Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Grier.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
When I first began this journey it was rare to see plus size women wearing clothing that expressed self-love and being confident in the skin and body, they are in. Being a woman (let alone a plus size woman) in this society can be hard when you are constantly being told that your body needs to look a certain way in order to feel beautiful about who you are. I wanted to change that narrative, so I decided to create a clothing brand that uplifted and promoted self-love, body positivity, and confidence. In 2011 Feminine Funk® was born and we have been going strong ever since.
Please tell us about your art.
Feminine Funk® is a clothing brand built to represent the confident and free-spirited women of the world who make it their daily mission to love themselves on purpose. We celebrate women fueled by self-love, self-acceptance, and self-empowerment with delightfully bold designs and great quality items.
We design each t-shirt to have a story that connects with you through edgy, witty and unapologetic messaging. Our loved (and coveted!) statement tees are designed to make standing out in a crowd easy. We use soft, durable fabrics and on trend styles to make every Feminine Funk® item comfortable and fashionable as well as incredible conversation starters.
Choosing a creative or artistic path comes with many financial challenges. Any advice for those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns?
This subject is near and dear to my heart because like a lot of people, I started with the bare minimum. I started my business with 4 designs. Finding quality plus size tees back then was almost impossible so I had to get t-shirts produced. At the time I was working a full-time job and used the income from that job to fund my business. It took a lot of patience, but it allowed me to get use to the logistics of owning my own business without a huge financial risk.
My advice to those struggling to focus on their artwork due to financial concerns would be to take baby steps. As artists, we get so many ideas and tend to want to jump in and do everything at once. Use what you have at the moment and work your way up step by step. Also, having faith is huge. You have to know that although things may look rough financially now, it is temporary and will eventually pass. Most importantly, NEVER GIVE UP.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Feminine Funk® is based online and we are on all social media outlets as @femininefunk. Following us on our social media outlets will also keep you informed of our Pop-Up Shops. You can also find us on our website at www.femininefunk.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.femininefunk.com
- Email: nicole@femininefunk.com
- Instagram: @femininefunk
- Facebook: @femininefunk
- Twitter: @femininefunk
Image Credit:
AP AMMALA
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