Today we’d like to introduce you to Deidra Roberts.
Deidra, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of seven years old, I have always been influenced by the beauty industry, from hairstyling to modeling and on to fashion designing. I started braiding hair at seven years old because I realized I can mimic the craft from my aunt and cousins. I was very good with my hands. I gained clients from doing my friend’s and classmate’s hair. It turned into me building a small hair braiding business at the age of 10 yrs old. I wasn’t able to allow it to interfere with school so I would only do it on my free time. As I got older, I grew more interested in what other crafts I could learn and master. Hair braiding was second nature to me. So upon graduation from highschool I chose to pursue a career as a cosmetologist. While in cosmetology school I became pregnant. My boyfriend at the time decided to leave me so I put 100% of my focus on finishing school. I continued on school throughout my pregnancy and graduated two months early and I went on to get my license in the state of Ohio. I worked in multiple salons in and around the city.
I had been doing hair for so long that I started to grow bored with it. This was something I discussed with my clients and they all suggested that I become a model. I was very shy and lacked confidence in front of the camera so I figured I would love to make the clothing for the models to wear instead. I researched day and night and I found a small college just on the other side of town from me. Although it was a private Christian based design school and tuition was extremely high, I still was very much interested and that did not scare me. I was very nervous at the thought of changing careers because I had a baby to support but I took the chance anyway because I knew that this was something I was highly intrigued by and could only lead me to an even more lucrative career. I knew I had to dedicate myself and all of my time outside of parenting to this. I decided I would no longer date anyone or go out. I gave up my entire social life and became devoted to school. I knew nothing about sewing, designing, or the process, but I enrolled in school and I learned the skills needed almost instantly. It felt like I had tapped into some hidden potential that I didn’t know existed. This gave me so much motivation and inspiration. I was so optimistic and determined.
That was the first step to my journey of self-discovery. I encountered so many things and experienced so many things about myself. This was the most rewarding and fulfilling feeling I have ever had. I won awards for my designs, I was featured in magazines and news segments. I won fashion contests and gained the opportunity to get close to one of my instructors who became my mentor at the time. She worked with many celebrities and on set for many television shows. She suggested that I relocate to Georgia upon graduation because I was flourishing and Cleveland was not a place that would offer opportunities for my career. I was already sold at the thought of relocating. I had already become a single mom with no social life, family was very scattered around town barely on speaking terms and I barely had any help with my son. I felt I had nothing to lose and so much to gain. But upon my arrival in Atlanta, I was lost. I had no place of my own, I only had $750 in my bank account, and only the possessions of mine and my son that could fit in my 2005 chevy cobalt. I had no place to go back to or forward to. I felt like I had made a mistake but I knew that I couldn’t turn back. I had my mentor. So I reached out to her because she had relocated here as well and offered me a job working as her assistant but I was unable to reach her for several months.
I stayed with friends that I had in the city until I finally got a hold of her and began to work. I had to take a job working at ford as a product specialist/ sales teammate as well as working with my mentor as her assistant because the money she promised me was just a hoax. I made on average maybe $600 in a month working with her and then she fired me. She told me that I wasn’t a fit for the job because I didn’t have adequate flexibility because of my son. She also gave me a fight about my last pay. She didn’t want to pay me for work I did. She blamed me for errors and missed deadlines because she gave me alteration work just days before the deadlines. So needless to say, we didn’t workout and that relationship severed on a bad note. I don’t regret any decisions I made about getting here and I thank her for her encouragement and belief in my craft. I went on to work odd jobs to make ends meet. I moved into my own home in Kennesaw, GA. I been here in the same home for six years. I started working on creating my brand in 2016. I came up with an idea to create clothing for women who wanted to indulge in high fashion as well as work-friendly fashion. I would make edgy blouses and dresses and unique one of a kind accessories.
I then branched off into vintage fashions which didn’t go very well. I decided to change the focus of my brand because I realized it was saturated so I went in the direction of infants and toddlers. I realized I enjoy designing and sewing baby sets that included booties and a clothing item and 1 or multiple matching accessories. I would use very creative mixed and matched prints to create these sets and giving babies and parents options other than the tradition pink for girls and blue for boys. This is my newest venture and I have faith that this is my niche. I am going to focus on being consistent and staying true to my brand. I still struggle from time to time with networking and gaining traction to my brand’s page but I’m a fighter and firm believer in God and I will not give up on my talent. I just want my success to influence others like me to keep going and to know that it’s ok to change your direction as many times as you need to. You will find your way as long as you stay humble and faithful in God.
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?
Nothing about this journey has been smooth. I slept in my car with my son one night because we were locked out of my friend’s home and she didn’t let us in. I told my son we were camping. He enjoyed it but when he went to sleep, I cried my eyes out. There were times when we had no food. I went to food pantries nearby for assistance. My son’s father decided he wanted to fight me in court for full custody when I finally did get on my feet. I was forced to use all of my extra money on travel to Cleveland to attend court. He carried on court proceedings for three years. I started having anxiety and stress which in turn kept me up some nights and made it hard for me to design anything. It took me three years to get back into my passion. I still get worried about certain things but I pray over my situation daily and I meditate on it and then I press forward. It’s very hard most days but I always have faith that I will get through it.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Outside The Box Baby – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
My brand is called Outside The Box Baby. I specialize in matching baby sets, and some baby and my clothing items for baby and parents. OTB Baby is different than most baby brands because I offer a wide variety of prints and designs that are eclectic and fashion-forward for babies. Nothing basic. I want parents to be able to have unique clothing as well as their little bundles. I’m still in the process of building unique designs and perfecting designs and the workflow process. I plan to have a full line established by end of January 2020.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Once my clothing brand is up and running, I plan to open a child daycare center that is open evenings and weekends in cobb county. There are very few daycares around and I know that parents work late and are always in need of affordable childcare.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 404-981-1880
- Email: otb.born@gmail.com
- Instagram: @otb.baby
- Facebook: OTB
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
