Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Cosey.
Tiffany, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Washington, D.C. and raised under humble circumstances, so I decided early on that I wanted to live in a world different from my environment. I was accepted into the Visual Arts program at Suitland High School Center for the Arts. As a student, I studied photography, printmaking, and painting. I was very much an introvert, so I joined the school’s senior fashion show as a way to break out of my shell. I crafted pieces inspired from Disney films from scratch using my grandmother’s old sewing machine. This was the beginning of my interest in fashion design. I turned down several scholarships to Art Schools near the D.C. area to study art at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA in an attempt to broaden my horizons. Through an independent modeling organization on campus, I participated in various fashion shows and competitions while serving as the organizations’ Creative Director. After branching off to promotional modeling, I soon found a passion for acting and decided to change my major from Art to Theater.
After successfully graduating with a Bachelor’s in Theater Performance, I set out to pursue a full-time acting career. In order to keep my schedule open for opportunities, I used my skills as a seamstress to start a fashion company creating custom garments. Free to travel, I ventured to Hollywood, CA where I landed my 1st leading role in a network T.V. show within three weeks. Learning quickly the power of networking in Hollywood, I took a position as a coordinator for Indie Night Film Festival which takes place at the historic TCL Chinese Theater. After six months in Hollywood, I returned to the “Hollywood of the South,” Atlanta, to focus on building my acting resume and fashion business.
Specially marking my birthday, I released the first short film I directed and produced to an audience at Atlanta’s Plaza Theatre on May 30, 2016. Then on the same day in 2019, I launched a leather goods collection calling it 530. I was inspired to manufacture leather heels and handbags after struggling to find styles that were versatile enough to go from my corporate job, to happy hour, and the red carpet. Reminiscent of the staple items worn throughout the decades, I sought to design the perfect silhouettes for the modern woman with a classic style.
Currently, I am producing several short and feature film projects for 2020 under my production company, The Cosey Company. I am also continuing to build my leather goods brand, 530 Gallery. I’m using all the black girl magic God gave me!
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?
Before producing films and establishing a fashion business, I started a series of failed businesses. I did everything from being a mobile hairstylist, a network marketer, a jewelry maker, a door-to-door saleswoman – you name it, I probably tried it. I also quit them all. What I eventually realized was, I had to have a passion for it. In order for a business to be a success, you have to have a passion for building it and continuing to build it even when things are not going well.
Once you have your passion, you need to make a plan of action – not just a plan. With film production, I’ve produced three short films so far. When the film festival circuit didn’t have a positive outcome for my first film, I decided to self distribute. Now all three films are streaming on my website and Amazon Prime Video. So aside from the production process, you have to also become the Studio Exec when you self distribute. You have to build an audience, market, and create promotions. As you can imagine, on a limited budget you have to wear most of the hats. So if you don’t know how to market, build an audience, etc. – well, you have to learn all of it to execute it!
Before I launched my leather goods collection, 530 Gallery – I had never manufactured anything before. All of my previous fashion collections, be it clothing or accessories, were all made by hand. Learning the manufacturing process was beast in itself, without considering the challenges of a start up. I decided to manufacture overseas after investigating and comparing options for small businesses in the U.S. and overseas. With that decision came language and cultural barriers, shipping issues, and factory concerns. I quickly learned to be decisive and plan seasons in order to stay on target with release dates and inventory.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
The Cosey Company: The reality for a working actress is that you don’t know when your next job will come. This has been my reality since I graduated from college in 2012 and is the main reason why I started to produce films. I wanted to create my own opportunities. We have released 3 short films, Mob Rats (2016), Prank Wars (2019), and The Strip (2020). They all can be streamed on my website and Amazon Prime Video. I am most proud that our stories do not play into stereotypes. I’ve decided to focus on telling stories that you may have thought of, but have never seen. I want to write and portray characters that may not have the opportunity to have their stories told and less stereotypical stories we see play out time and time again.
530 Gallery: As a lover of vintage finds, I typically only shop in thrift stores and on eBay to dress and decorate my home. For years, I’ve struggled to find styles I want to wear because the modern retail market rarely has what I’m looking for, and it’s near impossible to shop for specific styles when you shop vintage. Thus, I was inspired to create a collection that any woman can access. I am most proud that I can wear my pieces every single day because they are that versatile. I can wear them to work or for a night out on the town. What sets us apart from others is that we are committed to creating timeless styles that will transcend decades, trends, and occasions. Our color-ways and silhouettes will always be perfect for the modern woman with classic style.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite memory from childhood was learning to be independent. My mom worked 2-3 jobs at a time, so she was rarely home with my siblings and I. This left plenty of time for us to do our homework, play outside responsibly, be creative with dinner, and make it back in the house before the street lights came on and before mom came home. Everything was done as if she was there physically. So, essentially I’d like to think this played a major role in building my leadership qualities and setting me up for working through any challenges I faced with grace as an adult.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tiffanycosey.com
- Email: contact@tiffanycosey.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/tiffanycosey
- Facebook: http://youtube.com/tiffanycosey
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/tiffanycosey
- Other: http://530gallery.com
Image Credit:
Headshot by Zeal Niche Photo
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