Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Nicole McCrary.
So, before we jump into specific questions about what you do, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have always been extremely creative and had a very strong love for arts. I began sketching and painting in my younger years (middle school to be exact). I took art/fashion courses throughout middle school, high school and college. I’ve always been very fashionable with my own sense of style and kept a close eye on the industry. Although I grew up tomboyish, in the midst of my high school years, I began exploring with modeling. During this time, I dreamed of having my own line and store.
Eventually, I decided to go to college for Fashion and Business. My father passed away when I started my first year of fashion school. He passed away four days before my first day of class in 2008. He was always so supportive, and he would push me to go for it and stick with what I really wanted to do in life. Just that thought alone makes me keep going. I’ve always thought to myself “I have to do this, my father is smiling big at me right now watching his baby girl win!”. In 2011, after graduation, I kept sketching and writing out ideas but I wasn’t sure where to start. I was afraid for a while, and at the time I felt as if I didn’t have enough to fund everything.
In 2015, I decided to just go for it full speed, giving it everything I had. At one point, another very talented designer met with me about bringing my ideas to life and helped me set up a meeting with a manufacturer. In 2016, my very first collection came to life (12 different designs). My first major show was June 2016, here in Atlanta at the Georgia Freight Depot for Small Boutique Fashion Week. In September 2016, my first collection showcased during New York Fashion Week. I also began to do fashion styling as well for multiple photoshoots, stage plays and music video sets. I’ve worked as a wardrobe stylist on sets of major videos, such as Wale ft. Lil Wayne and Jacquees thanks to my good friend, Lala Means, for the opportunities.
My start was all about taking the next big leap and letting go of fear! I learned a lot of lessons the first time around, which has prepared me for this next launch. I am thankful that I now have so much experience and a mass network of people in different regions that are very supportive of the B. Nicole Designs brand.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has never been a smooth road. As a designer and stylist, I’ve faced many challenges! In the very beginning, I experienced the challenge of fear, doubt, and not feeling completely financially stable in my earlier years. Along the way, I’ve had other people in the industry pretend to help me but really be against me so trust became a challenge. I’ll never forget the time bigger brands or stores copied my designs, and some of my patterns were sold to another label by my original manufacturer, which hurt me so bad inside. Lord! There were so many challenges over time, but with faith, I kept my head high. There was a moment when I took a step back, took some time off to re-evaluate and decide how I wanted to move. Now, here I am again going harder than ever!
If I had to give advice to any other women or anyone, in general, who are just starting their journey, I would say to never give up. There will always be obstacles, a lack of sleep, and oftentimes you may feel overwhelmed, but keep going. The reward, in the end, will be amazing, and just the feeling of accomplishing something so major is beautiful!
Please tell us about B. Nicole Designs.
B. Nicole Designs is not just a collection of clothing, it is a brand that represents confidence. B. Nicole provides fashion styling, wardrobe consultations, and personal shopping as well. This brand is known for its very bright, bold and vibrant colors as well as patterns.
I am most proud of how quick my brand began to grow, the doors that opened and the accomplishments made along the way. When people see a design or style, they know if it is B. Nicole. The brand has its own unique sense of style that captures the attention of consumers. One would describe B. Nicole Designs as classy and modern with a touch of edge.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
I’ve always been a socialite, I love to network and meet new people. It is so important when branding yourself to consistently network to build relationships. When networking you meet possible mentors, new clientele, develop more skills, open the door to more opportunity, keep up with trends or even learn new markets. By meeting others you eventually cross networks with one another, which automatically expands your brand. Networking has been one of the best ways to promote my brand.
Before becoming a designer I already had a strong network, and I continued to build. Once people get to know you and are naturally drawn closer to you by your personality and professionalism, they open up to supporting your brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bnicoledesigns.com
- Phone: 4049017419
- Email: BrittanyNicole@bnicoledesigns.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/b.nicole_designsllc/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/brittany.n.mccrary.7
Image Credit:
Ralph @TheCamKilla, Israel Jacobs
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