1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: As a CEO and fashion authority, I know it's the 2 00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: details that truly matter, and when it comes to luxury, 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: every stitch must be perfectly tailored. At Genesis, they've delivered 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: on every element of the GV eighty two line. Led 5 00:00:12,039 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: headlamps accentuate in exterior that exudes athletic elegance. Inside, discover 6 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: an expansive cabin with ambient lighting. Take a close look 7 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: at the Genesis GV eighty and you'll see lux is 8 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:33,599 Speaker 1: in the details. Hi everyone, I'm Rachel Zoe and you're 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: listening to Climbing in Heels. This show is all about 10 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: celebrating the most extraordinary superwomen who will be sharing their 11 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 1: incredible journeys to the top, all while staying glamorous. Today 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: with me, I'm joined by fashion designer, activist, and author 13 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: Aurora James. Together we talk about women supporting women and 14 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: how society has programmed us to think that their chest 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: is not enough space for all women to be really 16 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,120 Speaker 1: successful and I'm not sure why, but Aurora also opens 17 00:01:03,240 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: up about her background, how she made her way in 18 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:08,400 Speaker 1: the fashion world, and how a shoe from Ghana changed 19 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,320 Speaker 1: her life. Aurora's accessory and shoe line brother Velli's continues 20 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:15,199 Speaker 1: to grow and it's truly beautiful for me to see 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: Aurora's success. It is earned brick by brick, lots of 22 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: sweat and tears, and it's I just love the American dream. Honestly, 23 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: she really is living proof of the American dream. Her 24 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 1: book Wildflower is also available and it is an incredibly 25 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:35,479 Speaker 1: worthwhile read. 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 2: Welcome Aurora to Climbing in Heels, Lady. 27 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: I'm so happy to have you on. I'm so excited, 28 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: like I'm such a fan of you, of all you do, 29 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: but also I'm excited to hear about your journey because 30 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: I met you more recently over the last few years, 31 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: and obviously you're quite impressive and at the top of 32 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: your game. But I want to hear about your story 33 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: because it's very shade. 34 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 3: Well. First of all, there's a couple of things I 35 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 3: want to say to you. One is, I'm so sorry 36 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 3: there weren't women that were there to help lift you up, 37 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: because everyone deserves to have that opportunity. And I think 38 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: that society has done really impeccable job of convincing us 39 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 3: as women from a very young age that like, there 40 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: can only be one final rose. You know what, I mean, 41 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 3: we must all compete for the final rows. There's never 42 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 3: going to be a space for all of us. There 43 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 3: is never going to be a good opportunity to give 44 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 3: another person a helping hand. And in reality, it's like, 45 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 3: you know, for me, at least, I know that like 46 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 3: celebrating your success is not going to impact my success right, 47 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 3: like at all. Like the idea that you have been 48 00:02:56,560 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 3: able to do what you've done in your career with 49 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 3: your life is actually just a huge benefit to me 50 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 3: because it's helped reshape how people think of women in 51 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:11,160 Speaker 3: fashion and what their capacity is because you've proven that 52 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 3: you can go on and create the media empires and 53 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 3: all of these things that historically people did not believe. Right, 54 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 3: And so you were running in that. 55 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 2: Race, running running it feels running. 