Today we’d like to introduce you to Laticia Rolle.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Laticia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up playing sports, softball especially, I always struggled wearing our uniform baseball hat that never fit my head or curls. Because the hat was too tight, I was left with an embarrassing indent mark right across my forehead and a sad, flattened mess of hair after every game. As a teenager, I realized baseball hats were just not for me unless I had the time to straighten my hair first.
Fast forward to three years ago. My boyfriend was rushing me out the door for a date, so to save time I grabbed a baseball hat. At that moment, as I was fighting to fit the hat over my curls, I looked at him and said, “I’m going to make a baseball hat for US!” Us meaning every woman with beautiful, voluminous texture that can’t find a baseball hat that FITS! I was determined to create a hat that was not only stylish, but functional and protective. I believe that every woman should embrace their beautiful texture everywhere they go!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
An entrepreneur’s life is far from an easy journey. I dealt with several ups and downs to bring Tress to life, and it took me three years to create the actual hat design.
Some struggles I faced were finding the right people that could create what I needed. By trade, I’m not a designer. I just had an issue, baseball hats not fitting over my head or curls, and I wanted to fix it. I reached out to friends for help on where to start and they mentioned websites and Prototypes Company to get started.
Year 1: I lost $2,500 by using a prototype company I found online, that scammed me. The company claimed in six months they would create the physical prototype, but by the six month I only had a drawing of the design I created from one of their designers. Not knowing, I put half of the money down for the prototype, and never received any samples.
Lesson: Research every company before sending money and read the reviews. Reach out to as many people as possible, ask as many questions as you need and be patient. Don’t be so eager to rush into something before hearing other’s experience first.
Year 2: On a trip to China, I met a couple who made hats in a manufacturing company I China so I told them about my idea, showed them my design and they agreed to help me create TRESS. After a couple months, we finally created my dream sample and I had my dream hat in my hands. However, when it was time to order from the manufacturer, again I had to put half the money down, so I did – and never saw any inventory. I was scammed again, never could get in touch with the couple and loss another $3,000.
Lesson: Work with people you trust. Research, research, research! I was so eager to get samples, I was constantly trusting people and jumping into things that ended up being a loss for me in the end.
Overall, never quit! If you have a vision or dream you must stay the path even when nothing seems to be working out the way you envisioned. You gave to believe in yourself more than anyone.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into TRESS, THE HAT FOR US story. Tell us more about the business.
What hair types work best with this hat?
The bigger the better! Whether wavy, curly, super curly, kinky, or just super thick, TRESS protects and comfortably fits. Because of the stretch fit feature, TRESS is also the go-to hat for women rocking wigs, extensions and braids. Let’s be honest, baseball hats are made for men. Hats aren’t made for women with long locks of TRESS and Laticia has struggled for years finding a baseball hat that comfortably fit and protected her curls, so she created TRESS, the hat for US.
With her beautiful head of thick curls, Laticia created TRESS after years of frustration with ill-fitting hats damaging her hair. TRESS is the perfect fit for wavy, curly, super curly, kinky and wigs.
TRESS is the little black dress of hats, made out of black vegan leather you can throw it on after a spin class or make a statement when dressing up for a night out. However accessorized, with built in elastics and satin lining, your hair will still look perfect when the baseball hat come off.
Can you tell me a little bit about the actual makeup/features of the hat? Is the back of it adjustable?
TRESS is the little black dress of hats. TRESS 1.0 is made of black pebbled vegan leather and has a structured fit with a high crown design. TRESS is satin lined to protect texture and to help diminish hat hair. The back has three built in elastic bands that create the perfect ponytail for hair to lay high off the neck without needing a hair tie. The three elastic bands are not adjustable but create a comfortable stretch fit to the design. TRESS 1.0 comes in two
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
My mother is my biggest inspiration. My mother taught me the importance of hardworking and how to always find a way to get what you want. She is the definition of strength and courage.
Pricing:
- Tress hats ranges from $40 – $45
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Tressforus.com
- Email: info@tressforus.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tress.thehatforus/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRESSforUS/
Image Credit:
Photographer: Shelby Godron
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
