- 1 week ago
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00:00Oh my goodness, thank you. I love you guys, too. Hi, everyone. I'm Shelby Ivy Christy. I'm a fashion and costume historian. And as a Forbes recognized art and wearable art curator, not to toot my own horn, but I got to give you my credentials so you don't think I'm just up here dressed nice.
00:16It's a pleasure to be speaking with you today about some of the future fashion creatives of our generation. One of the things that I enjoy about the new guard, if you will, in the fashion industry is that we don't really fit into atypical career boxes. We kind of dismantle the boxes and we build avenues and entryways and tables in the industry of our own.
00:38And these next creatives who are about to join us just do that every day in their own work, pioneer new ways and new avenues in the industry. They didn't wait on anyone to give them the opportunity. They made the opportunity themselves.
00:50So please help me to welcome and celebrate fashion royalty, Ducky Confetti, Tazita Bellemle, Heem Adisa, and New Orleans very own Tucci. Oh, I think you guys can join us over here. I'm going to take my seat.
01:14Who wants to be in the hot seat next to me?
01:16All right, guys. Don't be scared. I'm not going to bite. I already heard the New Orleans crew say, listen, let me go last, which I'm going to get to y'all because I know y'all don't do this often and I really want to hear your insight, but I want to get to these amazing individuals first.
01:39So Tiz, I'm going to start with you. I'm such a huge fan of your work and all the work that you do to pioneer and enter into the streetwear industry.
01:48I know a little bit about you when you first came into fashion interested in marketing and working towards that kind of career avenue and social media kind of led you to pivot away from that.
01:57And just congratulations on all of your success. Just being an entrepreneur and being a black woman in streetwear is not easy. So kudos to you on that.
02:06So as a result of your streetwear becoming the center of fashion, you're getting kudos all the time, right? Driving viral moments. Everything is an Insta trend. Everyone wants to be in your looks.
02:16Could you tell me a little bit more about how you synchronize your love of fashion with determination to help others? I know it's really not easy, again, to be a black woman in streetwear to build a conglomerate in a successful business of your own, but I'd love to hear kind of what you're doing in the community.
02:35Do you work with a lot of female entrepreneurs? How are you making pathways for them, entryways for them? Are you leaving the door open behind you? Has you risen to open that door?
02:48Yes. Well, as many of you may know, I have a female clothing brand, but I also style artists. When I first started my clothing brand, I was just in college. So I was a starving college student and I didn't have that much of my means.
03:04I didn't even know how to sew. So I remember my first couple items, I was hot gluing my items. I was just hot gluing my bralettes and everything just to stay on. And I was just wondering how I would get to the stage where how am I going to have my first client? You know, how am I going to, how do these brands get their first, like celebrities, you know? And I was just like, how am I going to get to that point? Like I see it, but I did not know the steps to get there. So it was a lot of trial and error.
03:30And that being said, you know, something ended up working and sticking and I ended up getting to my end results. But that being said, I'm always giving back. I have a lot of college interns also. We're always looking for assistant stylists in New York, L.A.
03:46And I'm always trying to, you know, empower and also hire people with, you know, ethnicities and of color also just because I felt like there wasn't that much of that, you know? Even when I'm on music video sets, I don't see a lot of women that look like me, you know? And especially in higher and proper paid positions.
04:04I always see people like maybe someone who's giving the water boy or the PA who's getting food might be African American, but there won't be somebody in the position that I want them to be.
04:14So I'm really honored to get that position. And when I do can too, I make sure that I try to employ other women or different minorities also.
04:22I love that. And you brought up a great point about how black creatives can sometimes be confined to entry level associate level work. And it is really hard to find or build roadways for them to get into more like corporate roles or roles that have enough equity and influence to really drive decisions.
04:40So I love that that's something that you're aware of and already like consciously making decisions around.
04:47All right, Ducky, it's on to you. King of pelts. And can I just say, I love, I love that you're a black furrier. And I have a lot of admiration personally for that level of design because we don't see it a lot.
05:03And as a fashion and costume historian, I know that African Americans have had a long history in the fur trade, starting with when we were brought here, you know, building relationships with Native Americans and they were really involved with that trade.
05:17Your work reminds me a lot of the black woman who did a lot of Little Kim's fur pieces in collaboration with Misa Hilton. She was a black native from North Carolina. I'm a North Carolinian. So just bow down to you. Love the work that you do.
05:30Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And so I wanted to talk to you about your success, of course, but also I wanted to say that, you know, you've created looks for some of the culture's most esteemed talent.
05:43You have a level of expertise in celebrity styling. Can you tell us a bit about your creative process when you're styling, you know, celebrities and artists you connect with?
05:53Do they supply you with any kind of outline? Do they just entrust you with kind of your style expertise? Can you lead us through that process and kind of tell us what it's been like working with celebrities?
06:03Well, most of the time when I'm working with a celebrity or any client, you have to know your client. So I do my research. I've researched what I feel like they like to showcase, like as far as like the part of the body, you know, because some people don't like their legs, some people don't like their arms.
06:23So all of these things you you play that all into a factor when you're building a customized piece for them. So I think that's very important.
06:31I know I know you have to learn and know the client and that's ultimately the goal when you're creating a custom piece for them.
06:37And, you know, I always add my twist to whatever I do, you know, because that's why they're coming to me, because they know that I'm going to add my twist to it.
06:44A lot of times when people come to me for custom pieces, it's like they tell me the project and they kind of just let me do what I do.
