Today we’d like to introduce you to Kamaala Emmanuel.
Hi Kamaala, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My story begins on the island of St. Lucia. I migrated to Brooklyn, New York, as a young girl with a desire to become the best version of myself, even before I fully understood what that would look like.
Creativity was always present in my home, especially through music. I started singing in church, surrounded by a family that helped shape my love for it. My father played guitar and played around the island, my mother was a singer and my first choir leader, I was captivated by the rich, deep, resonant tones of my sister’s singing voice, and my brother soon became one of my favorite bass players. Eventually, I stepped into leadership myself as a youth choir leader at my home church in NYC, and by 16, I was singing professionally behind some incredible artists.
My professional life eventually took me into office management and accounting, but creativity never left me. In my late twenties, I became a mother, and my daughter became one of the greatest sources of motivation in my life. Motherhood made me think differently about purpose, legacy, and what it means to fully pursue what is inside of you.
That desire led me back to creating. I developed a clothing line called IWMH, which stands for “I Wear My Heart,” centered around encouraging people to be their best regardless of their circumstances. Fashion had always been personal to me. My mother took tremendous pride in how she presented herself, and watching her taught me early that what we wear can be a form of expression.
Eventually, I realized I wanted to explore that same idea through another passion of mine: fragrance.
That realization became Domain Black.
When I shared the idea with my friend and business partner, Ron who encouraged me to bring what had been living in my imagination to life. After working on the concept independently for a year, I joined forces with Ron and a small team to develop Domain Black into something much bigger than fragrance.
We don’t simply want to sell something that smells good. At the heart of Domain Black is a belief that confidence, power, and potential aren’t things a product can give you. They already exist within you. We want fragrance to serve as a reminder of that. Our message is about recognizing what is already yours, stepping into it boldly, and claiming your domain. That is why our slogan, “IT’S YOURS,” means so much to me.
We’re preparing for our soft launch in New York in 2026 with the launch of our online store, followed by plans for events in Detroit and Chicago. But my vision extends far beyond a fragrance company.
At my core, I am creative. I love music, fashion, art, fragrance, and, most importantly, people. My ultimate dream is to bring those worlds together and build something that outlives me: a global name rooted in creativity, purpose, and trust that people can genuinely see themselves in and embrace.
When I look at the journey from that young girl in St. Lucia to where I am today, the mediums have changed, from music to fashion, business, and fragrance, but the heart behind them really hasn’t. I’ve always been drawn to creating things that encourage people to recognize what is already within them.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth Journey. I didn’t have a lot growing up, but I understood pretty early that if I wanted my circumstances to change, I had to be intentional about becoming part of that change.
Building a fragrance brand without guidance or an established blueprint has definitely tested that mindset. I entered an industry I was passionate about, but passion didn’t mean I automatically understood the business behind it. I had to educate myself on everything from fragrance concentrations and complementary notes to manufacturing, packaging, quality control, and the countless details that go into creating a product that can actually compete in the marketplace.
There were nights when I stayed up until two or three in the morning communicating with manufacturers in different time zones, knowing I still had to get up and go to work the next morning. I was building a business while working, raising my daughter, paying bills, and trying to finance a vision that required real investment. There were times when I spent money on something that didn’t work out, and when you don’t have unlimited resources, those mistakes hit differently. It can be incredibly discouraging.
One of the hardest parts was realizing that I had to become almost everything I didn’t have. I had to be the researcher, problem solver, creative director, decision maker, and sometimes my own source of encouragement. That can be exhausting.
But one of the biggest obstacles wasn’t external at all. I had to learn to take my own business as seriously as I took working for someone else. I would show up for a job because I knew I had responsibilities, deadlines, and people depending on me. I eventually realized that my own dreams deserved that same discipline.
That changed something for me. I stopped treating my creativity like a hobby and started recognizing it as something worth investing in, developing, and building a future around.
I’m still learning, and there are still challenges, but I think the obstacles have made me much more resourceful. I’ve learned that believing in your vision is important, but building it requires discipline, sacrifice, patience, and the willingness to keep learning when you don’t have all the answers.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve never believed I had to limit myself to one passion or professional identity. Music remains a significant part of my life. I perform with a wedding band, continue to sing at church, and take on other opportunities as they come. I also work part time in accounting while building Domain Black.
What I’m most proud of, however, is my resilience. The ability to keep showing up for what I believe in, even when progress is slow or the path is uncertain. I’ve learned that success isn’t always measured by how far you’ve gone, but also by your willingness to keep going.
I believe what sets me apart is my ability to embrace both creativity and practicality without feeling the need to choose between them. I’m still building, still learning, and still discovering what I’m capable of. My story isn’t a finished product, and I don’t need it to be in order to recognize how far I’ve come.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love most about the city are the people. There’s such a strong sense of community, and I appreciate how much creativity and individuality exist within the city. It feels like there’s a space for everyone to belong, express themselves, and find their people. That’s something I genuinely admire.
As for what I like least, I honestly don’t have much criticism. My experiences with Detroit have been overwhelmingly positive, and what continues to stand out to me is the authenticity of its people and the creative energy they bring to the city.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://domainblack.shop
- Instagram: @domain.black