56 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, and you know what, like people are gonna 57 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 3: throw all kinds of obstacles at you. And by the way, 58 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 3: it doesn't really surprise me that some of those people 59 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 3: probably were women, right, And it's through no fault of 60 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 3: their own. It's just that we were taught and trained 61 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:46,920 Speaker 3: that way that it has to be like survival of 62 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 3: the fittest because there's not enough space. And then also 63 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: like our partner's going to leave us for someone like younger, 64 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:56,440 Speaker 3: hotter or cool or sexier, like better at cooking, like whatever, 65 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 3: you know what I mean. And it's kind of just 66 00:03:58,320 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 3: like what partner like. I think there's a part of 67 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:04,080 Speaker 3: it as well, that's like we have to really be 68 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 3: able to define success on our own terms. And so 69 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 3: I just want to congratulate you because I really feel 70 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 3: like you've been a big shining light of what that 71 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 3: can look like. And I also want to acknowledge that 72 00:04:13,720 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 3: I'm sure it's been really really painful and really hard 73 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:24,039 Speaker 3: and probably so lonely, right, like success is lonely, being 74 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 3: like a first is lonely. 75 00:04:26,240 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 2: Yes, I always say that to people. It's so funny. 76 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 1: You're the first person to ever actually like say that 77 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: and sort of recognize it because it is because you're 78 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 1: forging your own way. I'm trying to figure it out. 79 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: No one's telling you like no, that doesn't work, Like, no, 80 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: don't try that. We know that doesn't work. 81 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 3: Right totally, and there's no path, right, So like I 82 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 3: always say, like stumbling is evidence of momentum, right, And 83 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 3: it's like when you're forging a path, you are absolutely 84 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 3: gonna stumble and there's not going to be anyone ahead 85 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 3: of you to like shine a flashlight backwards, to be like, 86 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 3: hey girl, come on, it's this way, because you're doing 87 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,160 Speaker 3: something that no one's done before too, so right, you know. 88 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 3: And so that is a lonely, lonely, lonely journey. And 89 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 3: I think what's so incredible was that you still took 90 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:19,840 Speaker 3: it right and you made it to the other side. 91 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 3: Not that it's at the end. I no, No, it's 92 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 3: a clearing of sorts where you can look back and 93 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:28,240 Speaker 3: say like, Okay, that's the forest, those are the trees. 94 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,240 Speaker 3: I realize, you know, the complexities of what I just 95 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 3: went through, and then I had to navigate it alone 96 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: and it was really hard. 97 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, And it's it's interesting that you say that. I 98 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: do want to go back to your first point, which is, 99 00:05:40,839 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: I do think in women's. 100 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 2: Lives that's exactly what it is. 101 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: I think that is the issue is that women are 102 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:49,520 Speaker 1: taught to think there's only room for one and that's 103 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 1: the best one, and I'm going to it's you know what, 104 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 1: it's like that age old thing of like throwing the 105 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,919 Speaker 1: bouquet and knocking people over to get the bouquet rightly 106 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:01,720 Speaker 1: it's like I never I personally never went for the bouquet, 107 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:05,039 Speaker 1: so like I so, but but I think that's such 108 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: a great example of it. And I think you're right, 109 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: and I do think that's why women are program that way. 110 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,920 Speaker 1: And I think it's only now that we're able to 111 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: recognize that there's so much room for so many And 112 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 1: you're exactly right, and I think that takes a really 113 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: long time, and sometimes women never actually figure that out. 114 00:06:26,960 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: You know, a friend of mine, a pretty prominent friend 115 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: who's pretty outspoken and forward, did say something at one 116 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: point like why am I Why is it when so 117 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,919 Speaker 1: and so gets that book deal? I then call my 118 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: agent and say, why the fuck didn't I get that 119 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: book deal? Instead of going, God, that's amazing for her, right, Oh, 120 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: that's amazing for her. 121 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 3: This is a great opportunity because now I can say, oh, 122 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 3: this is proving a value of what we are worth. 123 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: Yes, no, you're a hunt You are one billion, thousand 124 00:06:59,000 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: percent correct. 125 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,799 Speaker 3: You know what's also crazy about that, That's that also 126 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,359 Speaker 3: makes it really hard for us, is like, once you 127 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 3: get that opportunity, then everyone is kind of sitting around 128 00:07:08,760 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 3: to be like, well, let's see if she misses it up. 129 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 3: Let's see what happens. 