06:56And it kind of scares me when they're not like calling me and saying, like, when is it going to be ready? Can you send me pictures?
07:02You know, because that really means that they trust me and they believe in me. And, you know, so that stuff like that scares me.
07:08I'm like, okay, they're not checking in. Um, when I did Mary J. Blige, um, um, look for the BT honors, hip hop honors.
07:18Law Roach was her stylist at the time. He told me what he wanted. He said ghetto fabulous. He wanted white leather.
07:24And he literally, he didn't ask for no pictures. And I just shipped it to LA and he was like, yo, I love this shit.
07:31This shit is so dope. You know, but I know Mary, I know her style. I know what she like. I know her swag.
07:36So again, knowing your client is very important and knowing what they like, how they like to wear their clothes,
07:42and just knowing fabrications and, you know, all of that stuff plays a big part in working with customs.
07:49I love that you mentioned that like research, right? And like you said, fabrication,
07:54because the texture of something in one color across that color grade can, and across that Pantone can completely change,
08:00Right. Um, you know, the feel of that, that thing, so.
08:04Right. And not only that, a lot of clients, they don't know fabrication.
08:08So they'd be like, oh, I want to silk such and such, such, but I want it to be boxy.
08:13Not knowing that whatever you make in silk is going to drop, you know, so you have to be educate them.
08:18And just because they want something, you can't just give it to them because they're ultimately, they're not educated on where you are.
08:25So you have to educate them and let them know like, hey, I wouldn't choose silk for something boxy.
08:30I would either choose neoprene or a cotton. You know, that's the only thing that's going to really give you a boxy shape.
08:36So knowing your fabrications and going against your client and not being scared, not just doing what they want you to do,
08:42not being scared to speak up and say, hey, I don't think that's going to work. That's very, very important as well.
08:48Right. Yeah. I'd love to hear that too, because I'm sure it's, it's cynical where like your client pushes back on you.
08:55If you ever be able to push back on them and have it in a conversation where it's like educational, it only builds that trust.
09:01It's all about communication. It's about how you word it.
09:04So sometimes people be like, oh, I don't want to, if you, if you say it a certain way, they'll trust you and they'll understand and they'll, you know, they'll take your word for it.
09:13Yeah. And I love that you're in your work. You're basically explaining, like, it's not always just about getting the look onto the body.
09:19It's also about the education piece. It's also about, you know, hearing them doing what's right for the moment, understanding the storytelling too,
09:26because you mentioned, even though La just told you ghetto fabulous, that's a story. That's a visual story.
09:30He was trying to tell and you were receptive to that. It wasn't just, let's just get a look on the client for this event.
09:35Right. I love that. That's true. Ghetto fabulous is, it sounds like a simple, but it's like really a thing.
09:42But if you don't know it, then it's like hard to like understand it.
09:46Yeah, I can only imagine. So I wanted to ask you on the heels of that, because it sounds like it's a huge lift.
09:53It's a lot of work because not only are you working with that client, you might have three or four other clients, collections, pieces that you're working on.
10:00So how are you managing burnout? Like, what are you doing to keep yourself sane? Do you have systems? Do you have help?
10:06What am I doing? I don't know. I just, I just don't, I just don't wear it on me too much. You know, we, I, you know, we got to do it.
10:19You know, we got to make the money, you know, you know, it's, it's something you got to do, but ultimately I don't really think about the money part.
10:27My main goal is to achieve the project, whatever the project is to achieve it and to make sure that everything fits, that they happy.
10:35I think that's more important. I feel like when you focus on money and you focus on, when you focus on just getting celebrity clients and all of that stuff,
10:45that stuff is, that stuff will come when your work is worth it. You get what I'm saying?
10:50So your goal is never, Oh, I want this celebrity client. I want that celebrity client. I didn't ask for celebrity clients.
10:56They come when they see your work and they know that you're passionate about whatever you're doing and your craftsmanship is good.
11:01They come, that comes with it. So your goal, ultimately your goal is to do good work.
11:08I love that. Yeah, that's the goal in a career. And thank you for that insight. I'm glad that you were just transparent.
11:15Like, look, it's going to be hard work. It's just, it's not the load. It's all about how you carry it.
11:19Right. And I tell my boyfriend all the time, like I'm conscious of even just saying out loud, I'm tired.
11:24Like I don't say it. Cause then if I say it, I'm going to be even more tired. You know, that's just the element of your work.
11:30You have to deal with it. That's true. Um, I had a guy, a young guy, he's, um, he was working with a couple of artists for the BET awards.
11:40And he kept posting stuff on Instagram about like the negative stuff. You know, I told him, you can't let people know that,
11:48all the negative, you know, cause you got people out there that don't want you to be work with these people.
11:53I don't want you to succeed. And you just inviting that energy into your aura.
11:57Yeah. So I said, do not stop posting every time some, you know, he'll post like, Oh, this is the worst day ever.
12:04Or all of these clients is, this is, you know, you know, don't focus on the bad, focus on a good and that you have this opportunity and just do good work.
12:12And you know, everything will work out. And he, you know, he said, thank you for all of that, um, um, mentorship that I gave him throughout that process.
12:21Cause it really kind of helped him.
12:22It's true. That's sound advice. You gotta, you grow what you focus on. And if you're focused on positivity, all the positive will draw to you.
12:30All right. Y'all are in the Aussie. Y'all said, save y'all for less. And I did.
