With the support of the likes of Missy Elliott, who donned Cupcake Mafia on a recent guest appearance on NBC’s The Voice, the clothing line has come a long way in just four year’s time, growing out of $300 and 30 t-shirts to be sold in over 800 stores throughout 15 countries.
Founded by Mary ‘Mz. Skittlez’ Seats, Cupcake Mafia, based out of Atlanta, aims to serve multiple purposes: provide women with bold, fashion-forward designs and give back to charity.
A generous 20 percent of all proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the company’s own Save the Cupcake Foundation, dedicated to the research, cure and education of breast cancer awareness for women. Mz. Skittlez’s decision to dedicate a focus towards the cause is due in part from the loss of her grandmother to breast cancer, and a passion to keeping her legacy alive through advocacy and fashion.
Skittlez first expressed her creativity through rap music, recording tracks her senior year of high school and deciding to make the switch into fashion years later. Drawing from contemporary Hip Hop culture is a clear and prevalent inspiration for Cupcake Mafia, with designs for women of all sizes, shapes and style preferences.
Skittlez’s dedication to supporting and helping fellow females is a theme to both her life, her line and her new book, sharing advice with aspiring entrepreneurs: “A slow life to the top is better than a fast fall to the bottom.”
Cupcake Mafia is available here.
