The FASHION CONNECTOR
Meet AK Brown
I’m AK Brown, known as The Fashion Connector. I’m a stylist, educator, editor, and entrepreneur who uses fashion as a platform for connection and change. Through my brands — A.Studio, Advisor. Magazine, and The Akademy — I’ve built an ecosystem that bridges creativity, education, and culture. My mission is to educate, advocate, and celebrate those defining their own version of success in fashion while amplifying the Black perspective across the industry. Based in St. Louis, I’m focused on shaping the next generation of fashion leaders and making sure Black creatives are seen, respected, and remembered.
How I Show Up In Fashion
The Influencer
I started my fashion journey as a blogger, sharing looks, opinions, and lessons learned long before social media became what it is today. What began as self-expression evolved into a platform that helped me find my voice and build a community. Over time, that voice became a mission to make fashion make sense. Through my podcast, The Haute Guide, and my online platforms, I share honest conversations about fashion, culture, and career growth. For me, influence isn’t about followers. It’s about impact, connection, and helping others see what’s possible.
The Stylist
Styling has always been my foundation. It’s where I learned how to tell stories through clothes and help people feel seen in their own skin. Over the years, I’ve styled everything from magazine editorials to high-profile clients, including international supermodel Madisin Rian and Congresswoman Cori Bush. Whether I’m building a concept for a shoot or helping a client refine their personal brand, I approach every project with intention and creativity. Through A.Studio, my creative agency, I merge fashion and strategy to create visuals and experiences that are bold, purposeful, and unforgettable.
The Publicist
My background in PR taught me how to turn creativity into visibility. I’ve worked with designers, stylists, and entrepreneurs to help them get published, booked, and recognized for their work. Through A.Studio, I’ve led press campaigns, shaped brand stories, and secured placements in outlets like Teen Vogue, Glamour, Bustle, and InStyle. To me, public relations is about more than being seen. It’s about being remembered for the story you tell.
The Educator
Teaching is where my purpose and passion come together. As a faculty member at Siba (The School of Innovative Business & Arts), I teach courses in fashion styling, show production, and social media marketing. My classroom is about more than theory. It’s about helping students understand how the industry truly works and preparing them to take up space in it. Through The Akademy, I extend that same education to aspiring and emerging fashionpreneurs through online courses and workshops designed to turn ambition into action.
The Advocator
Advocacy is the heart of my work. I’m intentional about using my platform to center Black voices and highlight the creatives who are shaping the culture. Through Advisor. Magazine, I tell the stories that matter, celebrate the wins that often go unnoticed, and challenge the narratives that have limited our visibility in fashion. Black fashion is not a trend. It’s innovation, artistry, and legacy.
The Connector
At my core, I’m The Fashion Connector. It’s not just what I call myself. It’s who I am and how I move through this industry. Whether I’m producing a show, mentoring students, leading campaigns, or creating space for other creatives to shine, my goal is always the same. To connect people to opportunity, to possibility, and to each other. I believe that connection is what keeps fashion alive.
My Brands
A.Studio
My non-profit, and the first organization in St. Louis pushing fashion forward for Black and POC fashion members with foundational support and pro bono media relation and branding services.
Advisor. Magazine
My editorial magazine, & digital fashion showroom