12:38All right. He mentioned you, y'all are from New Orleans. Y'all are New Orleans based.
12:44How would you describe the signature style here in the city? Like what's the signature style?
12:49How does your work reflect that? Like, give us the Nola Rondo.
12:52Like what, what is inspiring young people, creative industry here and kind of how do you express that in your work?
12:59Um, to be honest, I think we have our own like genre of like clothes, just pretty much like bounce kind of.
13:06Uh, we kind of make what's, um, comfortable and, uh, just popping for us.
13:13Uh, me personally, I'm trying to cross over basically like streetwear with like, uh, rock style type of, punk type of clothing.
13:22So, um, yeah, I mean, we just do our own thing like New Orleans normally do with pretty much anything.
13:29Uh, and we try to get people on board with what we got going on.
13:32Uh, basically like, how could I see this?
13:36I'm not going to say we like no third world country, but like when it comes down to fashion, it's like go to LA first or New York first,
13:46and then it's got trickled down to us from the people that's like successful or have any success from here and visit and go different places
13:54and bring different styles and different genres of clothes back.
13:57Uh, so that's what, that's what I think.
14:00Honestly, uh, pretty much I've kind of like try to combine, uh, my vision with the people that did leave and come back with different visions,
14:08along with what I'm seeing, uh, in streetwear or just celebrity, uh, celebrity style.
14:17Like how do you put this stuff together?
14:19So that's what I do.
14:20I kind of combine all of those things and try to make our own genre, which would be like a gumbo or, you know what I'm saying?
14:26So that's what I do personally.
14:28So that's what I'm trying to do like for, for what we got going on in New Orleans.
14:31So that's what made my brand and somewhat what I have going on stand out is because I make a lot of one-on-ones,
14:38which is typically putting together designer with a less fortunate, with a vision, with a misunderstanding.
14:47Okay.
14:48Pretty much a whole lot of what we do when we make food.
14:51Okay.
14:52You know what I'm saying?
14:53So that's the same.
14:54Combining a bunch of different flavors.
14:55Yeah.
14:56Like one style signature of New Orleans or like one staple piece.
14:59Is there one piece here that you associate with like, this is such a New Orleans trend and why?
15:04I mean, a dicky suit.
15:06Okay.
15:07A dicky suit is a New Orleans trend, but at the same time, I try to like somewhat have that same aura of feel in my clothes, but in a rock star way.
15:19So like, if you were to think about like this, I mean, I'm getting off what I feel like is somewhat a dicky suit, but in a different genre.
15:28Yeah.
15:29In a different lens.
15:30It's like camo pants right now, but it's got, it's got distressed and old parts of denim tears in it, and then it got flare pattern going on in it.
15:39Okay.
15:40Okay.
15:41Another pair have like designer like, what is it?
15:43Dust bags involved in it.
15:44Okay.
15:45So it's just basically just building a whole gumbo pot of just different stuff.
15:48I get the vibe.
15:49Like I will say just, if I could say with my, with my own expertise, I love the camo because it, I do, there's a certain element in New Orleans, in Louisiana, there's hunting culture here.
16:00You know, there's outdoor culture here and you have the neons, which is very reminiscent of that.
16:04But then I can see the rock and roll coming through, like, you know, with the flames and I get what you're saying.
16:10I like the vibe.
16:11Yeah.
16:12You got to like, it's basically like the hood is on fire.
16:14So it's just basically like, you know,
16:16the block is on fire.
16:19And me personally, uh, with my brand, I just want to be like the exclusive one.
16:25You know what I'm saying?
16:26I don't want to be doing like everything that everybody's doing, but I just want to do it with a, with my own twist to it.
16:32You know what I'm saying?
16:33So my brand name is Hema Disso for your eyes only.
16:36And I just want to make sure that everybody just feel like they doing their own exclusive thing.
16:41You know what I mean?
16:42Like when you put it on, it's not going to be a thousand people wearing it.
16:46You know what I mean?
16:47It's probably 50, 50 people wearing it.
16:48You know what I mean?
16:49So I just want to stay exclusive and have people, you know, feel like they are part of something that I'm doing.
16:54You know what I mean?
16:55And I, they bind into that.
16:56Like compared to everybody that's sitting up right here, sitting here right now, I'm the baby of them.
17:01You know what I'm saying?
17:02So it's like everybody got their own wave.
17:05You know what I mean?
17:06Like they doing anything and I just, I'm like up and coming.
17:08You know what I'm saying?
17:09So like me being here is just like guys right now.
17:13Cause I just feel like I ain't, I ain't even supposed to be here yet.
17:16You know what I mean?
17:17So thank you.
17:20I, thank you.
17:21I just, you know, I, I came in a pandemic, you know what I'm saying?
17:23So I started my brand in a pandemic and you know, when I started, I had high dreams, but I didn't think it would pop this fast.
17:30You know what I mean?
17:31So for me to be sitting here next to these creatives, like Tunchy right here, he know, I look up to him, you know?
17:37So my journey is a part of his journey.
17:40You know, he started this store somewhere.
17:42I decided to start my first store that I just opened up right where he started it at, you know?
17:46So yeah, that's just my story.
17:49I'm just, I had to throw it out there cause I'm just starting, you know what I mean?
17:52So I just feel good to be here with everybody right now.
17:54So thank y'all for, you know, having me right now.
17:57Of course.
17:58We're glad to have you.
17:59I'm nervous.
18:00I'm nervous.
