Behind the Cover: Santia McKoy on Cultural Roots, Family & Motherhood
When you look at a visionary artist at the top of their game, it is easy to see only the final masterpiece—the precision, the acclaim, the flawless execution on the cover.
In our latest cover story, we explored the boundless creativity, powerhouse drive, and cultural impact that defines Santia McKoy’s professional design world. But true icon status is built on something much deeper. Behind every stitch lies a fierce dedication to Haitian heritage, activism, and a profound statement on critical global issues.
From her celebrated Haiti 222 collection bridging centuries of heritage to the boundless creativity defining her professional design world, her work consistently turns fashion into a living record of history and resilience. On our cover, Santia McKoy makes a powerful statement in her symbolic TPS dress—a true visual masterpiece reflecting her advocacy for Temporary Protective Status.
Editor’s Note: The Art & the Heart
This companion piece pulls back the curtain to reveal the heart, family bonds, and cultural roots that truly ground her. Years after we first captured her journey into motherhood and the quiet strength of her pregnancy with Iman, we walk alongside her at the parade talking about what it means to watch him turn one, celebrate multi-generational family milestones, and build a lasting legacy while keeping family at the very center.
From Cross-Country Travel to Generational Roots, Tradition, and Motherhood
Santia, what made it so important to you to pack up and travel all the way to New York with all of your children for the Haitian Parade, and what was it like sharing that milestone experience with them?
It was extremely important for me to bring my husband and all of my children to New York because September 7th, the day of the parade, was also my birthday. Every year, I spend my birthday with my family, so I couldn’t imagine celebrating such an important moment in my life and career without my husband and children by my side.
This year was even more meaningful because God blessed us with a son who was born in the same month as me. That made September even more special for our family and made having everyone there with me even more valuable.
I also wanted my family to experience what happens behind the scenes. People often see the finished designs, the beautiful pictures, the media coverage, and the final moment on the parade route, but my husband and children were able to witness the preparation, long hours, sacrifices, pressure, and hard work that went into bringing everything together.
Having them there made the experience so much more than a professional accomplishment. It became a family milestone. I was celebrating my birthday, representing Haiti through my work, and creating a memory with my husband and children that we will be able to look back on for years to come.
How did the New York Haitian Parade trip help plant your family’s roots in a special way?
That trip became even more important to us because it was about family and generations coming together. One of the most precious moments for me was that my son was able to meet his great-grandmother and great-grandfather for the first time in New York. That is a memory and a blessing that means so much to me.
While I was busy preparing for the parade, my husband’s mother and father were also able to spend meaningful time with our children. Seeing the grandparents involved, spending time with their grandchildren, and also being able to see and understand the work my husband and I do as parents and as a family meant everything to me.
How important is it to you to weave these rich family bonds and cultural traditions into the fast-paced world of your career
I am a very family-oriented woman. No matter how busy my career becomes or how much I accomplish, family will always be at the center of my life. I love seeing our family stay connected and seeing different generations come together. For me, success means even more when the people I love are there to experience it with me.
So when I look back at New York, I remember the incredible Caribbean Carnival, my birthday, my Haitian culture, my work, my husband and children, grandparents and great-grandparents all connected in one experience. That is what planting family roots means to me—giving my children memories, culture, love, and a strong sense of where and who they come from.
How does that journey represent the connection between celebrating your life and passing down your cultural roots to the next generation?
For me, celebrating my life is not just about celebrating another birthday or another accomplishment. It is also about thinking about what I am teaching my children and what I will leave behind for them.
Being in New York for the parade on my birthday gave me an opportunity to bring so many important parts of my life together—my husband, my children, my family, my career, and my Haitian heritage. My children were not just hearing me talk about Haiti; they were able to experience our culture, see our people celebrating together, and watch their mother use fashion to tell Haiti’s story.
How do you actively weave your Haitian heritage into their everyday lives so they naturally grow up with that deep sense of pride?
I want my children to understand that no matter where they are born, where they live, or what they accomplish in life, they should always know where their family comes from and be proud of their roots. I want them to see that our Haitian culture is something beautiful and powerful that deserves to be celebrated and passed down.
One day, my children will have families of their own, and my hope is that they will continue sharing these traditions, stories, and values with their children. That is what legacy means to me—not only leaving something behind for my children, but putting something inside of them that they can carry forward for generations.
There is such a strong thread of legacy here. When you look at how the generations line up—your husband born in the same month as his mom, and now you and your only son Iman sharing a September birth month—how does it feel watching these exact family patterns mirror each other like that?
It feels like such a profound and beautiful blessing—something we could never have planned. My husband is his mother’s only son, and they share a September birthday. After having my three daughters—Aliya, Adrianna, and Isabella—I prayed for a son. When God blessed us with Iman, and we realized he shared my birth month, it added an entirely new layer of meaning.
Watching this September birthday legacy repeat itself across generations feels like history echoing in the best way possible. September will always hold a special place in my heart; it represents life, family, and answered prayers.
Stepping into the world of raising a son after three girls has been a completely new and wonderful experience. Because I witnessed the special bond my husband shares with his mother, experiencing that same dynamic with Iman gives me a whole new perspective. At the same time, he is surrounded by the love and strength of his three big sisters. I hope being raised alongside them helps shape him into a compassionate, respectful man who values family above all.
To me, these connections are much more than dates on a calendar. They are proof that sometimes life writes the best stories for you, leaving a legacy our children can carry forward for generations.
As your son turns 1 this Sunday, what are your biggest hopes and wishes for him as he begins his own chapter?
My biggest prayer is that God continues to protect him, guide him, and give him a long, healthy, and purposeful life. He was a child I prayed for after being blessed with my three daughters, so watching him reach his first birthday is very emotional for me.
More than anything, I want Iman to grow into a kind, respectful, humble, and strong man. I want him to value family, respect women, love and protect his sisters, and always remember the love and sacrifices that surrounded him from the very beginning.
I also want him to be proud of his Haitian roots and understand the legacy he comes from, while still having the freedom to create his own identity, dreams, and path in life. I don’t want him to feel that he has to become who his parents are—I want him to discover who God created him to be.
As his mother, I can give him love, guidance, values, and a strong foundation, but eventually his story will belong to him. My greatest wish is that wherever life takes Iman, he walks with God, knows who he is, remembers where he comes from, and always knows that he was prayed for and deeply loved before he could even understand what love meant.
