Today we’d like to introduce you to Farri C.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Ever since I was a little girl, I was asked what I wanted to grow up to be I used to say a doctor that takes care of babies then one day I said I wanted to make clothes. I was so young I don’t even remember saying it but it is definitely possible, growing up I watched my mom dress up different pieces of clothing together and I used to admire her through the mirror and I guess you can say fashion was already in my genes. Fast forward middle school and high school there was never a day I did not come to school looking my best, I dressed up every day without any question because it came so naturally, people used to make jokes and say “this not a fashion show” but that did not stop me one bit. Towards my senior year of high school, I wasn’t clear what I wanted to do with my life I was honestly just taking it one day at a time being a fashion designer was not in my mind at all. One day I could not go to sleep for anything so about 4 am I went on google and typed in ‘how to make a website” literally the thought came out of nowhere but I began looking into websites and named my website “Farri’s Denim Closet” maybe a few days later I made myself a denim choker necklace after that I began selling them for 10$ to girls in my school then I had my high school boyfriend selling them at his school also, I should’ve known then I was a hustler. Even though I enjoyed making chokers it wasn’t enough, it did not fill my heart so I stopped selling them. Towards graduation I still did not know what I wanted to do so I decided to go to college and major in being an ultrasound tech (I’ve always loved babies). After graduating that summer one day my mom came home and told me her coworker asked her what I was going to do in the future and my mom responded “she’s going to be a fashion designer” and I got so mad because that was never a thought and I felt I couldn’t do it and it would be too hard because I didn’t even know how to make clothes let alone use a sewing machine. I didn’t tell her but I said to myself maybe I can do it so I took 100$ and went to Walmart and bought a sewing machine I let it sit for 3 weeks and then I started playing with it, then became frustrated so I stopped, I tried again but this time I watched YouTube videos and I actually started catching on, I pride myself on being a self-taught designer because I did not have anyone around to look up to or to ask for help, it was just YouTube and I. After a few attempts I started making shirts, then skirts then dresses I then made a business Instagram page at this time I had changed my business name from Farri’s Denim Closet to Farri’s Closet because I was no longer just making denim chokers, I was making real clothes. After the business Instagram was made, I was hesitant to post because I was honestly afraid of not having support but I did it anyway, for the first year of business I was basically giving my clothes away for free just to get my business name out there while still going to college but I also went to my first casting call to be in a fashion show however I did not get in but I was a part of three other fashion shows that year and made my first ever prom dress. My second year of business my clientele began to expand a little I was selling items still underpriced because I honestly did not know my worth. My third year of business I began teaching sewing classes, and my clientele was amazing in May my friends and I went on a road trip to Atlanta it was my first time visiting I was so amazed and happy I just felt so at home, I networked and met a few people and I just told myself I’m moving here. July I came back to Atlanta for a month to network again and just to make sure this was the place for me and I had received more love than my own hometown (Detroit) so I went back home and threw my very own independent fashion show for my 21st birthday and there I announced me moving, fast forward November I moved to Atlanta and has been living here for 10 months now, I have my very own first apartment I have been able to pay my bills solely from my business and I have been a part of 1 fashion show, had my first feature in a magazine, published my own magazine with my FC collection, my custom garment was shown on reality tv and I have so many more things to accomplish before the year is up!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road like I mentioned before when I first decided to take my business seriously, I did not have any support from any of my family the only person that believed in me and motivated me was my mother. I truly believe if I did not have my mother to encourage me, I would not be where I am today, literally lol. In the first beginning stages I had a customer come over to get measurements done for a gown I was making for her and she had only paid the deposit and once she came back to pick up the gown, she said she did not have the remaining balance on her and me not knowing any better I allowed her to leave with the dress and without the remaining balance and till this day I never received the rest of the payment.
Looking back on how I used to be 4 years ago I was very guidable, I reached out to another designer who had more experience than me and she made different celebrities clothing and she inspired me at that time so I wanted to talk to her because I thought maybe she could help me however during that time all she did was criticize me even my business name, my name is Farri like the tooth Fairy and she had said the business name “Farri’s Closet” sounds childish and that took a big toll on me I questioned everything for a good 5 months because her opinion meant a lot to me although I’m thankful I felt confident enough to keep my business name.
Dealing with different energies and customers can be overwhelming as well, I am still trying to master leaving my work life outside of my personal life because if I have one bad peach in the group I tend to shut down and allow that to bother me when it should not be that way. It’s very rare that I have a disconnect with a customer since I’ve learned from experience but when I do I try to handle it in the most professional way possible.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Farri’s Closet?
I am FarriC the owner and designer of Farri’s Closet and we specialize in exclusive custom-made garments. All of our pieces are one of a kind and made accordingly to each customer’s exact measurements, we are known for our glitz and glam couture gowns. We offer just about anything custom made, our main audience is woman however we servicemen as well. What sets my brand apart from other brands is the fact that the end goal is to ensure each of my customers feel comfortable and confident while wearing my custom items, I want each customer to feel beautiful and exclusive. My biggest accomplishments would have to be between being featured in a magazine this year and hosting my own independent fashion show last year.
How do you think about happiness?
Honestly being able to wake up every day doing what I love is what makes me happy, I am thankful that I found my God-given talent at 18 years old. Some people go through life searching trying to figure out their purpose and what they are most passionate about and here I am literally living my dreams every day. Every time I finish up a client’s garment and to see their reaction is priceless that’s what keeps me going and helps motivate me every day. Oh & Ice cream makes me happy 🙂
Pricing:
- Custom Garments can range anywhere from 200$- 20k depending on the item
- 1 on 1 sewing classes 500$
Contact Info:
- Email: farriscloset@gmail.com
- Website: Farriscloset.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farriscloset/
Image Credits
Lauren England
Kamani R Models
Ya’leedia M.
Viccille A.
Lola O
FarriC