18:01So switching gears a little bit, as a fashion and costume historian, the way that I got into costume was love of film.
18:09My dad is a huge film buff and we will watch movies all the time.
18:13And the first one that really left a pressure on me was Marie Antoinette, the 2006 version with Kirsten Dunst.
18:19I just thought it was so cool how they combined like modern music, but it was like set in the 17th century.
18:26But then there would be pairs of converses or like little nods to modernity.
18:31And I love that.
18:32And I would just love to go around.
18:34Tiz, I'm going to start with you and just ask like, is there a movie or a song that you would love to like style or costume?
18:41Like what's the onscreen moment that you wish that you could like remix or layer your perspective on to?
18:47And I'm going to get to y'all.
18:48We're going to go across.
18:53All right.
18:54I love, love, love, love old school movie movies and just the fashion was just so dope and everything was just tailored.
19:11And I just I sit there and just watch the movies or I just be like in all like, oh, my God, like how is these clothes like fit in these people body?
19:20Like you don't see one wrinkle.
19:21You don't see one gap.
19:23You don't see one uneven hem like that stuff that when I watch that stuff, I'm just like blown away.
19:30And then, of course, the the love stories and everything that comes with it, the movies and sonically how everything feel like that's just that was just a different time.
19:40Like the I don't think they make clothes.
19:43They don't I feel like craftsmanship is not the same.
19:47Even with furs, like craftsmanship is just not the same way.
19:51Certain things suit the way the guys used to wear their suits and the stuff really looks like it's just like painted on them.
19:58Like this is crazy, like how they used to wear this stuff back in the days.
20:02They really took.
20:03I guess it was a time where I guess they had a lot of time to think about fashion because it was so much other stuff going on.
20:12So they really took their time and like really thought about the things that they want put on.
20:17But I don't think I answered your question.
20:19I just got so caught up before you go.
20:21Yeah, let's go figure back.
20:23Like right now you got to look at it not like the crop pants like the 70s look super fly.
20:28The Mac, you know, those movies like that.
20:30Look at us now.
20:31We got crop top shirts for sure.
20:33I mean, everything comes back.
20:35Also, I hate when people take ownership on things that already happened already or and they do it and then they try to take ownership for it.
20:45These a lot of these things been out already.
20:47So we just put and we lay actually, we just putting our twist to it.
20:53And, you know, we're making it ours now.
20:56But a lot of the things that we wear and we like and then the bell bottom jeans, crop tops, tassels, all that stuff been out since the 70s or 60s, whatever.
21:07But I don't think I answered your question.
21:09Sorry, that happened.
21:10No, you're fine.
21:11I get so excited that I just like start rambling.
21:14I was just going to agree with you.
21:16I think back in like the 30s and 40s when film and like colored film and all this stuff was coming into fruition and big studios really, even though art was always commodified, I think they just had a reverence for each piece of the film.
21:30Like music was really revered.
21:32The costume was seen as a character.
21:34The music was seen as a character.
21:36And it wasn't like this off screen, just frivolous thing.
21:39Not to say that we've moved more towards that, but I just feel like when I hear like older costumers or more mature costumers who are very experienced speak about costume, they call it third character.
21:49I had the opportunity to meet Ceci who costumed Living Single and she calls it third character.
21:56And I think it's because they really approached the costume and the clothing as a character in the film and not as just like something to cut the budget down and get a shirt on the person.
22:08They really like had thoughtfulness behind it.
22:10I think mainly I think back in those times, they just had more time to craft out and they didn't have as much access to the stuff that we have.
22:18So that's the main thing that I felt about that era of like making clothes and they had more time to really like focus on whatever it is.
22:25Versus you having time to focus on whatever it is that you want to work on now, but it's still fast fashion stuff and you seeing stuff every day that your ideas moderate with with that.
22:35You know what I'm saying?
22:36And it kind of build on whatever it is that you design.
22:39So if you making flat pants and you changing them up because you didn't see somebody embroidered on a pair, put ribbons on something, did five, six different techniques to one thing that they would have never did in the 70s.
22:51They would have just kept playing the same different colors, different patterns.
22:54So that's the only thing I felt is different from that time to now.
22:58You know what I'm saying?
22:59Yeah.
23:00I agree with you.
23:01We definitely have more of a propensity to innovate.
23:03You have a lot more creators than they did then.
23:06Yeah.
23:07Like everybody is kind of like you got 20, 30, 40, 50 people that's like on one set that's building out one thing versus they having one person responsible for that 50 years ago.
23:19You know what I'm saying?
23:20Yes.
23:21And I think it has something to do with the social climate too and our culture in America, not to get too historian on you.
23:26But you know, they're coming out of the war.
23:28Everybody wanted to be stable.
23:30There were these cookie cutters, suburban neighborhoods.
23:32Everyone wanted to be uniform and have traditional, you know, traditionalism was revered in a sense.
23:37So everything was going to be more, there was more uniformity.
23:40Whereas like now we're trying to move away from that.
23:43We want to allow more room for individuality and we see that translate to screen.
23:47I also feel like back then they were more passionate about things.
23:52Yeah.
23:53I feel like back then, if you didn't want to design, you didn't design.
23:58If you didn't want to do this, you didn't do this.
23:59I feel like now everybody's just trying to look with everything, you know, and if it works, it works.
24:05If it don't, it don't.
24:06I feel like that's the society that we are now because when I first started designing, it was kind of shunned upon, you know, being a black man and being a designer.
