Hidden Gems: Meet Dyesha Belhumeur of Undefined Clothing Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dyesha Belhumeur.

Hi Dyesha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Being a Black, gay, woman, I am no stranger to marginalization and have always found joy in defying stereotypes. Coupled with an intimate curiosity and appreciation for all things possessing melanin, I’ve always held a passion for my blackness and pride in my identity. Growing up in the third most diverse city in the country neighboring Seattle, Federal Way has fostered my desire to build community through art that defies stereotypes.

Even as children, we as African Americans, and minorities in the larger sense, come to the realization that we are different, beyond just the color of our skin. For me, that occurred in elementary school during Black History Month, when for the first time I looked up the definitions of “white” and “black” in the dictionary. To see white defined as pure and clean, but black as dirty, full of suffering, and evil, led to a lifelong of inquiry and defiance of the status quo.

Minoring in diversity, I began to explore the inter-workings of institutionalized racism, the history of Blacks in America beyond their “emancipation”, systematic oppression, and many other realities of Black life that we are forced to seek out and be exposed to. There is something about the unrealized strength and power that black and brown people possess, which has fueled me to educate myself on the history of my people. It is through this journey that I have reached a point of living Undefined. Now, I aim to help others realize the strength they hold in being different and teach others to Live Undefined.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing is smooth about growth in business, but it’s worth it. Right out of the gate, six months after I started Undefined Clothing, an entire bin of inventory was stolen from my car, representing about 1/3 of my total inventory at the time. It was full of my best-selling sizes, mediums and larges. It took me almost a month to work through my internal feelings and frustrations before I made the decision to bet on myself and double down on my inventory investment. The following summer of 2020, the Legalize Blackness design went “baby viral” and helped with messaging during the 2020 protests.

But one of the biggest struggles I’ve worked through as an entrepreneur is my own expectations. For a time, I became hyper-focused on the expectation that certain people should have been supporting my brand but weren’t, namely friends and family. And I couldn’t seem to figure out why. The way I saw it, one share from every friend could’ve given my business a head start. But I learned to focus on those supporting instead of those that weren’t and my success rather than what I perceived to be my failures.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Undefined Clothing Co.?
Undefined Clothing creates streetwear-focused clothing for African-Americans, other POC, women, and LGBTQIA+ communities (and each group’s allies) that encourages them to live beyond the stereotypes placed upon them. We design pieces that are specific to the cultures, identities, and beliefs of these groups. Our goal is to inspire and instill a sense of pride in minority and historically disadvantaged communities. At Undefined, clothing is the expression of who you are and what you represent. To live Undefined is to choose not to be defined by stereotypes, societal expectations, or who others tell you you should be.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I most appreciate the feeling of community. In Seattle, we have a smaller population of Black people, which makes it harder to find and feel in community. Being in ATL is entirely different. The vibrancy of the city and its people, the feeling of comfortability, and the ability to be at ease in public. To know that you are surrounded by like-minded people who not only look like you but navigate similar day to day struggles creates a sense of solidarity.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.LiveUndefined.us
• Instagram: @_undefinedclothing
• Facebook: @UndefinedClothing.18
• Twitter: @legalizeblkness
• Other: www.sea-pas.com