Skip to Main Content
Apr 03, 2024

Ideate & Explore Grant Recipient – Jana Berry for her venture Silk Heart

Jana Berry

“Empowering Fashion for a Cause: Jana Berry’s Journey with Silk Heart.” By Nida Fatima ’24.

Amidst Studio Art students at Colby, sophomore Jana Berry ’25 stands out with her visionary project, Silk Heart. More than just a clothing brand, Silk Heart embodies a profound mission to honor her late uncle’s legacy while making a tangible difference in the community. Through Silk Heart, Jana is not only crafting apparel but also shaping a movement that redefines fashion with purpose.

Silk Heart was born from a deeply personal experience, rooted in the memory of Jana’s uncle, who tragically lost his life to DUI driving. Inspired by the values he embodied, Jana’s mission is to perpetuate his legacy through fashion while contributing to DUI education and support for affected families. 

Central to Silk Heart’s ethos is the vision of inclusivity and creativity. Jana envisions her brand as a platform for social impact, where individuals can not only wear stylish apparel but also participate in community events focused on sustainable fashion and creative expression. By repurposing unused clothing and materials, Silk Heart aims to foster a culture of collaboration and empowerment, where everyone’s voice is heard and celebrated. She shares, “Having that foundation and allowing people to bring in their own ideas, I want to have social events where people come to create and be able to fit everybody’s fashion ideas,”.

Jana’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. Drawing inspiration from her mother’s entrepreneurial endeavors, she recognized the power of perseverance and resourcefulness in achieving her goals. Despite the challenges of balancing academics and business responsibilities, Jana remains committed to her vision, leveraging her skills in digital art and cinema studies to drive innovation within Silk Heart. “Even if I’m the first to do it or don’t know that much, it’s all about reaching out and making those connections,” Jana reflects, underscoring the importance of initiative and networking for student entrepreneurs. 

Through the support of the Halloran Lab at Colby College, Jana has been able to realize her vision for Silk Heart. The grant provided her with the resources to invest in digital design tools, enabling her to streamline the creative process and enhance the quality of her products. Moreover, Halloran lab’s ecosystem has offered Jana invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities, empowering her to navigate the challenges of starting a business while pursuing her academic passions. She mentions, “Colby is a place where if you tell someone you’re interested in something and they see how serious you are, they will go out of their way to support you,”.

Looking ahead, Jana envisions a future where Silk Heart transcends its campus roots and becomes a catalyst for social change on a larger scale. Beyond Colby, she plans to expand Silk Heart’s reach through pop-up shops, community events, and collaborations with like-minded brands. However, her ultimate goal remains steadfast—to make a meaningful social impact. “It’s less about the number of clothes I sold, but really about being able to give back,” she says.

As she continues to chart her path forward, Jana offers a message of determination to fellow student entrepreneurs. “You just have to be very determined and successes will follow,” she advises, emphasizing the importance of self-belief and perseverance in the face of adversity. With Silk Heart, Jana Berry is not only shaping the future of fashion but also inspiring a generation of changemakers to pursue their dreams with passion and purpose. 

Updates on Jana since she received the Ideate & Explore Grant:

Jana along with three other Colby students, with support from the Lyons Arts Lab created the IN TANDEM: The Unconventional Fashion Experience.