130 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 2: I'm secretly rooting for you to mess it up right. 131 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:21,760 Speaker 3: Totally, because they need like that reinforcement of the stereotype, 132 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 3: which is that like women can't do it, men are 133 00:07:24,200 --> 00:07:27,240 Speaker 3: going to be better Like fashion girls are dumb like 134 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 3: whatever it is, right, like they like women like these 135 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,880 Speaker 3: things aren't like they secretly live inside of us, not 136 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 3: because it's who we are, but because that's what society 137 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 3: has programmed us to believe. To believe that we really 138 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 3: aren't going to be as good at negotiating as men. 139 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 3: We really aren't going to be good at running a business. 140 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 3: Like there are so many times where I'd never even 141 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:50,559 Speaker 3: leaned into like the business side of my business because 142 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 3: I believe that I was just not good at business. 143 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 3: I was like, I just have to focus on, you know, 144 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 3: the creative stuff, and I because I just am like 145 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 3: not good at business. 146 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: And it's just like, and you surrendered, You surrendered to 147 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,760 Speaker 1: that before you even actually tried it, right totally. 148 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,760 Speaker 3: I let society like dim my light in a way 149 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 3: that like really held me back for years, and you know, 150 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:15,680 Speaker 3: like I held a lot of shame for it for 151 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 3: a while, But now I look at it, and I'm like, oh, 152 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 3: it's completely by design, right, And the good news is like, 153 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:24,960 Speaker 3: now I feel like we're in a situation society where 154 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 3: we can push back against that. Right, we can use 155 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 3: our platforms to have these conversations so that other women 156 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 3: feel like less alone and say like, let's try to 157 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 3: help where we can with other people and other younger people. 158 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 3: And I think that that's also what you're doing by 159 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 3: having this podcast and being brave and continuing to share 160 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 3: your story and the stories of other people and in 161 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 3: what feels like to me a safe space anyways. 162 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,079 Speaker 1: Oh, it's a very safe spaces. We've had a lot 163 00:08:50,080 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: of tears on here. We've talked about really really real things, 164 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: and I love it because I think it's listen, it's 165 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: paying it forward, right, Because I think it's really just about, 166 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,319 Speaker 1: as you said, having those people and having those women 167 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,320 Speaker 1: and not feeling alone, and then listening to people like 168 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,080 Speaker 1: you and other amazing women that I've had on the 169 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: pod that it's just like, oh, wait, holy shit, I 170 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,600 Speaker 1: can pivot. Holy shit, I'm not too old to do this. 171 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,800 Speaker 1: Oh my god, I'm not dumb. I'm not scared of this. 172 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: Wait wait, because I'm smart with my gut and not 173 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: with like numbers. Okay, wait, I am smart. Wait, it's 174 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,200 Speaker 1: just different. And this part actually might be more important 175 00:09:27,240 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: than that part, so you know, I think it's trying 176 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: to figure that out. 177 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 2: So I want to know a bit, you know. 178 00:09:34,559 --> 00:09:36,920 Speaker 1: I like to just tap a little on the beginning 179 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: because I like to know sort of where you were born, 180 00:09:40,480 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: who you are, like, who you were like as you're 181 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:49,080 Speaker 1: little Aurora, Yeah, which is one of my favorite names. 182 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 2: By the way, Aurora. That's the prettiest name. 183 00:09:51,880 --> 00:09:53,840 Speaker 3: Oh my god. Do you know how I got my name? No, 184 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 3: I was born sleeping and sleeping beauty's name is Princess Aurora. 185 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: No. Well, yes, that I know because I had to 186 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: dress up as her for Halloween like five times for 187 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:04,600 Speaker 1: the boys. 188 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:06,400 Speaker 2: But I love Ara. 189 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: I love that. 190 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's fun, right, beautiful. 