24:16So I kind of felt intimidated even flaunting the fact that I was a designer.
24:21And now look, everybody's a designer.
24:23Everybody want to design, you know, so I just, it's just weird that, you know, times has changed.
24:29But I mean, I guess whatever works for people, you know, whatever.
24:34Yeah, I'll add to that too.
24:36It's definitely not knocking nobody's hustle down either because like I was definitely a late bloomer.
24:41For sure, I was a late bloomer.
24:42Like I feel like when I started, I feel like everybody was already doing their thing, you know what I'm saying?
24:46And I also did feel also, you know, intimidated, you know, because I feel like everybody had way more experience than me.
24:52Everybody was real designers, you know what I'm saying?
24:54And I felt like I wasn't a real designer.
24:56But at the end of the day, it's like if you take a napkin and if you make a strapless dress with it, you're a designer.
25:00You know what I'm saying?
25:01So also too, I feel like being able to design is one thing, but then also it's like where you're going to take it is up to you.
25:08You know what I'm saying?
25:09So all of us could do the same thing, but where you're going to end up is not the same person.
25:13You know, so I think I had to also come into play to that in my mind too.
25:17Like there's a billion of me, but there's only one of you.
25:19You know what I'm saying?
25:20It's like we're all selling a pencil, but my pencil, I'm going to make sure this person does their signature in it.
25:24You know what I'm saying?
25:25So it's really about how you push it.
25:26And I feel like that's really how I've gotten far here also is because marketing.
25:32You know what I'm saying?
25:33It's not just only being a designer.
25:34It's not only being a stylist.
25:37It's also what you do with the platform you have.
25:40You know, I'll make sure if I style an artist today, I'll hit up my home girl who's writing for this magazine and I'll make sure I get a feature in it.
25:47You know?
25:48So it's like how big I want to make it is really up to me.
25:51You know what I'm saying?
25:52How I market what I do is really going to get you further than the next person because now it's like we're all doing the same thing.
25:57You know?
25:58There's a billion makeup artists.
25:59There's a billion creatives.
26:00There's a billion journalists.
26:02But how the emails that you write, you know what I'm saying?
26:05How you present yourself is really what's going to make you go far and also your brand far too.
26:09But going to your thing, I think my favorite movie, there's only one that really sticks to me and this might be corny.
26:16Tyler Priory's Diary of a Mad Black Woman.
26:19I love the wedding scene.
26:21I don't know if you guys remember when the angels were in the air and they were hanging and they were playing it.
26:26I remember I was like, whoever like styled this?
26:30I was like, and I think it was like back in the day.
26:32So it was really rare that the bridesmaids were all white also.
26:35I remember the bride was white.
26:37The bridesmaids were white.
26:38The angels were white.
26:39Everybody in the sitting down was wearing white.
26:41And I was just like, wow, this is like iconic, you know, because I could see that done now in like 2023.
26:47Maybe for like a, you know what I'm saying?
26:48Like a Yeezy wedding.
26:49Everybody wearing white.
26:50But back then that was so like iconic.
26:53And I feel like maybe because it was like a black film or filmmaker, it wasn't taped.
26:56But I'm like, that's just like, that styling should have worn like, you know, won an Emmy or something, you know?
27:01So I think that's pretty great.
27:02But yeah.
27:03That is a good one.
27:04That was a pretty like stunning one to your point in that time, in that era.
27:07Like that's hot.
27:08That was like, oh, the bride's not the only one in white.
27:11Like it was a twist.
27:12Yeah.
27:13I love that.
27:16Oh, I got, I got one more thing.
27:17So to piggyback off of what, what bro said about everybody wanting to design, I feel like that's not a problem.
27:24I think like I'm for, I'm all for the exclusives.
27:27So if you exclusive, you're going to stand out.
27:31You know what I mean?
27:32So if everybody want to design, it's just like the NBA basketball, football, everybody get a chance to play sports.
27:37You know what I mean?
27:38But only the best ones, exclusive ones stand out, you know?
27:42So I feel like if you got some exclusive, you're only going to make the whole fashion industry better.
27:48You know what I mean?
27:49If you're going to try, you need to try.
27:50You're going to make everything better.
27:52You're going to make us grow.
27:53Just the way Tunchi pulled me up to where I'm sitting right here now with Tunchi.
27:57I told him before we came out.
27:58It's amazing to me.
27:59It's, I'm happy, but you got to pull each other up.
28:03You know what I mean?
28:04So right now we're black people.
28:05We just got to pull each other up.
28:06And I think that if we all are trying, everybody should start a clothing brand.
28:10Everybody should start their own business.
28:12You know what I mean?
28:13Everybody should try.
28:14You know what I mean?
28:15Entrepreneurship is all about growing and becoming better and doing something different.
28:19You know, than working.
28:20You know, nothing worked with working.
28:21I worked 20 years.
28:22You know what I'm saying?
28:23So until I got started my brand.
28:25You know what I mean?
28:26So it's all about taking that chance and taking that next step up.
28:29You know what I'm saying?
28:30To grow and be a better person.
28:31That's all I'm with.
28:32You know?
28:33No, I love to hear that.
28:34And you all touched on a huge point, which is one, marketing.
28:38And everyone has something unique to offer.
28:41And marketability is within your control.
28:44And how you control your brand voice, who you're speaking to might even be different
28:48than the person sitting next to you.
28:50Their target audience and their demo might not be yours.
