The Designer

Our bodies are moving sculptures—every shadow and line embracing our past, while harnessing the present.

Launched in the 80s, Khismet Wearable Art was born with a rogue aesthetic: pronounced patterns in classic cuts. That spirit endures today as the collection continues its artisan-led design and production, guided by contemporary fashion prerogatives.

Each garment is a tactile narrative. The collection includes Batik, tie-dye, hand-woven textiles, silkscreen, and appliqué—techniques that not only create texture and vibrancy but preserve traditional textile industry work and foster continuous appreciation of cottage industry design in Ghana. These unique fabrics give wearers a meaningful connection to the hands behind the wefts and champion the beauty of slow, sustainable fashion.

Through collaborations with artisans in Ward 8 of D.C. and throughout Ghana, Khismet develops intentional connections within local economies while amplifying global narratives of resilience and beauty.

The brand exists in a space between Anacostia and Accra.

Founded by Artist and Educator Millée Spears, the collection revisits the moments and memories from Spears’ dual homes in North America and Africa.

Khismet made its early mark on the international stage through the World Bank International Arts and Crafts Festival, where Spears promoted artists and artisans from Ghana and other developing nations. In 1999, “Cultural Fusion,” a fashion show held at the World Bank headquarters, introduced Khismet Wearable Art to a global audience and raised funds for the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund, supporting education for women in the Global South. These early initiatives cemented Khismet’s purpose: fashion as cultural diplomacy—and as a tool for economic and social empowerment.

Today, Khismet is worn by Academics, art collectors, expats, world travelers, and executives boldly bringing their culture the workplace. Its evolving focus on genderless, size-inclusive garments reflects a long-standing commitment to inclusion—both in form and philosophy. Signature pieces like the Pop Over, a tribute to Spears’ mother; the Versatile Maxi, an homage to family friend Gail; and the Lappa, in honor of Badi, root the collection in legacy and the lived experiences of beloved women generationally informing Spears’ design eye.

The Cultivate Empathy collection—an everyday cotton capsule born of Badi’s story—invites wearers into quiet acts of resistance and compassion. At the close of each fiscal year, a percentage of proceeds from Cultivate Empathy is gifted to a select partner organization, solely for the purpose of fueling awareness, education, and the continued disruption of female circumcision. 

Wear the Art.