191 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:14,680 Speaker 3: That was how I entered the world. I was asleep. Yeah, 192 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:15,720 Speaker 3: and that was in. 193 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: Canada, Like you have to be able to that's got 194 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 1: to be symbolic of just yeah. 195 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 3: I think I was, like, you know, there's a lot 196 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 3: of life to live. I got to get my z's 197 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 3: in while I can. In this nine month sabbatical one 198 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:37,200 Speaker 3: hundred it was my garden Leave. So yeah, I think 199 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 3: that that was the beginning. And I was raised in 200 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,240 Speaker 3: like a suburb outside of Toronto, and then my mom 201 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 3: got remarried, my dad passed away, my mom got remarried, 202 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:51,080 Speaker 3: and we moved to Jamaica. That was really formative experience 203 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 3: for me because it was just so different. 204 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: That was definitely different, yes. 205 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:58,319 Speaker 3: Right, because my mom was like I guess she was 206 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:01,360 Speaker 3: about forty at the time and she was I was seven, 207 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 3: so and I guess she was just like trying to 208 00:11:05,160 --> 00:11:07,600 Speaker 3: have her like reworse moment. I think it's on this 209 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:10,960 Speaker 3: age that she would have been when she moved. And 210 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 3: it was like actually really awful because my stepfather was 211 00:11:14,520 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 3: super abusive and it was just. 212 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: A mess, which there is very normal and not really 213 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: policed at all. 214 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 3: Oh no, not at all. 215 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, Oh you've been there. 216 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 3: You know. 217 00:11:28,080 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: Well I've been there, and I have close people from there, 218 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: and the stories race. You know, there's a common thread there, 219 00:11:34,000 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: let's put it that way. 220 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, it tracks. Yeah, Yeah, it's really sad. 221 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 2: It is. It is. 222 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,559 Speaker 1: It is because Jamaicans are really incredible people, you know, 223 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:46,000 Speaker 1: like just it's you know, just beautiful people. And I 224 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: hate that, like I really, I just hate that. And again, 225 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:53,240 Speaker 1: I think that goes back to how you feel as 226 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: a woman, right right, And I think. 227 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: There's just like you know, it happens again of across 228 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 3: the board, where like cycles of abuse will continue to 229 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:08,560 Speaker 3: perpetuate themselves throughout many generations unless there's some kind of intervention. Yeah, right, 230 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 3: And I think you know, fortunately in America we have 231 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 3: a little bit more of an understanding about mental health services, 232 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 3: even though they're like insanely expensive. In Canada, you can 233 00:12:23,480 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 3: kind of get that help for free. This healthcare situation 234 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,600 Speaker 3: here is just a little bit more difficult. But in 235 00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:30,440 Speaker 3: a place like Jamaica, no one ever said the word 236 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 3: therapy to me. 237 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,839 Speaker 1: No, no, no. I think it's again, I think it's 238 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: without saying accepted, it's accepted as a bit of a norm, 239 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,760 Speaker 1: which is wild and ridiculous. 240 00:12:42,559 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 3: Right, tragedy. 241 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, So you're a young girl in Jamaica living this 242 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:48,960 Speaker 1: life that you're not enjoying. 243 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 3: Not enjoying. I talk a lot about it in my book. 244 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:55,040 Speaker 3: Actually when it was pretty painful. My stepfather was totally awful, 245 00:12:55,160 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 3: But it was interesting like experience for me because I understood, 246 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:01,040 Speaker 3: I just began understanding that there's a lot of different 247 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,960 Speaker 3: ways that people can live a life in this world, 248 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 3: you know, Yeah, and that a big part of privilege 249 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,160 Speaker 3: just comes from another thing that you can't really control, 250 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 3: which is which country you happen to be born in. 251 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 3: I know, you know, family, Yes, absolutely, And so we 252 00:13:18,640 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 3: made our way back to Canada and I went to 253 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: high school there and everything, and then I applied to 254 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:29,720 Speaker 3: school for fashion and I never got. 255 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: In ironic, ironic. 256 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 3: And waiting for them to give me like my honorary 257 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:37,559 Speaker 3: fashion degree that hasn't happened. 258 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,839 Speaker 1: I think you're living yet, I mean, don't you win 259 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:42,400 Speaker 1: like a CFTA and like all the stuff. 