Thank you Mom & Dad

I have been drawing, creating, writing, and just inspired from as early ​as I could do all those things. As a kid, I played sports like most, but most ​of my time at home was filled with getting whatever was in my little brain ​out into the pshycial world. I also fully expressed myself as a child, ​nobody could tell me sh*t! My daycare ladies actually gave my the ​nickname “Biva”, short for “Baby Diva”.

I would always create at home, but growing up, my lovely Mother ​(@shannonkohncreates) encouraged me to make art for extracurricular ​activites! I competed in “Reflections”, a state-wide school arts ​competition, just about every year throughout my elementary days!

Both of my parents went to school for graphic design, but can pretty ​much create anything they put their mind to. This gave me such an ​opportunity as a kid to test and experience with mediums, while also ​learning a baseline of art. (We also have an annual Gingerbread ​Smackdown. We use Graham Crackers, but you get the point.)

“Santa & Leopard ​walking on water” ​- Clay tile

CR2005

-Graham Cracker ​& Frosting

CR2022

-Sun Print

CR2008

Self Portrait

- Construction Paper Collage

CR2004

Been Kool

I also of course, played with Bratz as ​a Biva and had other fashion inspired ​toys growing up. I would do “before ​shower makeup“ and make crazy ​dance videos. I had no problem doing ​me and telling people how it was! ​Though, with all this sass, I also grew up ​outside. I LOVED making forts in the ​woods and decorating sustainably. One ​time, me and a friend crushed up some ​berries for some paint! (There‘s a funny ​story with that one). We used to make ​sculptures from the creek clay, and the ​chalk... all the chalk.

“Tuscan Gold”

- Marker & Crayon, CR2007

I also had no idea how much it would stick with me, until revisiting ​my child-like self, but my Mom used to take my brother and me to ​GoodWill about once a week. She would buy clothes, patch them up, ​and resell them on Ebay. Sound familiar? I would always head straight ​for the shoes and jewelry; Yeah, some things never change :)

I think these early interests in art ad clothing, and being close to ​nature have all morphed into what I‘m trying to grow today as ​LoftinLoaded! I want to create a brand so well-rounded creatively and ​sustainably that not only I profit. I want my community and my planet to ​profit as well.

Covid Cougar

Even in High School

I, a perfectionist and overachiever, was in Student Council in High ​School! It was actually super fun and engaging. My favorite part, as ​was everyone’s I’m sure, was Spirit Week. We recruited local ​businesses for donations and sponsorships as well as hold events for ​the purpose of raising money for our charity of the year. The feeling ​you get from unraveling a huge check for $100K+ after planning every ​detail of one week for months prior, is indescribable! So worth the ​stress and hard work!

My other job for Student Council was art related, honored to hand ​paint huge backdrops and posters for our school dances and sports ​games! Art class was definitely my favorite part of the day. We again ​worked with many mediums, learning about styles and techniques of ​creating. One of my pieces my Senior year was displayed at Fall for ​Greenville in 2018!

Alice in Wonderland

-Backdrop Paper

CR2017

“Marilyn Monroe” -​Magazine Collage

CR2018

In 2018, I moved out of my hometown and moved to Charleston for college. My experience at the College of ​Charleston was wild to say the least. I studied and did so much that helped shape me, and again, taught me ​things about myself that would make sense when I figured out what I wanted to do with my knowledge.

I started my freshman experience in the CofC Honors College Entrepreneurship-LLC. I began to learn ​about coding, data science, business models, pitching and planning for investors, the list goes on. I participated ​in Hack-A-Thons, locally and in Estonia throughout my freshman year. CofC focuses heavily on sustainability, so ​this theme would be in all of my remaining years downtown!

Sophomore year was more technical based. I learned accounting and got most of my core classes out of ​the way (thank goodness). Come March 2020, the world would shut down and so would my college experience ​in a way. I changed my major to something I was good at, something I could teach myself online. This was ​History! It is SO important to know the history and story behind [every]thing! Knowing the past helps you better ​it and advance.

I did end up reading and writing my way to a Bachelor’s Degree in History. I worked for the Charleston ​Museum for about a year after i graduated! Though, I had some free time in my Senior year to take some extra ​fun courses. I dabbled in Kayaking 101 and Table Tennis & Pickle Ball, but I wanted to continue learning as well. I ​also took Intro to Art History and Historic Preservation Planning. These two courses, along with everything ​else I learned through my tumultuous experience of College of Charleston boosted my drive to leave my own ​mark on the world.

LoftinLoaded is Born

Well, after some time on my own in the real world, I have quickly realized that there actually ​are no rules and you can do whatever you want. As long as you’re happy and are being a ​productive member of society, then you're golden! This is where your interests, passions, and ​roots come in. I reflected on who I used to be; What would little Loftin want? From there, ​LoftinLoaded was born.

Once just a cheeky name for an Instagram, LoftinLoaded has grown into much more. And ​Hopefully will continue to expand and thrive (this is just the beginning)! Using multi-mediums, I look ​to CREATE. That is all. I want to create my own clothing. Sewn together with my hands or design ​online and printed, I want to produce my own fashion. I want to make my own art too. All of it. I ​want to create a new life for old clothing, things, and stuff. Just like my Mom did when I was ​younger, I genuinely love going to the thrift store to look for cheaper, but stylish options of ​clothing. So, much so that I’ve started shopping for other people. (That way, you don’t have to!)

So, lets MAKE something happen, people! Using all my learned knowledge from a blessed life, I ​plan to hold events and fundraisers of my own! Hosting art shows, DJ sets, field days, fashion ​shows. Promoting boxing matches, and other local artists. Making my own clothing, art, patches, ​stickers, etc. The sky is the limit, and then some.

If you wanna pitch in to help me ​LoftinLoad some good and fun into this ​world, check out my GoFundMe!

You can also pick ​something specific off ​LoftinLoaded’s Wishlist! ​THANK YOU!

Show Love NOW!

Cammie Mitros

Josh (Wiz) Edmondson