got from Zoe ( @sewyone )and Paula ( @jeajaofoakland ). 🖤 #weddingdress #customweddingdress #aria #vegaswedding thank you @britexfabrics 💥💥 (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqxwE7Qnp_V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jpalez1dc4lr

I keep wondering if this is the new normal... crazy air, crazy weather... So many simple ways to make a big impact. Please. Pretty please? If I may suggest, check out the doc ‘The True Cost’ on Netflix. 💥🧠💥 (at 16th Street Mission station) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqV1GBDH_RP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rlxgo68l6pt0

Thanks @rickvel123 ; so excellent to work with 💥 (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqQHhDnh1Dw/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gpiix23xe8nk

I did some old-school posting last night... There are over 100 languages spoken in the Bay Area! Here’s VOTE in nine of them. Diversity is f*cking beautiful and I celebrate it. Please vote to support peaceful discourse and morally sound leaders. #VOTE #votesaveamerica #votevotevote #vota #bumoto #votez #oakland #communityovercompetition 🖤🖤🖤 (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bppb_WenyS_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hvvoq6tgt7ck

celebrate the alien and art. there’s room on the bench for different expressions of the individual. If a person is #factually invested in the harm of others, please don’t vote for them. . . #tildenpark @sewyone and #hiking in #heels 🖤 (at Tilden Regional Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpfjsKwnBof/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=pw12i4c65qiq

#folsom #lace #mesh and #denim ; Folks just didn’t know wut. #bettyjump #a11ien #folsomstreetfair #fashiondesigner #fluidfashion #oaklandfashion #masked and #singular (at Folsom Street Fair) https://www.instagram.com/p/BocaNJbnMPj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g18m8ls5osxe

I am so impressed with this woman and what she has done in a few years time... from scratch she started her eponymous clothing brand Taylor Jay Collection @shoptaylorjay and it’s now a thriving brand that is celebrated across all kinds of media with a growing, devoted following and a storefront in dt Oakland. I love her spirit of #inclusion , #selfempowerment , and #fun! She continues to inspire me on my own journey cuz she is #SLAYING it. Black woman-owned businesses are the fastest growing segment of business owners, yet only 2% of women of color receive venture capital! Taylor Jay Collection is crowdfunding to raise capital in order to expand their clothing line and to launch their new plus-sized offerings. I believe in Taylor Jay and what she and her team are doing. 💙 I’ve seen this brand launch from nothing more than Taylor’s determination and an idea. Please help out this Oakland-based label where you can! The link is in their bio, @shoptaylorjay ! #discoverherjourney #oaklandmade #oaklandfashion #ifundwomen #shoptaylorjay #taylorjay #community (at Taylor Jay Collection) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoM9PhjHs0O/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=viy42t34qsq8

#OaklandPride 💙 (at Oakland Pride) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnmIbkUHySo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1q3p20p2g09x

So the other night, as I was getting ready for bed, I heard someone busting the windows of a parked car outside my home... ‘Aw that sucks,’ I said to myself, knowing that calling the cops would do no good as the thief would be gone in a sec. But dude didn’t hustle, and I thought that was weird... and then he lit something on #FIRE and then threw that #flame INTO THE CAR! Woosh and bam, hella flames and little explosions!! 😱 A #vendetta ? 🤔🧐 ¿Que paso? Thanks #oaklandfiredepartment for coming out quick and putting it out! My home and plum tree thank you. This is the third fire I’ve seen on my block during my time in #fruitvale 🔥🔥🔥 Maybe I’ll post those pics this week. Hey #theme ... #arson #ignite #wtf #amess #😱 #🤔 #nomegusta #daaamn hope they had insurance... #firemenarehot (at Oakland, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnjdqpqHKoZ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1fehawxklowqu

Another shot from my collab with @drewmuk - his amazing #mask and my gear... #fires and #spells ; warm glow on a cold night; #zerodegrees #bettyjump #indigenousart #sidesout #reboot #oaklandfashion #ritual (at Nunaka Valley, Anchorage, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnKVmEPH4B4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hihkkmvtm050