Today we’d like to introduce you to Portia Brewer.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a native of Detroit, MI, a place I call home and spent the majority of my formative years. My journey into fashion started at the tender age of 8. I aspired to compete and hold the title as Miss America. In my extremely early preparations for the competition, I would sketch my clothing for each competitive segment, unbeknownst to me that this was the beginning of my true love for fashion. From that moment on, I would sketch fashion designs in my free time. I also hold one other nostalgic memory, my grandmother and I would make clothing for my Barbie dolls out of old socks. I believe this was my introduction to actually turning a design into a constructed piece on a small scale.
In pursuit of my educational endeavors, I studied Business Marketing with a minor in Fashion Design at Tennessee State University. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in 2005 and matriculated to Graduate School to obtain a Master’s in Business Administration concentration in Marketing. Soon after graduation, I discovered I was pregnant. I was overjoyed about the news and prepared myself for motherhood. Such a joyous moment was soon interrupted by some news no parents want to hear….. Autism. My son was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), a disorder on the autism spectrum. At that time, I decided to put my fashion career on hold and focus on educating myself on this disorder while working a traditional job to help pay for my son’s therapies. After nine years of therapy and specially developed curriculums, my son is doing remarkable at coping well with his autism. I learned that early prevention is vital, and I am happy I took the much needed time to focus on my child’s needs. In 2019, I decided now is a great time to refocus on my dreams since my son is doing well and on a great track.
In February 2020, I debuted our first Portia Renia collection produced and manufactured in Atlanta, GA. However, the global pandemic COVID 19 presented several setbacks in our production schedule and release dates of upcoming collections.
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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road, especially having to postpone the pursuance of my fashion endeavors for nine years. There is no more incredible feeling other than extreme gratitude and self-satisfaction when doing what you love. However, I do face challenges in balancing work-life, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. I have a lot of late nights and early mornings. My late nights consist of continuous research on various business topics to grow my company.
I have learned as a CEO and Lead Designer of a small business; you have to be an expert in every area of your business until you have the capital to hire qualified staff. So at the onset of my business, I have assumed all of the following roles: business operations manager, designer, fabrication expert, graphic designer, social media content creator, photographer, stylist, production manager, marketing manager, and anything else you can think of. Nevertheless, I embrace all of the stumbling blocks and setbacks as learning lessons; they will expand my knowledge base and resilience and ultimately contribute to my business success.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Portia Renia – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Portia Renia is designed for the sophisticated, ambitious woman. A woman that gives her clothing true character and is not defined by her clothing. She exudes confidence in every aspect of her life. The Portia Renia Brand is artfully crafted with precision to provide the perfect fit to accentuate all her curves and embrace the female form. We embody the classic silhouette with an even combination of elegance and sexiness. PR embraces femininity by indulging in embellishments such as leather, lace, and studding. Whether it is a day in the office, running errands, or a night on the town, PR has pieces for every occasion. We strive to offer luxury clothing for affordable pricing.
I take great pride in our company because we not only make quality timeless clothing; our efforts do not cease there; we plan to give back and empower women at the same time. PR will donate 2.5% of its annual sales to a well-deserving nonprofit that promotes women empowerment and 2.5% to nonprofits that support autism. The personification of a woman is we can do it all. You name it; we can do it with style and effortlessness. Women are the foundation of everything, and we want to support women to reach their full potential.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our plans for the near future is to release our Fall/Winter Collection. We are super excited about our new collection; the pieces are incredible. Additionally, we plan to foster and cultivate new relationships with other fashion designers and participate in designer mentorship programs to build a strong brand and company foundation. We are working to become a global brand. Stay tuned, follow our social media pages, and join our mailing list for release dates, promotions, and exclusive drops. Let us make history together…
Contact Info:
- Website: www.portiarenia.com
- Email: info@portiarenia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portiarenia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portiarenia/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/PortiaRenia1/
Image Credit:
Christopher Sebastian
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