From ARTIST: Samira issa
I started SammyBammy because, as an activist and artist, I saw a gap between the kind of storytelling happening in galleries, a true depiction of our time for the culture, and the clothes people were actually wearing in the street. As a Gen Z founder, I came up in a moment where everything felt urgent, political, and deeply personal, and I wanted the brand to reflect that energy honestly. Growing up in both Southside Jamaica, Queens & East New York, Brooklyn, I was raised by a black American mother and a very religious Nigerian father. Both worlds collided have made me a very layered person who sees the world a bit differently than others.
What grew out of that layeredness is a brand rooted in culture, identity, and social commentary, built entirely online, and shaped by the city I've called home my whole life. New York gave me the eye for this. The neighborhoods, the people, the tension between what this city was and what it's becoming, all of it lives in the work. NYC culture is not meant to be customized by gentrifiers and transplants. SammyBammy exists to remind the world of when children had New York accents, when the train was $2.00, and when we had ownership of our own, and to make sure that era is never forgotten or erased.
Building this as a founder and an artist at the same time means constantly negotiating between the business brain and the creative soul. These essays are where I work that out in real time. I also partner with organizations whose mission is to bring the community together through culture, youth development, media, and more. My services range from design and production to consulting, and you can find more details on the partnership page of my website. If you or someone you know is part of an organization in need of a rebrand, or wants stronger brand awareness with local art to drive donors and get the streets talking about your work, you know where to find me.
My first job at 16 years old through SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program) was on a political campaign, and for over seven years, I have worked and volunteered alongside mission-driven nonprofits that are doing real things for real people. SammyBammy is an extension of that same commitment, just expressed through art, design, and culture.
