Ad Age is marking Pride Month 2023 with our Honoring Creative Excellence package, in which LGBTQ+ creators revisit some of their favorite projects. (Read the introduction here.) Today, our guest editor Lucas Crigler turns the spotlight to NiK Kacy, founder of NiK Kacy Footwear. Here, Kacy writes about their eponymous brand and launching Equality Fashion Week.
Growing up as an Asian immigrant AFAB (assigned female at birth) presented numerous challenges. Not only did I face the struggles of being queer, masculine-presenting and nonbinary, but the world around me often refused to accept my true identity. Consequently, I found it disheartening and sometimes even hopeless to exist authentically. Despite working diligently to adapt and achieve outstanding grades, I perpetually felt alone and unworthy. It wasn’t until I discovered a sense of belonging within the queer community that I began to realize my purpose.
In 2013, I made the bold decision to leave my dream job at Google and become an entrepreneur. Motivated by a lifetime of struggling to find footwear that aligned with my gender identity and accommodated my feet, I founded the first gender-equal footwear and accessories brand, NiK Kacy Footwear.