The Designer
Costume Designer | Storyteller through Style and Culture
Meet Ayanna
Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, and raised along the East Coast, Ayanna James Kimani is a renowned costume designer whose work redefines character-driven storytelling. She launched her career with HBO’s Emmy-nominated Insecure, designing the first three seasons and turning the series’ costumes into a cultural phenomenon.
Her creative versatility has since made her a sought-after talent in Hollywood. From reimagining Ruth Carter’s iconic Black Panther costumes for the MTV Movie & TV Awards, to designing for Ava DuVernay’s Family Feud film starring Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Blue Ivy, Ayanna consistently delivers bold, memorable designs.
Her collaborations with DuVernay continued with Queen Sugar, and her portfolio extends to Tall Girl 2 (Netflix), Council of Dads (NBC), All American: Homecoming and Tom Swift (CW), among others. Most recently, she designed Disney+’s The Slumber Party and MGM+’s The Emperor of Ocean Park, starring Forest Whitaker and produced by John Wells Productions.
A dual citizen of Jamaica, the US, and Canada, Ayanna draws inspiration from her multicultural roots and her love of travel. When not designing for the screen, she enjoys curating her growing collection of art and textile books, caring for her plants, and pursuing her dream of building a sustainable textile facility in her hometown.
Ayanna is represented by UTA and continues to redefine costume design for the next generation of iconic storytelling.