28:52And vice versa.
28:53And so you should feel empowered that there is enough room out there for everybody.
28:57So long as you're strategic and, you know, purposeful about your messaging.
29:01But in closing, I wanted to kind of, and you guys have already kind of touched on this.
29:05Because you guys are dropping gems already.
29:07But I'd love to hear kind of like, what advice do you have about people who want to enter
29:12into this career field?
29:13Whether it be celebrity styling.
29:15Whether it be putting out a piece of clothing.
29:17Putting out a collection.
29:18Kind of like, what are nuggets that you want to share out there for people who are looking
29:23to do this work?
29:24Because I know being a designer, starting your own label is hard, hard, sometimes thankless
29:30work.
29:31So I would love to hear from you all.
29:33Tiz, do you want to start?
29:34We'll go around.
29:35Okay.
29:36Sorry.
29:37I need to stop saying.
29:38That's one.
29:39The main thing I really think is be realistic and also work within your means.
29:45When I first started to, I'm like, I didn't have the money that I wanted.
29:49I didn't have, I was like, how am I going to make production?
29:52How am I going to make a hundred of these?
29:54Do I have enough money to make a hundred of these?
29:56So the number one thing I say is be realistic.
29:59Start within your means.
30:00And also like the same thing Ducky was saying is the number one way is just like, when you're
30:05doing what you're good at, everything else will flow.
30:08I was just uploading, hey, there's a shirt I made today.
30:10There's a shirt I made tomorrow.
30:12The internet is a very powerful thing and like what's meant for you will find you.
30:16You don't have to find it.
30:17You just need to keep showing what you're good at.
30:20Whether it's, that's whatever it is.
30:21Whether it's makeup, hair, you do a cool hair design, a braided design.
30:25It might be my makeup next morning.
30:27It might go viral.
30:28You know what it is?
30:29So I just think it's really waking up every day and just living in your presence.
30:33You know what I'm saying?
30:34Living in what you're good at and just like, that's literally what I think waking up every day.
30:38I'm like, God put me on this earth for something.
30:40So today I might feel like showing the world, hey, God said today I need to show you guys
30:45that I'm good at this.
30:46God said today I might show you I'm going to make this collection.
30:49And it's just all going to come back to you.
30:51But there's ups and downs.
30:53Even being at the top, there's low months.
30:55There's high months.
30:56It doesn't stop.
30:57That's what being a creative is.
30:58So if we're all going to be on here telling you, hey, every month is great.
31:01Every day is great.
31:02It's not.
31:03You know?
31:04And being so too, being a creative also, it's not a nine to five.
31:07So loyalty lacks in this industry also.
31:10So just because your client makes something, I'm coming to you today to get my hair done,
31:14she might not come to you tomorrow or he might not come to you tomorrow.
31:17And you have to understand that this is what you signed up for.
31:19You know what I'm saying?
31:20So you might do somebody's video today.
31:22You might be the videographer.
31:23Tomorrow might be a new videographer.
31:24And you have to be okay with that.
31:26Because it's saying the same thing as today I might go to Natalie to get my nails done.
31:30Tomorrow I might go to Emily.
31:32Natalie shouldn't get mad that I went to Emily today because I might come back to Natalie
31:35tomorrow.
31:36So that's the number one thing I say in this whole thing.
31:38It's going to have your emotions up and down, but just try to stay true to you.
31:43You know, have your loyalty to you and whatever.
31:45It's going to just gravitate to you guys.
31:47So that's really it.
31:48I love that.
31:49That was sound.
31:50And to echo your point about showing up, I heard a really great analogy, which is
31:54like you can't pray every day to God that, you know, I pray today, God, I'm
31:59going to catch the bus.
32:00I'm going to catch the bus.
32:01But then you don't stand at the bus stop.
32:02That's what I would say.
32:03You're on the porch.
32:04It's like God's not going to make the opportunity come to your door.
32:06You have to at least like show, you have to show I'm trying.
32:10You know what I'm saying?
32:11Looking outside and has to be okay, he's trying this month.
32:13You know, I've seen him try so many different things.
32:16Today I might bless him on Friday, you know, because he's been so consistent.
32:20So I think the number one thing is, you know, you always have to make sure that it's you
32:23and, I don't know, whoever you guys believe in, you know, there's Allah, God, or whatever.
32:27It's just like it's you and God throughout this whole journey of life.
32:30Not even friends, family, and it's like the people also you think who should support you
32:34are going to be the last ones to support you.
32:35So just cut that off now.
32:36You know, like stop with the quotes of people need support.
32:39They're like, no.
32:40You know what I'm saying?
32:41Your number one supporters are going to be the people who don't know you.
32:43You know, the people in Alaska, the people in Miami, those are going to be the people
32:47who support you first, who buy from you first, you know?
32:50Your friends will wait until a bigger name is in your stuff and then they'll buy it.
32:54You know, they're like, you see what, you know who did?
32:56You see who she got on her clothes?
32:57You know, that comes after.
32:58So it's really, you have to be your biggest fan out there and you have to believe in yourself
33:02and also marketing is key.
33:04That's the number one thing I tell you guys.
33:05Like whether you do hair, makeup, whatever, also take a marketing course.
33:08Understand how to market yourself.
33:10So that's the number one thing.
33:12Thank you for that.
33:14For me, I would say just really just start.
33:23Just start.
33:24When I started, I basically just came out from just being an artist at first of just sketching
33:30and stuff.
