Today we’d like to introduce you to Breneé Thornton.
Hi Breneé, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve grown to love fashion over the years, how versatile it can be and not always based off gender. I love men’s fashion but specifically how a woman can make it feminine and sexy even though it’s meant to be masculine. I created The B Word Clothing Line January 29, 2020, after I was laid off my job just a week before Christmas unexpectedly. I told myself 2019 will be my last year working for someone it’s time that I become an entrepreneur, my own boss!
Something that I’ve been wanting to do for the past few years. Did my research of all what I needed to get my brand started and find a company that print on T-shirt’s, came up with the name which is a wordplay of the first initial of my name. I knew people would automatically think it means the ‘negative’ connotation of The B Word. I stand by ‘Don’t settle for the negative connotations,’ The B Word means to me Beautiful, Bold, Brilliant, Blessed and Boss. Turning a negative into a positive. Representing exactly who I am. I want everyone to feel that way about themselves no matter who they are in my brand!
Created the logo and got my first 25 shirts, set up my Photoshoot for it to drop on February 29, 2020. So, excited family and friends buying them supporting on top of the world then COVID hit. Everything shut down, no more production or sales. Really stressful and scary what am I going to do now. Nobody is going to buy t-shirts and clothes. That’s when I became innovative, taught myself how to sew created three layered mask and started selling those. Having my mask kept my brand going but I still wasn’t where I needed to be. Went to get some advice from some friends that have their own brand Tajh Crutch and Archie Clay III owner’s of WearBrims. They allowed me to pick their brains and gave me resources and a new mindset in business. One of the big things they taught me was there is always someone buying, quality more important than quantity, patience and to know your target. You have quality and confidence the sales will come. Fast forward, my brand grown from t-shirts to Luxury strap back hats, to signature tracksuits, mask and so much more on the way this Spring of 2021.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth road from trying find ways to find funding for my brand, it’s hard to find someone that will give you a chance with understanding your starting a new venture that’s wanting get off the ground. Then COVID hit, slowing everything down in production because the manufacturer shut down with no idea of opening back up. When things started to open back up, it made everything delay in receiving and shipping. I went three months with no sales because nothing was operating. I knew I wasn’t the only one going through this so, I had to be patient. I also wasted time and money going through sourcing the best company to produce the quality I was looking for. It’s definitely a learning experience, that you grow from. Trial and error.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an Assistant and Stylist for Arsenio Archer, the Music Producer. I run the day-to-day needs of producer, style him, prepare and do his photoshoots. I definitely multitask in different talents and skills as an assistant. I am the go-to person. I also partake in Real Estate, working on building my Wholesaling Company and Airbnb’s. I had been in the Property Management business for ten years that progressed my love for real estate I’m just an upcoming entrepreneur building multiple streams of income.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see my industry expanding even more than it is now, with so many creative out the box styles and designers we have today. I feel there will be more gender-neutral clothing brands and black designers that hold the value of some of the top designers now. Fashion will be certainly different in 5-10 years that will prepares us for whatever changes may hold next in the future, such as now mask is a new norm that’s part our daily fashion. Futuristic fashion could be the next big trend as the years go by.
Contact Info:
- Email: Thebword@Thebwordclothingline.com
- Website: Thebwordclothingline.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/thebwordllc, Instagram.com/b.kariah
- Facebook: Facebook.com/THEBWORDLLC20
- Twitter: Twitter.com/thebwordllc
Image Credits
iCamera Visonary- Lauren Allen Daddyneedacaddyproductions- Alicia Thomas Breneé Thornton