260 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 2: I feel like I've won a whole wall of awards. 261 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:49,360 Speaker 1: So yeah, thinking thinking, thinking, you're good over there right 262 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: a minute for a minute, yeah, and so yeah, I don't. 263 00:13:56,720 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 2: Know, but are you like ambitious? Are you shy? 264 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,840 Speaker 1: Are you you like unstoppable? Are you like speaking up 265 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: for yourself? Or you like more timid? And like because 266 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: I find you to be one would think that you're 267 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: timid because you're soft. 268 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 2: But you're not timid. You're strong. You're strong in what 269 00:14:19,240 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 2: you say, but it's how you say it that is soft. 270 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:29,280 Speaker 2: And like kind, you know that's how I perceive you. 271 00:14:29,320 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 3: No, that's fascinating. 272 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: She's like, you're wrong. No, no, no, no, no no. 273 00:14:35,400 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 3: I definitely am a little bit introverted, but surely surprises people. 274 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 3: And in high school, like I had this group of 275 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 3: girlfriends and they used to make fun of me because 276 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 3: I kind of stopped talking sometimes in like large groups 277 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,920 Speaker 3: because I think I just it's a little bit overwhelming 278 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:53,040 Speaker 3: and I won't really want to listen. You've always been 279 00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 3: a big listener, and so yeah, I think I definitely 280 00:14:57,040 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 3: have the reputation in high school for being shy. Okay, 281 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 3: But my mom was always I don't want to say 282 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 3: she was a full blown activist. I guess she was, 283 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,800 Speaker 3: but you know, she would always we would do like 284 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 3: a silent demonstration at city Hall with a group of 285 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 3: her friends about like legalizing cannabis or you know, any 286 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,880 Speaker 3: of these issues. Like there was a whole other thing 287 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 3: that she did about like the right for women to 288 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 3: go topless, and that was like a big thing, Like 289 00:15:22,760 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 3: I remember we were like, you know, protesting for that 290 00:15:26,000 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 3: for a long time and then finally the law passed 291 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 3: that you know, women could go topless, and I was 292 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 3: horrified because I was like, oh my god, now my 293 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 3: mom's going to be like topless at the mall. And 294 00:15:35,160 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 3: I was like, well, mom, like when are you going 295 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 3: to stop wearing a shirt? You know? And she was 296 00:15:39,360 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 3: like me and I was like yeah, and she was like, oh, 297 00:15:41,720 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 3: what do you mean I would never go topless. 298 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 2: She's like, I just want the right to yeah exactly. 299 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 3: It was like why we're putting in this effort and 300 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 3: she's like, because we need the right to, we need 301 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 3: equal rights. It's about equal right, sure, right, and not 302 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: making a woman's body taboo. 303 00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 2: Right and having other pep bulb govern it right totally. 304 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:04,840 Speaker 3: And so that kind of thing was really formative for 305 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 3: me early on because it was like, oh, you have 306 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 3: to be active and proactive for the rights of all people. 307 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:14,760 Speaker 3: It doesn't matter if it's something that's personally going to 308 00:16:14,760 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 3: affect you. You have to make sure that you get 309 00:16:17,480 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 3: out there and support that and really always be an 310 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 3: advocate for equality. 311 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:24,640 Speaker 1: So you leave Canada, you don't get into fashion school, 312 00:16:25,760 --> 00:16:26,560 Speaker 1: and what happens. 313 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 3: So I went to school. I ended up going to 314 00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,600 Speaker 3: school for journalism like English essentially, but I end up 315 00:16:33,280 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 3: meeting this woman named Jeanie Becker. Do you remember who. 316 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: That is, yeah, of course from Canada's she did like television, yeah, 317 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:45,240 Speaker 1: fashion television. I did so many interviews with Janie Becker really, 318 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,400 Speaker 1: oh my god, honestly like if yes, like she probably 319 00:16:50,440 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: interviewed me more than anyone at fashion shows. 