33:31And then I was into clothes and fashion.
33:33So then I just kind of like started making things for myself.
33:36I originally didn't think the things that I made will be for other people.
33:41So I just, I just started making things for myself and posting it on Instagram and just
33:46everyday things and just, this is the things that I'm making.
33:49And that's somewhat happened for me the same way.
33:51Like just constantly making things and just showing it to the world.
33:54And I had a hard time of basically like separating myself from all the individual pieces that I
33:59made for myself.
34:00So honestly, that's what I think.
34:03You, a lot of people always get into that point where they feel like they got to tell somebody,
34:07they got an idea or they want to start something, they want to do it.
34:10And I just be like, you really just have to start.
34:12Like you can know a million now, you can know a hundred thousand now, you can know your mom.
34:18Like you're not going to help you if you didn't make the initiative to do anything to like help you with.
34:24You get what I'm saying?
34:25Like I can't help you go to the studio if you're a rapper and you don't know where the studio at yourself.
34:30I'm not buying you studio time.
34:31Like why would I buy you studio time and you haven't found the studio and you want to be a rapper.
34:36You get what I'm saying?
34:37So for the most part, everybody must make the initiative to start something, whatever it is,
34:43the passion is, start it and then let the days and the hours and the time, you know, the seconds,
34:49whatever it is, how much time you put into it, follow and then good things will happen.
34:54If you continue to, the 10,000 hour rule, you know, 10,000 hours.
34:58So that's pretty much what, that's what I feel like.
35:00You don't need nobody to start nothing.
35:02You don't need nobody to, well, you don't need God to wake you up.
35:05But you don't need nobody to start, you feel what I'm saying?
35:08You don't need nobody to start nothing.
35:09So you should just, me personally, I think you should just get out, get out after it and just start.
35:14And you made a good point because there is a, there was a study done about how people will get the same gratification of telling you that they're going to start something.
35:25It feels the same to your brain as if you did it.
35:28So it will trick you into feeling like you've done something because then people will say to you, oh, oh, you're going to start that?
35:35That's so cool.
35:36Like the dopamine boost as if you did it.
35:38And now you've tricked yourself into feeling like you've accomplished something.
35:41Don't say it.
35:42Just do it.
35:43Because saying it and getting the excitement from people wanting to boost you about that project will trick you into feeling like you've actually done it.
35:51My grandma said the same thing.
35:52She's like, don't tell people your ideas before you do it.
35:55That's the number one thing, especially in our culture.
35:58You know, tomorrow will be taken.
35:59So just keep it quiet until you do it.
36:01Now to be honest, I could tell the whole world my ideas and what I want to do.
36:05I just feel like whatever destined for me, destined for me.
36:07Like nobody can't do what made in the hood is.
36:10I'm the only made in the hood person.
36:13Like I feel like I've created that.
36:15So it's like, I'm the only person that could do whatever made in the hood because everything I've built and made was basically from my life experience.
36:21So there's no way me and you have identical life experience no matter what.
36:26So like me in the hood is really that.
36:28Like it's just that.
36:29Yeah.
36:30There has to be a balance of like knowing what's yours and resting in your perspective and knowing what has your name on is yours.
36:38And also like leaning into, yeah, I can't move too slow though.
36:42I have to move with the market.
36:43But you don't want to be propelled by fear of, well, is somebody going to do this or is somebody going to beat me to this?
36:49I don't know.
36:50I don't know.
36:51It has to come from like within.
36:52Yeah.
36:53I'd love to hear what you, your advice.
36:54Um, I feel like y'all should just jump off the cliff and just see if you ever hit the ground.
37:01That's, that's what I did.
37:02Like, so just jump off the cliff.
37:04Um, my advice to a lot of, I see a lot, a lot of people are so scared to post their creations and their designs because they feel they'd be like,
37:15Oh, I don't have, I don't have this amount of followers or this people don't follow me.
37:20You will be surprised.
37:21Like what will spark from something you post?
37:25It'd be a lot of times I'd be like, I'm not posting.
37:28This is whack.
37:29And then I post it and then everybody loves it.
37:31You know, sometimes you got to get out of your own way.
37:34That's the main thing.
37:35A lot of people, you're in your own way.
37:37If you're trying to do hair, you're trying to do makeup, whatever you're trying to do, you have to post your content.
37:43We have a free outlet of social media to post the things that you do and your creations and the things that you're passionate about.
37:51You have to use these things.
37:52So many people are just scared to just post.
37:55Like, I mean, I'm around a lot of people and they just be like, I'm not ready to post this week.
37:59I'm not like, what are you waiting for?
38:01I feel like as long as you do it in a way that projects how you want your business to look, that's also an important thing.
38:10Like you have to set everything up to look as if, you know, the way you set things up is what creates what clients you have.
38:19You know, what type of people are going to, you know, attract to your business.
38:22All that type of stuff plays a part.
38:24So my big, big, big, most, most advice is post your content and do content and don't be afraid to post your content.
38:36No, that's sound advice because perfectionism can be crippling.
38:39Yes, people think that everything has to be perfect.
38:41You want to be professional, but perfectionism is, it can cripple you, it can keep you from feeling like you, everything has to be perfect.
38:48You'll nitpick it, you'll always find something wrong and you'll excuse yourself out of sharing.
38:53And to your point, vulnerable romance help people feel not only connected to your brand, but to you.
38:58And you don't know who you're going to inspire.
