Meet Leah Horton of The Human Collection

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Horton. 

Hi Leah, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started the Human Collection when I was 16 years old. Before my fashion career began, I was on the Olympic track as a gymnast, winning multiple titles including state champion. I had done gymnast from when I was a toddler until I made the life choice to stop in Middle School. From there I became a cheerleading captain, costume and makeup director, fashion club founder, and infinity group co-founder. I went to Ravenscroft School from pre-k to 12th and I found I was one of the few little black faces in a sea of white. I started to feel different. Although I had my friend, I never felt beautiful. Then I gained weight and the world told me I would never be loved. I found myself overly insecure and depressed. Yet, no matter how much weight I lost I never looked in the mirror and felt good about myself. I graduated high school and set my sail to the big apple. I began my journey at my dream college Parsons The New School of Design. I think what separated me was my point of view. My dyslexia helped me create my patterns. I always loved juxtaposition; I took my love of horror movies (witch with my conservative Christian upbringing always felt forbidden and exciting) and anatomy and chemistry, to create traditional psychedelic beauty. I took my artwork of gory body parts as the foundation for my future. I learned that I might not always love myself but just for a second my clothes made me feel good. As my desire for human connection expanded, I learned that clothes are like that for everyone. So, I become a type of doctor but clothes are my medicine. I was a southern belle enjoying the energy of Manhattan, living the school fairytale I had been dreaming of since I was small. But unfortunately, some fairytales don’t last forever. Despite my 4.0 GPA I have been in and out of Parson due to financial issue. This forced me to expand my surroundings and business. I started a home decor and portrait department in my company. As I took this direction, I found myself working in a factory and as a sales associate. Now I’m living in Robbins trying to expand my company, working on mine and others’ mental health, and trying to find a way to graduate from my dream school. But mostly I just trying to be ok and to feel ok. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone goes through this world without a bump but, it’s about the journey not the destination. My journey has had some bumps. I grew up in an upper-middle-class family and I found myself relaying on my faith to keep me moving. I felt what so many kids feel at an early age: ugly, unloved, and unworthy. My first battle was with suicidal depression. Which comes and goes. It was something I only recently have gotten more of a handle on. I learn recently along from trauma PTSD, I am borderline personality. But honestly figure that out was reliving for so long I felt crazy, on edge, and just deep down know there was something wrong with me. When I was young my teacher wanted to hold me back. I found out I was dyslexic and that I was very smart I just learn differently. Which as an adult I have never been more grateful for because it lets me see the world differently. My depression help me appreciate the little thing and love people. I put on my smile every morning as I died inside and it made me appreciate other more. It made me never want to hurt anyone, it made me forgive people who hurt me because you never know what someone is going through. So, I wanted to be the reason someone smiles because I understood how hard it was to find mine. As a went along the road I face doubt of teachers who felt I wasn’t talented to get into my dream schools. I found I was facing financial issue with the unstabilty of my family’s financial support. Leading my graduation date to extend. I found myself constantly if I had what it took to be successful. I heard doubts from all ends at different time. I was told I would be a starving artist. Yet I keep pushing because of my faith. I push myself so I can make a different in someone’s life. For that little black girl who’s crying herself to sleep tonight. 

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
The Human Collection began in North Carolina Forest with a girl who didn’t love herself. I began my company to make humans love themselves through what they wear and what surrounds them. Here at the Human Collection, we understand that the world can hurt us so it is important that we live free, be wild, and ponder at the little things. It is your beautiful darkness and weirdness that we celebrate. The Human Collection aims to help the mental illness pandemic in the world. Our client is a flower child. They are passionate about what moves them and love to experience the souls of other people and their atmosphere. We welcome all hippies, in-betweeners, and humans who think differently. My company loves to express your body and accentuate your role, curves, lines, and bumps because you are beautiful inside and out. We will raise your endorphins and give you an adrenaline rush. It is time to be comfortable in your fear and LOVE what you see. We don’t design for male, female, trans, petite, plus size, qeer, etc., but just Humans. So, get in a handstand and join the spread of love. 

Our Services include but are not limited to: Portraits, Home decor (pillows, tapestry, pictures, blankets, wallpaper), Clothes, Artwork, and Textiles. 

My prints and custom made from my body parts drawing. My textiles how the depth of the thoughts and multiple concepts in my brain. 

I am known for the hippie, feel-good, body part prints, and my person aesthetic artwork. 

I am proud of every part of my company. I’m proud of every piece that make someone feel good. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I feel every part of my life I’ve been lucky. I think even the horrible things I’ve experienced, even abuse, had led me to be the person I am. I don’t think I would be myself without the ups and downs. I feel lucky to have insecurities and mental illness because it has led me to know what I want to center my business around. In my faith, god has led me to the person I am and I believe I’m so open to everything in life because of the good and bad, I feel lucky to have been a little black girl in a sea of white. I feel lucky to know my family and friend. I think ever rock I’ve kicked, round I have taken has led me to be who I am. I feel blessed to still be alive. I feel lucky to not know where the road may take me. I am excited for the new scares I’ll get. I am excited for the happiness I’ll feel. I feel lucky for the lives I’ve touched and I’m great for every person I have come across. Luck and god have played a role in every second of my life and I’m lucky to let my multi-colored flag fly. 

Pricing:

• 35 to 100

Contact Info:

• Email: hortl401@newschool.org
• Website: https://hortl401.wixsite.com/thehumancollection
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shoparificpinkgirl/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/you/selling
• Twitter: http://portfolio.newschool.edu/hortl401/
• Youtube: https://parsons.edu/undergrad/student-work/leah-horton/
• Yelp: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/the_human_collection_
• Other: https://hortl401.wixsite.com/website?fbclid=IwAR0BG5Vl7sm_KpWTBI6lM43bD56Igvi4YOJt-8OFZncyU5c2-4dPH9NTA1o

Image Credits
Leah Horton photography