My First Art Show, but not My First Rodeo!

T-shirts, Shorts, Skorts, and more!

Preparing for the Black Girls Art Show in DC on August 29th has me reflecting on my journey. While organizing my art files, I stumbled upon old business pictures from my athletic wear clothing line, Dirty Red Gear, named after a former childhood nickname. I ran this company for about seven years, and although I ended it to focus on my daughters' futures, I truly enjoyed the process of building, creating, and selling my designs.

For years, I hesitated to share my clothing design story, viewing it as a failure. However, I've come to realize it was one of the most successful endeavors I've undertaken, second only to motherhood. I created something from nothing that inspired many people over the years.

I wore many hats during this journey: I created marketing materials, designed patterns, took photographs, and sold my products, all before and without social media. I often modeled my designs and participated in racing competitions, showcasing my work at running events nationwide. Notably, I was among the first designers to create the running skort, which became widely popular. I sold so many running skorts, it would make your head spin! While it was frustrating to see brands like Adidas replicate my design, it also validated the impact of my work.

To fellow entrepreneurs juggling multiple roles, stay hungry and motivated. Don't let others' fears deter you. If you believe in your product and envision its potential, keep pushing forward, network, and remain open to learning. If something doesn't work out, learn from it, move on, and trust that another opportunity will arise. #keeprising

In one of the photos, you can see Tommie Smith, the Olympic Gold Medalist, who visited my booth. He is famously known for his protest at the 1968 Olympics alongside John Carlos, raising a black-gloved fist for human rights. Additionally, Dolores Jordan, Montell Jordan's (“This is How We Do It” singer) mother, expressed interest in introducing me to her son, but I was married at the time. LOL! These experiences and many others were truly incredible. As seen on LinkedIn.