Kim Stephens-Olusanya, a local entrepreneur and influencer, has teamed up with celebrity stylist J. Bolin to curate a new clothing collection meant to encourage and inspire women. The collection, called The Debut, is being launched Feb. 28th during the pair’s fashion show. 

Stephens-Olusanya has plenty of experience running a show as the CEO and founder of three businesses here in Dallas. Texas Bearings of Dallas produces and services movable parts of heavy machinery and Charter Hospitality is a real estate and medical services company that constructs and operates building for medical offices, among other things.

Stephens-Olusanya is also the founder of Action with Compassion, a nonprofit that supports victims of domestic violence by raising funds through cultural events, such as fashion shows and art exhibits. In line with Action with Compassion’s mission, a portion of the proceeds from the fashion show will be given to domestic violence victims through the nonprofit.

Action with Compassion has previously engaged Dallas-area fashion designers and celebrity chefs to provide clothes and blue-ribbon dinners to women and children in one of the most prominent homeless shelters in Dallas. “On that day, each of those abandoned and misused women felt seen, heard, and supported,” says Stephens-Olusanya. 

J. Bolin, a celebrity stylist from Mississippi, came into contact with Kim O. when she reached out after wearing a duplicate outfit at an event, when she wanted a unique style. The two have “been making fashion history together ever since,” Bolin says.

Both Stephens-Olusanya and Bolin are the designers and executive producers of the fashion show. This is Stephens-Olusanya’s first collection as a designer and in collaboration with the well-known J. Bolin, who she calls a “giant in the industry.”

The designs of The Debut were created and designed for ordinary women with an appeal to a “casual-lux” taste. The collection is “essential for women, mainly because they see that a woman can accomplish a lot with energy, dedication, and will power,” says Stephens-Olusanya.

“I want to inspire other women to follow their dreams and work hard to make them a reality.”

Now, she’s most looking forward to seeing everything come together. “This has been such a gratifying process entailing many elements and details,” she says. “I can’t wait to see everyone’s reaction.” Bolin also looks forward to the show, and “that feeling of seeing the line we worked so hard to create, come down the runway.”

Another women’s collection is next for Stephens-Olusanya, too. “One collection can indeed spark the change, but consistency will be the thing to break barriers,” she says. “I aspire to be a part of that consistency.”

[Photo: Kauwuane Burton]

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