An Inspired Chat with Debbie Nunnally & Slone Williams of Southside

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Debbie Nunnally & Slone Williams. Check out our conversation below.

Debbie & Slone , we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
We are being called to finish what we once set aside in fear—our novel. During COVID, we began writing it together, and while building our brand was our first big endeavor, publishing this book has always been our second dream. Now, we’ve returned to it with renewed confidence and conviction. What once felt intimidating now feels like destiny. With our vivid imaginations and deep love for science fiction and fantasy, we know what makes a powerful story. We believe our novel isn’t just meant to be published—it’s meant to live beyond the page as an unforgettable show or movie.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Slone x Mattie is truly a family story. We’re a mother and daughter who decided to turn our love for fashion and creativity into something we could build together. What started as an idea between the two of us has grown into a brand that reflects our relationship—full of love, strength, and inspiration.

For us, fashion isn’t just about clothes; it’s about connection. Each piece we showcase carries a bit of our story, blending generations, perspectives, and styles into something unique. Our collections, like the recent Intertwined Allure line, are inspired by the world around us and the belief that fashion should make you feel powerful, seen, and unapologetically yourself.

What makes Slone x Mattie special is the heart behind it—a mother’s wisdom, a daughter’s fresh vision, and a shared dream. We want our brand to not only inspire confidence but also celebrate the beauty of creating together, across generations.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
For us, the answer is simple—Mattie (Debbie, the mother) saw Slone’s light long before she fully saw it herself. Mothers have that gift of knowing, and Debbie recognized Slone’s creativity, vision, and strength early on. She believed in her daughter’s talent when it was still just a spark, and she nurtured it until it became a fire.

Because of that, we knew we wanted to pursue this venture together. Slone x Mattie is more than a brand; it’s a reflection of both of us—a mother’s wisdom and intuition woven together with a daughter’s fresh perspective and boldness. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and our story is living proof.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. Starting this brand was not easy. We began the process back in 2020, but it actually took us four years to officially launch. There were moments of uncertainty, times when the unfamiliarity of the fashion industry felt overwhelming, and days where it would have been easier to walk away.

But instead of giving up, we leaned into learning. We researched, studied, and taught ourselves everything we possibly could about building a brand from the ground up. And in 2024, we finally launched Slone x Mattie. Now, stepping into our second year of business, we’re proud of how far we’ve come.

The promise we made to each other—to never give up and to keep going no matter what—has been our anchor. It’s what carried us through the waiting, the setbacks, and the doubts. That’s why this brand means so much to us: it’s not just clothes, it’s the proof of our resilience, our bond, and our shared dream.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! The public us—is us—just with a little more sparkle on camera. Every shoot you see is rooted in our real lives—many of them have taken place during our vacations and travels around the world. Even if there wasn’t a brand, we would still be capturing those moments, because it’s who we are at heart: two women who love adventure, creativity, and celebrating life.

When we started Slone x Mattie, we promised ourselves that authenticity would always be at the core of what we do. We don’t want to put on a façade or create something that doesn’t reflect who we truly are. That’s why every photo, every video, and every piece of content feels so personal—because it is. We’re not just showing clothes; we’re showing the bond between a mother and daughter, the laughter behind the scenes, and the experiences that inspire our collections.

We believe that people connect most deeply when they see the real you. So when clients and supporters fall in love with Slone x Mattie, they’re not just falling for the fashion—they’re connecting with us, with our story, with the women behind the lens. Who you see is who we are, completely.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing? 
We would deeply regret not pursuing our novel and the dream of becoming showrunners one day. Both of us have incredibly imaginative minds, filled with ideas, characters, and worlds that we’ve been dreaming up for as long as we can remember. These aren’t just stories—they’re reflections of our experiences, our perspectives, and our creativity, and it would feel like a disservice to ourselves and the world if we didn’t bring them to life.

We know the entertainment industry is competitive and uncertain, but that’s exactly why it’s worth the risk. There’s nothing worse than watching someone else tell a story that we were meant to tell, and wondering, “Why didn’t we try?” The thought of letting our ideas sit on a shelf or fade away is far more terrifying than any challenge we could face along the way.

Pursuing this dream isn’t just about writing a book or creating a show—it’s about honoring our imagination, our voices, and our shared vision. It’s about proving to ourselves that we are capable of more than we sometimes dare to imagine, and ensuring that when we look back on our lives, we know we chased what truly mattered. We refuse to let fear or uncertainty hold us back, because the regret of not trying would be immeasurable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://slonexmattie.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slonexmattie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/slonexmattie
• Other: SHOP App: https://shop.app/m/7z49dqh1ar