38:59You know, someone might perceive you as perfect.
39:02And if you show it in perfect moment, then they can see, oh, wow, you know, this designer who I really admire also struggles with this.
39:08Or they also sometimes have to do three or four different pattern cutting before they get to the final.
39:13So it also helps to show, I think, up and coming talent that we do not get it right on the first time.
39:18We also have to do trial and error.
39:20We're going through all the same emotions that you are.
39:22And vulnerability is, I think, a really strong, like, connector.
39:28Pay attention to what the audience that you're aiming for.
39:32Pay attention to how they react to what you're dropping.
39:35So, like, if that's your first drop, just keep focusing on that first drop.
39:40And then if it's not working, move on to the next one.
39:43Keep working on that design and keep going over and over until you hit it.
39:46And when you hit it, you're going to know you hit it.
39:48People are going to support you.
39:49People are going to come up.
39:50People are going to give you all the support you need to keep going.
39:53So that's my main thing is just, like, keep reinventing myself, like, my design, my logo.
39:59Whatever I'm working on, I just want to keep going up.
40:02You know, I don't want to get settled and say, all right, I'm cool.
40:05You stick to your brand DNA, though.
40:06Don't run away from your brand DNA, but keep working on yourself constantly.
40:11Don't ever get comfortable.
40:12Don't get complacent.
40:13And like what they said, just start.
40:15You know, when you start, you never know where it might take you.
40:19That's it.
40:20Look where I'm at right now.
40:21Sitting next to the legends.
40:22You know what I'm saying?
40:23So just keep going.
40:25That's it.
40:26I'm simple, but that's just, that's all it takes is just you start.
40:29You touched on an important point, which is adaptability.
40:33And I don't mean to quote TikTok as a source, but I saw a TikTok of this 95-year-old black woman,
40:39and she's a park ranger.
40:41And she talked about how, like, you can't, you can't be afraid to, one, ask yourself the same question at different points in your life.
40:49If you enjoyed something last week, like, there are times I buy stuff in my closet, and two weeks later I'm like, why did you get that?
40:56Because you had different experience, you're a different person, and you have to ask yourself, do you still enjoy this?
41:01Is this still your vision?
41:02And you need to ask yourself that again and again, because you might get a different answer.
41:05And she also said, don't be afraid to turn around on a path and try something different.
41:09And I feel like as black people, as people of color, we are traditionally raised to finish what you start,
41:15and sometimes that can be a hindrance because then you feel hell bound to whatever you started.
41:20Like, I have to finish this.
41:21It may not even be good.
41:22You may not even love it.
41:23The audience might not respond to it, but you might feel like, well, I started it.
41:26I showed these people this is what I started.
41:28I'm going to feel maybe embarrassed or ashamed if I got a turnaround, but don't be afraid to adapt.
41:32Like you said, turn around and be like, this path doesn't work for me anymore.
41:35It's not working for my consumer or my client.
41:37I'm going to turn around and go down another path and not be embarrassed to do that.
41:42I think that's so important because I feel like I definitely can relate to what you're saying too
41:47because I started off as a designer first and I became a stylist.
41:51Now I'm into marketing and managing artists, you know?
41:54And there's nothing wrong with checking off all the tick marks.
41:58You know what I'm saying?
41:59Like, I felt like, is it wrong that now I'm ready for this stage of my life or this stage?
42:04And I realized that the last stage helped me with this stage, you know?
42:07I'm like, if I wasn't a designer, I couldn't be a great stylist
42:11because now as a stylist, I could make what you want for dirt cheap because I know how to do it.
42:15You know? And being a stylist, booking the hair and makeup and everything for my artists,
42:20I'm like, wait, I can do this whole production on my own now.
42:23You know what I'm saying? I could make an artist. I can set the whole call up.
42:26So I think it's definitely important too to not be scared of transitions in your life,
42:30whether it's say you're Instagram and you're cooking now, you're a chef.
42:33Now I want to start my own knives and, you know, air fryer.
42:37Now I want to do my own book. It's okay to transition to different things.
42:40You know? Your last thing made you better for your new thing.
42:42And also, Instagram's an app. Have fun. It's an app.
42:45You know? I think about it. I'm like, if the app shut down or the app, like, went away,
42:50would anybody matter anymore? You know what I'm saying?
42:52So sometimes, too, I'm like, why do you take this so serious?
42:54It's literally an app, just like almost like the Facetune app. You're adding. It's an app.
42:58You know what I'm saying? So I'm like, how serious can we take an app?
43:01You know? So it's just like, have fun.
43:04I love that. I just want to thank you all for this conversation.
43:07It's been really, really informative. Just being able to chop it up with y'all,
43:11give these people some insight. You guys have been really transparent and candid,
43:14which I appreciate. So I just want us to give you guys a round of applause for coming up here
43:18and just being transparent with us.
43:24Thank you, guys. And thank you to the wonderful audience for being so attentive
43:30and for attending. Thank y'all for having us, for real.
43:34All right. I want to sing a song. I'm just kidding.
43:39A mic will do that to you. It just makes you want to.
43:42Just do it. Just do it. I feel like you want to do it.
43:46Like, you don't crank me up. Just do it.
43:49Yeah. I can see you.
43:51To the daydreamers. Explorers. Go-getters. Visionaries. Let there be no limit to how you see yourself or where.
44:20Tell me.
44:22Look.
44:23What do you mean.
44:25What do you see here?
44:26What do you see, get paid for your life.
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