Vanaky723's New Astrology Apparel is Celebrating Each Person's Journey of Self-Exploration

Vanaky723 is Vanessa Banks’ dream of creating personable, representative and beautiful astrological apparel that is rooted in her love of astrology as a self-discovery tool to help people uncover their true selves. As a Black woman who has worked in many different fields for different organizations in Chicago, Vanessa is now trying to prioritize her own business with the help of Rivka Yeker and Josè Rosa of Hooligan Creatives. We worked together to conceive the art and branding for Vanaky723, but it is really Vanessa Banks’ passion project, one that encourages people to center self-exploration and their own unique place in this world.

What made you interested in astrology in the first place?

I became interested in astrology when I was 14. I was always curious about people’s behavior and how the universe worked.  There was an overwhelming intrigue in both science and the arts as a kid. I could not fully understand why people operated the way they did, so it was sort of a scientific exploration of personalities. My unanswered inquiries and the desire to figure out some kind of explanation for people and the function of the universe and where humankind fit -- that was the real reason I became interested. 

Over time, my interest in the psychology of people grew. I started to notice and buy these little astrology booklets that were sold in the grocery stores and pharmacies. Although the personality descriptions were often very general, they often provided some accurate personality traits that corresponded to each Zodiac sign. I knew those books weren’t tailored to individuals. In my mid 20s, through serendipity, I met a woman who was completely immersed in astrology. She did charts, using an ephemeris, mathematical calculations -- I told her I hated math, but she also introduced me to a little shop where you could go and get charts printed of individuals based on their birthdate, birth time and place of birth for an accurate reading (this was before software was available for home computers). This woman taught me about zodiac houses in a chart and the planetary house rulers, etc.  She also introduced me to three books to begin my journey.  Eventually, I found other books with detailed information on constructing and reading charts.  This led me to do readings for people. 

Most of us are walking around feeling a disconnect, curious about our purpose.  We may never fully understand the universe, but I think Astrology can provide information to put one on the path of self-discovery.

What do you want customers to feel when they wear one of your products?

I want them to feel proud representing their Zodiac sign. I want them to feel excited about the energy they carry with them, to feel grateful for the tools the universe has provided them.  I want Vanaky723’s apparel to make them feel confident enough to explore and unlock their potential.

Why start this business now?

I’ve been thinking about this for decades, but technology now has made it possible for me to actually do something about it. The pandemic wiped out my career and although I’m not opposed to working for someone else again, I’d rather take this opportunity to do something that I believe in and enjoy. When I was younger, I did theater, worked in television, banking and law -- now I want to fulfill another one of my dreams -- which is to be an entrepreneur.

What are your intentions with the business?

Right now, I just want to focus on the current merchandise:  t-shirts, mugs, hoodies, eventually expanding into other types of items.

What was the design process like? 

I collaborated with Hooligan Creatives and in our first meeting, I told them that I didn’t want to see the same depictions of astrological symbols, which were often black and white or bland or repetitive. I wanted the art to be something really special.

The designs were conceived by me, Vanessa Banks, but brought to life by the artistic strokes of Artist José Rosa. It was a collaboration. I wanted the color palette to be more vibrant.  My daughter encouraged me to use hex codes in order to fully convey my desired color palette vision. We had many conversations about my interpretations of the signs -- their symbolism, what the primary life lessons of each Zodiac sign is here on this Earth.  We also correlated colors and the mottos assigned to each sign. We went through each sign rigorously, and had many fruitful conversations. Once there was a meeting of the minds, we were able to actualize the product. 

Why is astrology so important?

I want people to use astrology as a tool to better understand themselves within the universe, and to discover more about the depth of astrology. Many people today are fixated on relating to each other versus looking at how their individual chart makes them live a special life specific to them. No two people are exactly the same -- they have similar traits but they are not the same. Everybody’s chart is different, even if it’s only by a few degrees. This is the beauty of astrology as a tool for deep introspection and growth.