Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Simeon.
Hi Kelly, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a kid, I learned to “always be presentable,” which I took and ran with. I started 7th grade in GA, by the 8th grade, I was looking into starting to buy my own clothes because I knew my parents needed to allocate their finances elsewhere. In 2016, I discovered Grailed so, I just began buying a haul of clothes I liked because it was something new & exciting to me. As I kept spending more and more time on the app, I realized that I needed more money, so the idea of selling clothes that I necessarily didn’t want anymore was the solution; I call it fashion recycling. Realizing that there’s some potential in what I’m doing, I began doing it on a larger scale, starting to buy & sell high-end pieces like BAPE, Supreme, etc., because at the time Grailed was relatively new, and people were just starting to buy their streetwear online. Before my sophomore year in high school, I figured out how to make money by dropshipping products, which then realized I could do the same with clothes. So, I started my first clothing line, Se7enth Studios. I would spend late school nights perfecting every little detail of my new website and design on any blanks that were available to me in the design studio. I eventually stopped by the end of my sophomore year and began to try & learn as much about the fashion industry as possible. Watching fashion shows, reading books, reading through 50 tabs; I just wanted to make sure my next clothing line was something serious, something where I could design what I want without dropshipping companies’ restraints. In my senior year in high school, I started my new clothing line, Not for Sale. Had a sketchbook full of fashion drawings scattered with the technical info fresh on my mind, so I went and made it official.
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?
I personally don’t believe anyone to have a smooth road, otherwise you wouldn’t be the person you are today. As for my struggles, I could of course say financial but I went and made it work. I started dropshipping to make money, I paused making clothes to save money. That’s why I would say I tried my best to work with what I had. Another struggles were a lack of me knowing key details about making clothes. Like how I didn’t know what tech packs were, manufacturers would usually have no clue on how to make the ideas I would try to explain to them. I also would say timing in the fashion industry is really delicate, so after time repeatedly made it known that it isn’t waiting, I adjusted accordingly.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Not for Sale is a lifestyle clothing brand. Our slogan “Quality Garments Only” represents the thought of comfortability, creativity, and wearability that I put into the garments for our NF$ family. The meaning behind Not for Sale is to highlight the priceless emotions/qualities in life, like family, compassion, creativity, curiosity, etc. I also want to make sure people feel like they’re buying pieces from me……not just clothes.
I would say I’m the spine of this business, but mainly, the creative director planning/designing any & everything, from a photoshoot to graphic prints, I don’t really care to point out what sets me apart because I don’t like to force people. I feel as if I continue to shine, they’ll eventually see the light, only if they want to. I’m most proud to see people dressed in my garments, naturally making it a part of their daily wardrobe and pointing out the little details I put in on purpose. As Not for Sale grows, my plan is to divide this business and start making traction in the hospitality industry to make sure I highlight those priceless qualities.
What matters most to you?
First, I would say the family is important because I truly care and value them, and for the people that are still here, they are a solid support system, I do all of this for them. I would then, in short, say creativity/curiosity because though I was always good in school, I honestly hated it. I always felt like they weren’t teaching me everything. I would constantly ask my teachers questions because there were a bunch of holes in what they were teaching us. In high school, the archaic concepts we learned didn’t really prepare us for this modern world, and I believe it is on purpose just to get us ready for the rat race. I feel as if school strips people of their dreams, it doesn’t allow people to be creative, school is so time demanding for no reason. I always point out the difference in imagination you’ll see between someone in high school and elementary. Young kids will have questions for you all day, and even ones you; sit there and think,” how’d they even think of that.” I wish it would focus on people’s strengths and ACTUALLY helping one another. If people were allowed to be fully creative, it would do wonders because it helps me in all facets of life besides designing like problem-solving and allowing me to think beyond myself, for others.
Contact Info:
- Email: nfsaleshop@gmail.com
- Website: www.notforsale.company
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/_yungkell
- Other: www.instagram.com/nfsale