320 00:16:52,480 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 3: M hm oh wow, okay, yeah so cool. So so 321 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:58,280 Speaker 3: I used to work at the gym part time when 322 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 3: I was in school, and we had this uniform we 323 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 3: had to wear all black, and I would shop for 324 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:07,320 Speaker 3: vintage stuff. I'd find like Yohiamamoto, like black Looks or whatever, 325 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:08,720 Speaker 3: and she would come and check and it'd be like 326 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 3: literally five am and she would come to the gym 327 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:14,119 Speaker 3: and like I would sign her in or whatever, and 328 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:16,800 Speaker 3: she would always be like looking at me, like agree. 329 00:17:16,880 --> 00:17:18,720 Speaker 3: And then one day she was just like what is this, 330 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,800 Speaker 3: Like what what's going on here? Like why are you here? 331 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:22,119 Speaker 1: Right? 332 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 3: And I was like, well, I'm in school and she 333 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 3: was like, but what do you want to do? And 334 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:27,919 Speaker 3: I was like I don't know. I would love to 335 00:17:27,960 --> 00:17:29,880 Speaker 3: work for you. And she was like, great, come work 336 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:31,800 Speaker 3: for me, stop being here, and I was like. 337 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,719 Speaker 2: Great, So then the I love that. 338 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 3: Yeah. So then the next day I like started interning 339 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 3: there and it was fascinating because I started that as 340 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 3: an intern and I just started transcribing the tape library 341 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 3: so like, I'm sure I did one of your interviews, 342 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 3: you know. It was just crazy because that was how 343 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:57,879 Speaker 3: old was I probably like twenty three, And I remember 344 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 3: it would be like Coco Rosha Bhai Prince, like when 345 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:03,359 Speaker 3: they were best friends, you know what I mean, and 346 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 3: the camera guy would just like spend the whole day 347 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 3: with them and I would just watch the footage and 348 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 3: real time transcribing it all, writing down all the words, 349 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 3: doing all the close captioning so that people could Yeah. 350 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 2: It was that wild. 351 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:17,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, And then I ended up working there for I 352 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 3: think like two years. They were like we need to 353 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,359 Speaker 3: make a website and we need to do social media. 354 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 3: Do you know anything about this? And I was like yeah, 355 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 3: like blogs, you mean, And they're like, yeah, we need 356 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:28,320 Speaker 3: a blog. Can you run our blog and our. 357 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,240 Speaker 2: Like you're young, you know how to do this right? Yeah? 358 00:18:31,320 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 3: Yeah? Yeah yeah yeah. And then we ended up doing 359 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 3: a story about like fashionable people in La on MySpace 360 00:18:39,280 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 3: you know, and uh yeah, and I ended up having 361 00:18:42,880 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 3: to work on that story. 362 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: So this was like what like oh three around literally yeah, yeah, okay. 363 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I ended up working on that story. And 364 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,280 Speaker 3: then there was a guy that we ended up doing 365 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 3: a little profile on. Then uh, we fell in love 366 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:04,479 Speaker 3: and I moved to La Stop. Yeah that's how happened. 367 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:09,720 Speaker 1: Get out not with said person now right? No, okay, 368 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: this guy you were like a child married. 369 00:19:12,240 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 3: I was twenty three. We got married. We were married 370 00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:17,520 Speaker 3: for like a year and a half. And no, you 371 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 3: probably don't want to marry like the MySpace club guy. 372 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:24,879 Speaker 1: You do, but like no, no, no, ye, no no, 373 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: but if it makes you feel any better, I know 374 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: quite a few that married the MySpace club guy or 375 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: version of version of and we call it a blip, right, 376 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: and it was. 377 00:19:35,560 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 2: It was a learning, It was a learning. 378 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 3: But that was how I ended up in America. 379 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:41,640 Speaker 2: I love that. 380 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: But listen, see that good came out of this. Okay, 381 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:49,680 Speaker 1: if you're in America, you're working in fashion television. 