Amira's Perihelion: Comfortable In It
- Sheterria Sparks
- Aug 10, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 13, 2025
My friend and I attended a streetwear pop-up during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland a few months back to get a change of scenery from the creative scene in our own hometown. While I'm not the biggest buyer of streetwear, I love to go for the people and the slight chance I might actually see something up my alley. So when I came across a bedazzled pleated skirt in a sea of graphic t-shirts I knew I'd found just the standout piece my closet needed. However, when I approached the founder of the brand responsible, I no longer wanted the skirt--I wanted everything. Not only is Amira Fruits the founder of thriving clothing brand, "Grand Girl" but also a PhD candidate a few semesters shy of receiving her doctorate from UC Irvine. Fruits is the type of woman who's force is cloaked behind a string of the most intentional words you may ever hear while also having the most coordinated outfit in the room that somehow always looks like it took her less than two minutes to style. "Grand" is her motto and she displays it in every aspect. And she does that with ease on the other side of a zoom call with me a few weeks after our first meeting:
S: What is your name?
A: Amira Fruits.
S: Where are you from?
A: I am from Cleveland, Ohio. Specifically Broadway--the Eastside.
S: How old are you?
A: I am 25.
S: What is your zodiac sign?
A: I am an Aries sun. But I have a Libra moon and a Scorpio rising.
S: What traits do you feel you display best from your sun sign?
A: I'm very head strong, I feel like I exude my leadership in many ways. But I'm also very adventurous and deeply resonated with my work.
S: How did you get your start in the fashion industry?
A: I've always loved fashion. I've always been passionate about getting dressed and watching my mother and brothers do the same. But as far as designing I just jumped into it. I really started to take fashion seriously when I moved to California as a first year graduate student. I was trying my best to make a name for myself in a new place by showcasing what I loved: fashion! Everyday I’d put in a conscious effort to put on a nice outfit and observe others in the process. This was my way of collecting data for when I finally jumped into design before I was even sure I wanted to. I was honestly just making an effort to sprout into my womanhood as an individual and it bloomed into something I never expected.
S: What is your favorite genre of film?
A: I wouldn’t say I have a particular favorite genre of film, but Black sitcoms have definitely shaped my life. Martin is the greatest show of all time to me! *laughs* My Wife And Kids, The Jamie Foxx Show, and Living Single are the big hitters for me but I enjoy all the ones from these eras.
S: Have any of the fashion aesthetics from these shows seeped through while making Grand Girl?
A: Yes! I never thought of it that way prior to this moment, but I suppose they have. Especially Martin. Though, there’s hints of Fancy and Maxine somewhere in there for sure! *laughs* A lot of the characters in these shows resemble what Grand Girl stands for and would fit right in my campaigns.
S: How has creating Grand Girl changed you as a person?
A: It's allowed me to sustain a lot of things in my life that have become very valuable in the professional world. Such as being punctual, being intentional with my time. But on a deeper level, it's shown me what it means to answer to myself as the boss. Grand Girl has shown me how to respond to myself and take initiative in every aspect of my orbit. It's given me the autonomy to see what it means to have a thought and see it come to fruition--a beautiful experience that I now feel capable of doing again and again.
S: What does the name Grand Girl mean to you?
A: Seeing yourself above and beyond the expectations and limitations. Being fearless, throwing yourself out there. To know that this image of yourself makes you grand by the mark that you leave with it. To be grand is to see yourself with all that you wish for and how you move forward to accept those things.
S: How did you feel the first time you saw someone outside of your peers wearing Grand Girl?
A: I can't remember that moment but I'm sure it made me feel good enough to keep going! *laughs* Any type of support I get--even a small comment--just makes my day and affirms me that I'm doing what's right. It's a feeling I love.
S: What is coming next for Grand Girl?
A: Lots of travel, networking, and expansion. Of course, I'll always have tees but I actually just started to branch off into denim and loungewear! So it's important to stay in the know for that.
S: How do you balance earning your doctorate degree and running your company simultaneously?
A: I focus on me first before both of those things, actually! I try to make sure that I am healthy--physically, mentally, spiritually--before I can devote myself to anything else. I know that if I'm healthy, I'm safe...that's all that matters. But juggling these things is quite an exciting rush for me most of the time so I don't mind. Though, the challenges are plentiful it's easier to deal with when I'm around people who give me the freedom and open space to express my worries and fears and just allow me to be healthy as my authentic self overall.
S: How would you describe your brand in three words?
A: Eclectic, wealth, and authentic.
S: If you had to wear one piece of clothing for the rest of your life what would it be?
A: Definitely a good pair of cargos. Either Ralph Lauren or 49Grand.
S: What has been the piece you have been most proud of bringing to life thus far?
A: The denim I've been working on. It's been a much harder process than making a hoodie or t-shirt and it's just an amazing feeling seeing all the work I've put into the process come out how I want it to.
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