NIKITA Karsan (23), a third year LLB student at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU), is making quite a name for herself as an entrepreneur in the world of bespoke fashion.
Raised in Uitenhage where she matriculated at Riebeek College Girls’ High School, Karsan completed her BA degree in Legal Theory and Psychology at Rhodes University, before moving to NMU to complete her LLB. She started Nix’s Kix as a hobby in December 2015, and her business has since grown in leaps and bounds.
“I had no idea that my hobby would transform into the well-received business it is today. The first pair of Nix’s Kix was simply created as a gift for my Minion-loving sister, and from there I was encouraged by my family to take my artistic expression to the next level,” said Nikita.
For as long as she can remember, Nikita has been extremely passionate about art.
“I just love expressing myself, especially through free hand sketches, animation and painting. Nix’s Kix was a way of sharing this passion and my own creativity with people in a way that is unconventional and completely unique.
“I’ve always ensured that I never create the same design twice, so that my customers can be assured that they truly own a one-of-a-kind item of clothing.”
Each pair of Nix’s Kix is hand painted from start to finish. “My sneakers vary in time of completion, depending on factors like design, details, intricacy and size. It could take anything from a day to a week to complete. The price depends on the complexity and size of the chosen design. At the moment, a full sneaker design could cost anything from R300 to R450 per pair,” says Karsan.
Although Karsan hopes to work as an advocate once she has completed her studies, her dreams for the future are a toss-up between becoming a judge and becoming a Disney animator.
For those interested in ordering an exclusive pair of sneakers, follow Nix’s Kix on Facebook, direct message her on the “@nixskix” Instagram page or send an email to nixskix@gmail.com.