382 00:19:50,640 --> 00:19:52,719 Speaker 3: No, I had to leave that job. So I was 383 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,199 Speaker 3: in America. I couldn't work right because I didn't have 384 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:02,280 Speaker 3: a VS. So I forgot to right, I was gonna 385 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 3: I would go to like Saint Vincent de Paul's. Do 386 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 3: you know what that is? 387 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: Like? 388 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 3: It's like a place in downtown La where like clothes 389 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,400 Speaker 3: go to die, Like okay, it's like like just all 390 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 3: the clothes, and and I would go there and just 391 00:20:19,359 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 3: like look through the racks and try to find things. 392 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:23,959 Speaker 3: And one day I found like this whole section of 393 00:20:24,720 --> 00:20:29,959 Speaker 3: Citizens of Humanity, remember those, yeah, of course, And and 394 00:20:30,040 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 3: I was like, oh my gosh, these are samples. I 395 00:20:32,560 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 3: was like, these are samples that they've dumped here. And 396 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 3: the thing with all of those denim brands when they sample, 397 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 3: they don't put a top button on the genes sometimes, 398 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 3: but it's a production sample, so that makes it a 399 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 3: sample is unwearable. So I took all of those jeans 400 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 3: and like went back and like sewed buttons on them, 401 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 3: and then I would take them to like fancy consignment 402 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 3: stores on Melo Rose, like Wasteland. 403 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, like Wasteland, and. 404 00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,120 Speaker 3: And sell all of them there. Yeah. 405 00:20:59,119 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: What was the other one left on the brea American rag? 406 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:04,679 Speaker 3: Yes? American rag Yes? That was it. That was what 407 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 3: I did. My rent was seven hundred and twenty five 408 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 3: dollars a month, So I knew if I got like, 409 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 3: you know, twenty pairs of jeans, like I would be 410 00:21:13,640 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 3: good because they weren't buying for a lot. 411 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: Right, that's amazing. 412 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 1: That's that's incredible, honestly, because it's like you're like, I'm 413 00:21:23,960 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: not allowed to work, so I'm gonna go down get 414 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:33,000 Speaker 1: these very expensive jeans that are unusable. Yeah, I'm gonna 415 00:21:33,119 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: just use my brain and put a button on the 416 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:38,800 Speaker 1: jeans so they are usable totally, and then I'm going 417 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:39,360 Speaker 1: to sell them. 418 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:41,879 Speaker 3: Yeah they were, they were, you know actually some of 419 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 3: them I would sell for like one hundred dollars. I 420 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 3: found my very first ever do you or bar jacket 421 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:48,879 Speaker 3: at the Jewish Women's Council as well. I mean, I 422 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:53,960 Speaker 3: every single vintage place in you know, the Los Angeles area, 423 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:54,800 Speaker 3: like I've been. 424 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, some of my favorite treasures are from like 425 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: Army Navy supply store. I mean, yes, I have found 426 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: vintage Chanel long ago. 427 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:03,359 Speaker 2: At these places. 428 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 3: Really, yes, got about. 429 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,880 Speaker 2: To find where the women dump them totally. 430 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 3: Well literally yes, And that was that was my hustle. 431 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,000 Speaker 3: I was like, I'm gonna figure out how to do this. 432 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:15,919 Speaker 3: I'm just gonna like do what I love to do 433 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,880 Speaker 3: it just like look at clothes, study clothes. My mom 434 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:22,200 Speaker 3: was always really big on you know, understanding fashion is 435 00:22:22,240 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 3: like an art form and also so like an anthropological exercise, 436 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:28,760 Speaker 3: like where's this where? Where's this shoe from? Where in 437 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,640 Speaker 3: the world? What is it made out of? What does 438 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 3: that mean about the people in the community that made 439 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,280 Speaker 3: the shoe? All that jazz? So finding like the good 440 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,880 Speaker 3: fabric in a sea of polyester was like not hard 441 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:39,159 Speaker 3: for me. 442 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: So you're living in LA You're selling clothes, and at 443 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: this point are you like, Okay, what am I doing 444 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: with my life? Like what happens? How do I live here? 445 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: Do I have to go back to Canada? Like what happens? 446 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: Because that's got I mean, that has to be scary. 