Meet Keisha Fullerton of Raiment in Stone Mountain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keisha Fullerton.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I knew at the age of twelve that I wanted to be a Fashion Designer. I was that kid that was always sketching things in her notebook, but they were only ideas at the time. I was surrounded by women who could sew, but I never picked it up until I was much older. During my Sophomore year of college, I met my mentor Daphania Adams who took me under her wing and taught me how to take my sketches and make them come to life. I would make things for myself, then later friends. Fast forward to 2001, I decided to launch my first line, then called K. Renee. It was after my first official photoshoot with that collection that my work was shown to than celebrity stylist, Tameka Foster. She at the time was looking for someone to assist her with developing her clothing line. We met, clicked and she hired me on to work with her. The position grew into much more than sketching designs. I would later assist her in her agency with styling projects. Contacting design houses to pull the latest collections, sketching looks that would be later created for her clients, and even assisting from time to time on set. I worked with her for over four years and learned a lot about the other side of the industry and how what I loved doing could later serve others.

Thereafter, I continued to diversify my skill set by expanding into sales merchandising and marketing, working with top contemporary designers and manufacturers. I re-branded the line in 2007 and started becoming one of the artists in the local co-op, the Beehive. I’ve built a loyal following there and was able to expand online. Last year/this year, I had the opportunity to try out for Project Runway. They found my collection on social media and urged me to apply. I made it thru the preliminary interviews and ultimately although I was not selected “this time” it solidified for me that I wanted to grow my craft and become a better designer. To date, I am a student at Le Fashion Lab while holding down a full-time position as Regional Account Manager for Trina Turk and running a business. All of my experiences have helped me to grow as a designer.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely has not been a smooth journey. Funding and time has been two of the major challenges I encounter while growing the brand. While I would love to be able to be designing full time, my AE position has helped fuel the dream. It forces you to wear many hats in the process and sometimes it can conflict with the creative process. It then comes down to finding balance to be able to manage all of what is required to grow.

Please tell us about Raiment – what should we know?
Raiment is a women’s contemporary clothing brand. I design and specialize in garments for women to help them feel confident, sexy and empowered. I would say I am most known for the subtle details in my design aesthetic. One of the things I am most proud of as a company is the “My Tribe Campaign” I launched this past June. It’s a women’s empowerment campaign. Last year, I worked with an illustrator from Dubai, Armand Mehidri to design my logo tee. The design showcases a group of diverse women leaning on each other dressed in pieces from my collection. For me, this represented the diverse group of women that over the years has helped to motivate, inspire and encourage me in all aspects of my life. We all have those individuals in our lives that keep us going essentially. We all have a “tribe”. This movement has allowed other ‘boss women’ to share their personal stories and their endorsement of the campaign. It’s a beautiful thing to see women supporting women.

In addition to the campaign, I was selected last year/earlier this year to try out for Project Runway. To this day, it still blows my mind that they found me and urged me to try out. Although ultimately, I was not selected this time for the upcoming season, it reminded me that I do have a voice in this design community and I should keep pressing forward. I think that’s what sets me apart from others, is that no matter what the circumstance I have learned in every obstacle to find the opportunity. It’s all perspective.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have been blessed over the years to have some amazingly talented, intelligent, ambitious women in my life. From my mentor Daph who took me under her wing when I was just 19 years old and taught me what it meant to truly create. Tameka Foster who embraced me in her organization and showed me a different side to the fashion industry as it relates to merchandising and personal style. Thinking outside of the box and not being afraid to create your own identity thru garments. This is one of the many reasons I love color play and patterns so much and it helped me to carve out my own niche. The Beehive Atlanta for giving me the platform to first showcase my collection. The founder of Le Fashion Lab and the tremendously talented instructors there has also played a pivotal role in my redeveloping my skill set. Their graciousness and continued support over the last year has helped me to grow as a designer and to see possibilities bigger than I imagined at this stage. Lastly, my close friends and family. They have supported every part of this dream with me and have always been willing to jump in to assist me as I grow my brand. I absolutely could not do any of what I am doing without My Tribe.

Pricing:

• Tops- $85-$120
• Dresses- $135-$195
• Jackets $150-$200

Contact Info:

• Address: 4002 US 78 Suite 530-299, Snellville, GA 30039
• Website: www.houseofraiment.com
• Phone: 770-313-5184
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @rai.ment
• Facebook: Houseofraiment
• Twitter: @houseofraiment

Image Credit:
Photographer- Kim Evans, Rodney Riddick and James Penny, Models- Christa Lee, Mary Katherine Dulac, Christine Dillard

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