Interview by : Samantha Cee
This week we at Fashion Gxd Magazine sat down with, Guiltees CEO. Guiltees is a men and women’s clothing line based in Detroit, Michigan. We specialize in Streetwear apparel and rebellious fashion. Our online website caters to hundreds of people worldwide. Through fashion, we give our customers a voice that can be seen and felt. Our vision is to inspire people to be confident in being different within their everyday lives . Take a look at our exclusive interview below.
Instagram: @Guiltees_ / Facebook: @Guiltees / Twitter : @Guiltees
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How did the idea for your business come about?
Answer: I’ve always had a thing for fashion since I was a young girl . When I turned 14 , my mom bought me a bratz sewing machine. She also payed a seamstress that worked out of her basement to give me lessons. What I learned there was everything I needed to know. Although I wasn’t old enough to understand the true importance, this is where the idea started. My freshman year of college, I joined a modeling troupe which wasn’t my favorite thing to do but it definitely helped me find my style and gain Confidence. Following shortly after the beginning of my sophomore year ,I quit this troupe not only because I got tired of people telling me to slow down while walking the runway but to follow my own path of creating Guiltees.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
Answer: I think most times entrepreneurs fail to realize when we network and promote our brand we’re not essentially finding people. They are finding us . They like our post , visit our website , and purchase our art not just because we ask nicely but, because they see our vision. You don’t find people that care . People that find you care. Everyone isn’t going to see the picture the way I do and that’s fine . It’s not my job to make them see the picture but if they do , I’m grateful and accept them with open arms.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What three pieces of advice would you give to other children who want to become entrepreneurs?
Answer: Don’t be afraid to take risk because with risk comes reward. Experiment with creativity and be open to learning new ways of doing everyday task . When you feel like giving up , don’t because you never know if tomorrow might be the day you win.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
Answer: I wouldn’t necessarily do anything differently but I would do some things better. When I first launched Guiltees, I had no idea what I was doing in terms of marketing , inventory, budgeting or any of that but I knew I wanted to design clothes and so that’s what I did. After seeing how everything turned out, I took a year off to really learn what I needed to make my business successful.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur ?
Answer: Perseverance, faith, and discernment. Perseverance is the most important skill because being an entrepreneur isn’t easy . I have days where I don’t think I can get everything done or I just simply can’t leave my bed but no matter how difficult, I carry on . Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11.1) . I was in school full time , working a part time job , and working on Guiltees. I didn’t know how I was going to do all of this at once but I walked by faith and not by sight and because of that I graduated on time and my business is successful. Discernment means being able to judge well . In any business , decisions have to be made and they have to be made with discernment or it could be detrimental to that business.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Answer: Not being able to meet deadlines, Not being consistent enough, and doing without thinking are all failures I’ve encountered being an entrepreneur. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to be perfect but what matters most is that I keep going despite my downfalls.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How many hours do you work a day on average?
Answer: I usually work 4 days out of the week for about 4-5 hours.
Fashion Gxd Magazine :Describe/outline your typical day?
Answer: I start my typical day with meditation. After I meditate, I like to do a short workout to gain energy.Breakfast follows my workout and then I switch into entrepreneur mode. Reading and responding to emails , making phone calls, order fulfillment, checking inventory, creating new projects , and much more are done over that span of 4-5 hours . Afterwards I spend time with my family and have dinner. Before bed , I like to reflect on that days work , pray , and then sleep .
Fashion Gxd Magazine : How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
Answer: Being an entrepreneur has definitely brought me closer to my family . I’m able to attend more family events that I wasn’t able to when I was in school and working. My little cousin whose like a brother me is now in high school getting ready to go to college . I spend more time with him showing him how to get through school and supporting him . Family is important because they bring love and security to my life when no one else does .
Fashion Gxd Magazine :What motivates you?
Answer: My mom motivates me the most . She’s taught me that it’s important to be independent and stay true to myself.She gets up every morning at 6am to go to work to put me through school and help me succeed in life . She motivates me to keep going because she keeps going for me everyday. My family and friends also help to keep me grounded and focused . My best friend Khadijah has been such a great influence to my life . Since I’ve known her she’s been a very head strong independent individual. She literally pushes me to be great . There’s a whole list of others including Naiya , Devin , John , and Parys and ultimately I’m blessed to have all them. I’m grateful to have a great support team that motivates me in every way .
Fashion Gxd Magazine: How do you generate new ideas?
Answer: I’m usually in my head 24/7 coming up with ideas but my best ideas come when I am feeling deeply about someone or something. Particularly when I’m in pain , I do my best work . Most people turn to drugs and other bad influences when they’re upset but I turn to fashion . Fashion is my outlet and a way for me to express how I feel without having to speak . What’s bad for my heart is good for my art .
Fashion Gxd Magazine : What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
Answer: I’ve sacrificed people , time , money , and habits. I’ve learned that everyone can’t go with you and some people are only there for a season. I had to cut off friends I’ve known since I was in diapers mainly because they were either bad influences or just didn’t understand the vision that I have . Time and money are the ultimate sacrifices . Life is so short and I wouldn’t dare waste my time on something I’m not completely passionate about . We live in a world where it takes money to make money . Habits like when to spend money and what you spend money on is also apart of being successful. You can’t expect to be successful and stay successful partaking in bad habits . Your mindset has a lot to do with the habits you make and that’s why I meditate. Meditation is how I keep my mind on the right path for success.
Fashion Gxd Magazine : Where you see yourself and your business in 10 years? 20 years?
Answer: It’s always hard for me to picture where I see myself in the future because so many things are taking place right now . 10 years or 20 years from now I’m sure I’ll be living a completely different lifestyle but what that looks like I can’t begin to imagine. I’m focused on the now . I know I want to be successful in everything that I do and the levels I want to reach with myself and my business i’m willing to keep going for however many years it takes to reach it.
