Makai Kamil

Makai Gillis is a New York–based fashion designer specializing in streetwear and gender-conscious design. With a focus on intentional patternmaking, Makai designs for the everyday wearer, blending masculine and feminine associations with an influence from personal street photography.

Originally from Suffolk, Virginia, Makai developed an early interest in fashion through clothing as a form of self-expression. As a masculine-presenting woman, clothing became a form of armor and a way to communicate feelings that were difficult to express otherwise. She skipped 11th grade and entered college at 16 as a first-generation college student, continuing her practice at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she is pursuing a B.F.A. in Fashion Design with a minor in Fashion Merchandising.

Makai’s professional experience includes two summers at Haddad Brands, working in Levi’s Boys Apparel Design and Accessories Design. These experiences strengthened her interest in product development, sampling, and technical design.

Her current focus is BoyBrain, her senior collection exploring Black queer party culture through protest and liberation. Her long-term vision is to use her technical and creative skills to establish her own design company.