Atlanta native Kianga “Kiki” Peterson wanted to be a fashion designer before she knew what a fashion designer was.  From as early as she can remember, Peterson loved to draw women wearing different outfits,  and make her own pajamas. By age 10 Peterson was making her own clothes to wear to school,  designing fun printed shorts as a way to stand out from her peers. By the age of 13 Peterson discovered the job of fashion designer by way of her 7th grade art teacher.  Peterson's design passions inspired her art teacher to create the Wills Junior High's first fashion design program. By high school Peterson was making outfits for she & her friends from  club attire to prom dresses.  Which soon gave Peterson the reputation as the go to person for one-of-a-kind looks. In 1993 after graduating high school, Peterson moved to NY to go pursue a fashion design degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). 

Throughout her college years Peterson took on various fashion jobs;  from pattern making assistant  at Val Mode, a lingerie company who’s private label business included Victoria Secret, to merchandising and window displays at Herman’s Sporting Goods. Peterson later took on the job as assistant stylist for Sybil Pennix at Uptown Records and styled celebrities including Total, Jodeci, Monifa, Heavy D,  and Anthony Hamilton.  While working at Uptown and attending college, Peterson met J. Alexander Martin,  one of the founders of  Fubu.  Inspired by & relating to their story, Peterson dropped everything and devoted 100% of her efforts to growing the FUBU brand.  For the next eight years Peterson’s designs became crucial in building FUBU’s 350 million dollar empire.

Peterson’s women’s wear background never allowed her complete satisfaction in the menswear market. Peterson had a vision, and soon convinced the FUBU owners to allow her to create a juniors line, the first of it’s kind.  Under her direction, FUBU Ladies became the first “urban Jr. label” - grossing over $40 million in its first year of production and becoming the blueprint for not only design but unwavering success in the urban world of fashion.  After years of dedication,  Peterson made the decision to leave FUBU and create her own label.  She wanted to prove that she was not only an amazing talent in design but an intelligent business woman with a proven track record of success and skill. 

In 2000, Kiki formed K.A.Kitties, a juniors brand, along with her three business partners and these girls had something to prove.  That same year K.A.Kitties entered and won Black Enterprise $20,000 Business Plan competition and Kellog’s Balance Bars $10,000 Outstanding Women Entrepreneurs competition.  K.A.Kitties shipped worldwide and was looked upon as the next mega brand in junior's fashion. The line was featured in notable publications such as ; WWD, Black Enterprise, Urban City, Honey, Jane, Cosmo, Essence and Vibe magazines.  Peterson & her partners also founded K.A.K. consulting , where they developed concepts and collections for various emerging junior brands, including Jay Z’s Rocawear, Nelly’s Apple Bottoms, Nicky Hilton’s Chic, Eve’s Fetish, and Sean Comb’s Sean John. In 2006 Peterson launched her own fashion consulting firm, Dirty Fashion . Her clientele includes Justin Timberlake’s William Rast,  Peoples Liberation,  Dollhouse,  Heatherette,  Akon‘s Aliaune, and most recently Beyonce’ and Miss Tina Knowle‘s House of Dereon.

Peterson’s contribution to urban fashion has been documented in the soon to be released book “Free Stylin’ , How Hip Hop Changed The Fashion Industry”  (Praeger, Spring 2012) by veteran  fashion journalist & professor, Elena Romero.