Summer Phenix
Summer Phenix
Creating What’s Next: Mariama Barry Blends Fashion, Tech and Vision
Creating What’s Next: Mariama Barry Blends Fashion, Tech and Vision
Mariama Barry is a sophomore computer science major, a founder, a creative, a doer and an awardee for the Entrepreneurship and Business category of this year’s Spotlight Awards.
“I just love to create. I think it's something innate, for sure. I just love to see the things that I've planned come into fruition, and I think that's fulfilling for my heart and soul,” Barry said.
Creativity has served as a throughline between Barry’s projects, beginning with her clothing brand “Cybersticky,” which she started in high school.
“I was always my own fashionista, whether the outfits hit or not, but the process of making clothing started officially in the 9th grade during COVID,” Barry said.
She built up a following on TikTok by customizing and selling thrifted clothing, like skeleton pants and space themed collections, aiming to connect her creative skills with technology and her social media audience. She had a pop up at the Atlanta streetwear market, provided virtual styling, and made her own garments.
“It was cool that I got to make things that other people were interested in. And that fueled my passion,” Barry said.
But the process of executing that passion wasn’t perfect. Barry identified the challenge of bridging creative clothing designs with practical, manufacture-ready patterns. Thus, SIM-AI (now called MontAIge) was born.
"It's an AI fashion design generator where you explain exactly what it is that you want, and not only will a visual come out, but a constructionally accurate output,” Barry said.
With the help of her computer science background and resources from the Spelman Innovation Lab, Barry has found a way to merge her natural creative instincts with her learned technology skills. She’s developed a minimum-viable product and looks forward to pitching and putting the AI in action with real designers.
“I think that's how tech should work, enhancing human creativity instead of just taking over,” Barry said.
She serves as co-publicity chair for the sophomore class council and creative director assistant for the AUC Agency. Barry has also started the clothing brand “House of Sticky,” which features a collegiate street wear collection and the recent “Class of Sticky” photoshoot.
“I love the storytelling aspect of House of Sticky. I like to highlight the stories of those who are wearing the clothes, because clothes have memories, and memories are attached to people and humans. So that's where I'm going with House of Sticky,” Barry said.
Barry’s unique ability to ideate and execute her creative and entrepreneurial visions is spurred on by a process she encourages others to try.
“Firstly, write down the idea. Don't just keep it in your mind, because when you put paper to pen, things become real…tell someone else about your idea...including people in your creative process makes it a lot less daunting…[remember] you can do anything that you want…so I would say, have at it. Because if not you, then who?” Barry said.
For her remaining time at Spelman, Barry hopes to continue to grow, make connections, take opportunities and experience all Spelman has to offer.
“I want to be able to pull out the passions that each person has and help them pursue it and further it…I want to be someone who connects and who pulls out the creative side of everyone,” Barry said.
Mariama Barry is a sophomore computer science major, a founder, a creative, a doer and an awardee for the Entrepreneurship and Business category of this year’s Spotlight Awards.
“I just love to create. I think it's something innate, for sure. I just love to see the things that I've planned come into fruition, and I think that's fulfilling for my heart and soul,” Barry said.
Creativity has served as a throughline between Barry’s projects, beginning with her clothing brand “Cybersticky,” which she started in high school.
“I was always my own fashionista, whether the outfits hit or not, but the process of making clothing started officially in the 9th grade during COVID,” Barry said.
She built up a following on TikTok by customizing and selling thrifted clothing, like skeleton pants and space themed collections, aiming to connect her creative skills with technology and her social media audience. She had a pop up at the Atlanta streetwear market, provided virtual styling, and made her own garments.
“It was cool that I got to make things that other people were interested in. And that fueled my passion,” Barry said.
But the process of executing that passion wasn’t perfect. Barry identified the challenge of bridging creative clothing designs with practical, manufacture-ready patterns. Thus, SIM-AI (now called MontAIge) was born.
"It's an AI fashion design generator where you explain exactly what it is that you want, and not only will a visual come out, but a constructionally accurate output,” Barry said.
With the help of her computer science background and resources from the Spelman Innovation Lab, Barry has found a way to merge her natural creative instincts with her learned technology skills. She’s developed a minimum-viable product and looks forward to pitching and putting the AI in action with real designers.
“I think that's how tech should work, enhancing human creativity instead of just taking over,” Barry said.
She serves as co-publicity chair for the sophomore class council and creative director assistant for the AUC Agency. Barry has also started the clothing brand “House of Sticky,” which features a collegiate street wear collection and the recent “Class of Sticky” photoshoot.
“I love the storytelling aspect of House of Sticky. I like to highlight the stories of those who are wearing the clothes, because clothes have memories, and memories are attached to people and humans. So that's where I'm going with House of Sticky,” Barry said.
Barry’s unique ability to ideate and execute her creative and entrepreneurial visions is spurred on by a process she encourages others to try.
“Firstly, write down the idea. Don't just keep it in your mind, because when you put paper to pen, things become real…tell someone else about your idea...including people in your creative process makes it a lot less daunting…[remember] you can do anything that you want…so I would say, have at it. Because if not you, then who?” Barry said.
For her remaining time at Spelman, Barry hopes to continue to grow, make connections, take opportunities and experience all Spelman has to offer.
“I want to be able to pull out the passions that each person has and help them pursue it and further it…I want to be someone who connects and who pulls out the creative side of everyone,” Barry said.