Today we’d like to introduce you to Enricka “Rik” James.
Hi Enricka “Rik”, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story starts in Jacksonville, Florida, but it’s really been shaped by every high, low, and restart I’ve had along the way. I’ve always been a creative, the kid who loved fashion, rearranged rooms for fun, and dreamed in color. But, I didn’t grow up thinking I would one day build brands, events, and community experiences from scratch. That part came later, after life humbled me, stretched me, and forced me to become everything I didn’t see around me.
I started thrifting and reselling as a hobby and lover of all things fashion. I first launched my store in 2020. I was a young mom trying to make things work, and finding beautiful things secondhand became both a coping mechanism and a way to create income. Over time, it grew into something much bigger. I realized I had an eye — not just for fashion, but for storytelling, reinvention, and seeing value where other people overlook it. That became the foundation of my brand, Six in The City, which I now run as a vendor in Vintage Exchange with plans of growing my own vintage store, marketplace, and creative hub for other entrepreneurs.
In 2021, I launched MamaSita’s Decor, my balloon and event design company, which opened doors I never imagined — from three years of Essence Festival Glam Suite to corporate events, fashion shows, and city-wide celebrations. What started as a side hustle became a full business, and it proved to me that my creativity could fund my life and my dreams.
But 2024 was the hardest year of my life. I dealt with loss, instability, and moments that could have broken me. Instead, that season solidified my purpose. I realized that everything I’m building now isn’t just for me — it’s for my kids, my community, and the younger version of myself who never felt fully seen.
Today, I’m known as a creative director, event curator, stylist, and founder who is bringing fresh energy to Jacksonville. Between planning The Duval Ball, developing platforms to teach people how to thrift and resell, running my vintage brand, and building partnerships across the city, I’m finally walking in the purpose God’s had for me the whole time. And I’m still just getting started.
My journey has had twists, setbacks, miracles, and moments of reinvention — but every part of it has prepared me for this chapter of building something generational.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. When I relocated back to Jacksonville, the first six months were some of the hardest of my life. I experienced homelessness while still trying to be a present mother and rebuild my life from the ground up. Every day was a test of strength, faith, and resourcefulness. I was figuring out where to go, how to keep my kids stable, and how to hold onto hope while still trying to make my dreams make sense. That period shaped me in ways I can barely put into words.
I also battled postpartum challenges that took me out emotionally. It separated me from my creativity and distanced me from my businesses at a time when I needed them most. I felt mentally foggy, disconnected from my ideas, and unable to tap into the version of myself that usually thrives in chaos. For a while, I didn’t feel like “me,” and that was one of the scariest parts, trying to run brands while not feeling present in your own body or mind.
Financial obstacles added another layer. Being a fairly new entrepreneur without business credit, capital, or a safety net meant I had to constantly stretch what little I had. I learned to be extremely creative, strategic, and resilient out of necessity. There were days I questioned whether any of this was realistic or if I was being too ambitious in the middle of survival mode.
And then there was the emotional weight — doubt, imposter syndrome, and moments of feeling unsupported or overlooked. It took real work to believe in myself again, to rebuild my confidence, and to return to my art with full force.
But every struggle taught me something. The homelessness taught me humility and grit. The postpartum battle taught me compassion for myself. The financial hardships taught me resourcefulness. And all of it together taught me resilience. Those experiences didn’t break me, they built me into the woman and creative director I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a multidisciplinary creative and founder whose work lives at the intersection of fashion, storytelling, and experiential design. I run two brands, Six in The City and MamaSita’s Decor, both rooted in transforming spaces, clothing, and moments into experiences that make people feel inspired, confident, and seen.
Through Six in The City, I specialize in luxury vintage fashion, personal styling, and curating visual stories through clothing. I’m known for having a sharp eye for rare, high-quality vintage, and for helping people discover pieces that feel both expressive and timeless. I also style creatives, influencers, and public figures and I teach others how to thrift, source, and resell. My ultimate vision is to open Jacksonville’s first Black-owned luxury vintage marketplace, a place where emerging sellers can thrive and where the community can shop unique fashion at every level.
With MamaSita’s Decor, I create immersive event designs ranging from balloon art to full-scale installations. My work has been featured at the Essence Festival Glam Suite, Wine Women & Shoes, corporate events, fashion shows, and community celebrations. People often describe my work as bold, detailed, and emotionally impactful, because I approach every project as a story, not just décor.
What sets me apart is my ability to turn simple ideas into full environments. I don’t just “style outfits” or “decorate rooms”, I build worlds. I use color, texture, vintage pieces, lighting, and narrative to create moments people remember long after they leave. I also bring a level of authenticity and heart that comes directly from my lived experience. Everything I create is rooted in passion, resilience, and the belief that beauty should be accessible to everyone.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I built all of this from grit, creativity, and faith. I’m also proud of the impact my work has on others. Whether it’s a client who feels beautiful in a vintage piece, a mom seeing her event come to life, or someone who learns to thrift because of me, knowing that my gifts are opening doors for others is what fuels me.
I’m still growing, expanding, and dreaming bigger for Jacksonville, but everything I create is done with purpose, excellence, and love.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is purpose: showing up for the life God created me for and leaving something meaningful behind for my children and my community. Everything I do is rooted in legacy. I want my kids to grow up knowing that their mother didn’t just survive difficult seasons, but turned them into something beautiful, something that opens doors for others.
Connection matters to me. I care deeply about people feeling seen, inspired, and valued. Whether I’m styling someone, creating an event, or teaching people how to thrift and resell, I always want them to walk away feeling better than when they came. My work is creative, but the heart of it is impact.
Community also matters. Jacksonville raised me, and now I’m committed to pouring back into this city, especially into young creatives and mothers who don’t always have access to resources or representation. I want people to see that you can come from humble beginnings, face real struggles, and still build something powerful.
And most importantly, my children matter. They are the reason I push myself, rebuild after every setback, and dream bigger than my circumstances. I want them to see resilience in real time. I want them to know that greatness is in their blood.
At the end of the day, what matters most is using my gifts with intention, spreading beauty and joy wherever I can, and building a life that reflects faith, strength, and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.mamasitasdecor.com
- Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/rikjames?igsh=MWxsemZ4YTdpdjcwcg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/sixinthecityvintage?igsh=bzMzYTh1dTljcjQw
