Today we’d like to introduce you to Falisha Smith.
Falisha, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started sewing in 2015 after taking care of my father who had multiple strokes. After he passed away in March of 2015, I did not know how to channel my grief,so I submerged myself into sewing. I am self-taught. I have a very unique ability. Although, I can use a commercial pattern, I can also look at a picture and create garments without a pattern. In August of 2015, I was invited to Bishop T.D. Jake’s Mega fest. This is where my journey began. At this amazing convention, I was placed strategically in front of “Manpower”. It was divine. Especially because I was selling Silk neckties, pocket squares, and lapel pin for men. It was crazy. My booth was packed and overflowing up until the last day. I also debut my custom line Maxi skirts. I sold over 500 neckties, 500 pocket squares and tons of lapel pins. I also sold completely out of the custom made Maxi skirts. I came back home from the trip with over 200 custom orders and my business name in the wind, as far as Australia. Upon returning, I jumped head into sewing. In 2016, I was invited to participate in Atlanta and New York’s Fashion week for small business. Here I am now, a self-taught designer and seamstress. I’ve sewn for Judges, National Recording Artist, Clergy, Councilmen, Men, Women, and Children. Purple Fancy birthed something in me that shifted the momentum in my life. Not only am I not afraid to jump, I know that if I make that Jump, God got me, and I would never be afraid to jump again.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Starting a business, being consistent, and always being on the cutting edge of the fashion trends has not been easy. I’ve invested in my business financially more than I had finances PERIOD! I had to be confident to know that everybody ain’t broke! IF people want what you have, they will pay what you charge. I had to learn how to not undersell my self. A lot of times, I gave custom creations away because I allowed people to handle my business wrong. I quickly became overwhelmed because I had too many orders and not enough trust in people to delegate. Anytime you’re overwhelmed, it takes the love out of what was intended to make you happy. Now it becomes a job, a chore. I had to learn balance. I am a Pastor and a Wife to a Pastor. I am a mother of 2 boys, Benjamin and Levi. I still have a 8 to 5 that manages several people. I am a musician. I am a singer. I am a designer. I am a singer. With all of these, “I AM’s”, I had to find a balance to my life, including my finances. I saw that things in my life started to suffer because I was consumed with my passion. Once I got my self together, I saw areas of my life started to come into alignment, and that’s when I fell back in love with my passion of creating.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Purple Fancy Boutique story. Tell us more about the business.
I specialized in making custom garments for the entire family. I am most proud of Purple Fancy because the custom garments not only change the way you look but changes how you feel about yourself.
What set’s me apart from others is my eye for creativity. It’s one thing to have the skill to sew, but without creativity, it will just be “Regular”. Purple Fancy makes your garments Extraordinary.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t really attribute my successes of failures as luck. I attribute all that I’ve attained as God’s blessings and plan for me. I attribute all of my failures as stepping stones to get me to the next level….all orchestrated by God almighty. I learned from one of my mentors that “Failure is not Final.” FAITH in God and TRUST in God has been my driving force on this Journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purplefancy.com
- Phone: 4042463185
- Email: purplefancyboutique@
gmail.com - Instagram: pfboutique
- Facebook: purple fancy boutique
Image Credit:
Images by Celebrity Photographers Calvin Finklea & Eric Robinson
Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
