Georgia Queen Clothing

Balanced– taking everything into account; fairly judged or presented.

Sitting here on a hot July morning, looking at the green pastures. While enjoying the summer breeze, the only thing I’m thinking about is how grateful I am to feel a sense of balance in my career .

This month I had the pleasure of participating in two interviews to discuss my background in fashion. As a business woman, this is an honor because it gives me the opportunity to tell my story, as well as to give insight for anyone who is interested starting a career in fashion.

Yesterday, I participated in an awesome interview with Zaharraa Geyhanna on the Models Talk show. I was able to discuss how I started my modeling career here in Atlanta 20 years ago. This was a great interview for not only models, but designers as well. Due to timing and technical difficulties, I didn’t go into deep details about certain issues or feedback. So, I’m going to take the opportunity to talk about some of those things.

Honestly, I haven’t seen much of a change other than there’s more people in the market. Also, there’s not a well known or established outlet such as an “official Atlanta Fashion Week” for talented designers and models to showcase their skills on an emerging and professional level. Here in the Atlanta area, there are some of the most amazing fashion school’s and still no one is collaborating and pulling talent from any of these colleges. Most of all, I have seen maybe one or two designers who operate on an industry level and hire fashion professionals/students.

So, is Atlanta the fashion capital of the South. It can be if the so called “established fashion network” work together……….

People complain about the growing number of competition here and the lack of paying gigs. Well, do you hear fashion professionals in places such as New York complain about this issue?

When I was hired for my first modeling job as mentioned in the interview below. I worked with fashion companies from both the New York and New Jersey areas. The designer would come in and sell/showcase his gowns to buyers. For custom clients he would sit and sketch exactly what they wanted. Everyone got paid. I was the lowest paid model due to my experience and age, but that designer and his assistant expressed their concerns about the issue and later I got a pay bump. Still it wasn’t as much as the other models, but I got paid. For all of my modeling jobs, I got paid!

I’m hearing models are now on flyers promoting shows. Well, they revamp an old method that was used by club promoters 20 years ago. Most of all they have models hustling backwards. As a model, they should be paying you, not the other way around……

https://fb.watch/lJawXl23Bc/?mibextid=Nif5oz

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing with Chris Royster of Women In Business. This was a fantastic opportunity to talk a little about the back story of GQC. Marietta is my hometown and where several generations of my family has lived and owned businesses. For me, the feeling is incredible to relaunch my business here in the Atlanta area.

Below, in the interview I talk about the connection and give a brief history on how I started Georgia Queen Clothing. An excellent interview to watch.

A part of the American Dream? Maybe.

American Dream– the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved.

History– the whole series of past events connected with someone or something.

Let’s talk about some American history associated with the location I held my interview. The historic Cole house is a pre civil war mansion previously owned by a Marietta influential citizen and union spy by the name of Henry Green Cole. A cool fact about this location is rumored to be an underground railroad station.

In a previous blog post, I talk about the fashion history associated with this era. So, how amazing is the thought of the fashion capital of the South being Atlanta?

It’s a strong possibility.

Taking into consideration the history associated of my career as a model and now fashion designer, has balanced my business to where I can present it to the world and prosper.

Cool stuff.

I will be taking a break for the rest of July to prepare for an exclusive mini trip to Nashville which I will feature in next months blog!