447 00:22:55,880 --> 00:22:57,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was scary. And my friends were all like 448 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:00,919 Speaker 3: what are you doing? Yeah? Sure, you know, but I 449 00:23:01,000 --> 00:23:03,240 Speaker 3: was in love and I really wanted to figure it out, 450 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,880 Speaker 3: and you know, I really only had him. And when 451 00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 3: I finally was allowed to work, I ended up working 452 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,320 Speaker 3: in a nonprofit arts organization called jen Art. 453 00:23:12,400 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course, you know, just. 454 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:17,840 Speaker 3: Started learning about how do we use like corporate dollars 455 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 3: to make art happen? You know, like how do we 456 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 3: raise money for Rodarte to have a fashion show. I'm 457 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,640 Speaker 3: like Moroccan oy ol hair shampire, you know what I mean? 458 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:30,159 Speaker 3: Like whatever, And so I started working. 459 00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,960 Speaker 1: I feel like I'm literally living in your past. Yes, 460 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: I know so well everything you're speaking of. 461 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 3: Yes, yes, yeah. I remember one time we did a show. 462 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,040 Speaker 3: It was like a fashion show in LA and it 463 00:23:41,119 --> 00:23:43,320 Speaker 3: was like sponsored by Botox, and I was like, is 464 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 3: this like pushing it? But I was like, listen, I'll 465 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 3: take the money. 466 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,040 Speaker 1: Where I can take the money. Take the money, take 467 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 1: the money, take them a note. 468 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 3: Nope. 469 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 1: I think I think like ten and fifteen years ago, 470 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,560 Speaker 1: we'd be like, no way, we are not having metofiliation. 471 00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,160 Speaker 1: And I'm pretty sure if like a dog food brand 472 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,399 Speaker 1: wanted to sponsor a fashion show, they'd figure it out. 473 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,440 Speaker 3: Oh totally, yeah, they would dress they would dress the 474 00:24:03,480 --> 00:24:08,480 Speaker 3: dog totally totally. So yeah. I mean that was really 475 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:11,879 Speaker 3: how how I Then I was at gen Ard and 476 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:16,520 Speaker 3: then you know, I ended up like surprise, my you know, 477 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:20,159 Speaker 3: club guy. Marriage didn't work out, and I went to 478 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 3: New York, which was which was great, and I was 479 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 3: working at jen Nard in New York, and I kind 480 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: of went down to just being freelance and I started 481 00:24:27,560 --> 00:24:31,959 Speaker 3: working in show production as well and casting and just 482 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 3: like doing all the like. 483 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,679 Speaker 1: New York state, all the things which really expensive to 484 00:24:37,720 --> 00:24:38,360 Speaker 1: live in New York. 485 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, I lived in a one bedroom apartment in 486 00:24:41,720 --> 00:24:43,359 Speaker 3: the Lower East Side with two other people. 487 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 2: Right, well, that's yeah, how you live in New York. 488 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:51,199 Speaker 3: How you live in New York. Actually, hop Tips was 489 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:53,440 Speaker 3: a sponsor of something that we did once and there 490 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:59,080 Speaker 3: was like fifteen extra gigantic boxes of bags of pot 491 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 3: tips and I took them back to the apartment. 492 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:04,720 Speaker 2: Lunch lunch. 493 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 3: But you have to do what you have to do 494 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 3: the thing. You have to do what you have to do. 495 00:25:10,640 --> 00:25:14,480 Speaker 3: And it's such a shame that like a lot of 496 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 3: that gets lost in people's stories once they become more successful, 497 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 3: because I just like want young people to know that, like, 498 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:26,080 Speaker 3: whatever freak you have to do to get it done, 499 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:28,000 Speaker 3: and you know, get it done. I had so many 500 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,440 Speaker 3: friends that were like working at nightclubs, bartending, doing whatever, 501 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,679 Speaker 3: just in order to facilitate their internship during the day. 502 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:38,480 Speaker 1: Of course, you have to do that, and it is 503 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:42,159 Speaker 1: to your point those things do get lost in the conversation, 504 00:25:42,280 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: which is exactly why I do climb me in heels 505 00:25:44,600 --> 00:25:48,160 Speaker 1: because I want people to know how freaking hard it 506 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,840 Speaker 1: is and that it's brick by brick and it's a 507 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: lot of sweat and it's a lot of tears, and 508 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: it's a lot of like I give up, but it's 509 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:57,680 Speaker 1: a lot of like, Nope, I'm going to keep going. 510 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,840 Speaker 1: And it's a lot of how can I keep going? 511 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: And who do I know that can like give me 512 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: a part time job to do X? And you know, 513 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,320 Speaker 1: I have friends that worked four different jobs just to like, 514 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,800 Speaker 1: you know, you just you gotta do it. But then 515 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:14,119 Speaker 1: you get to be in a position, hopefully at some 516 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:18,320 Speaker 1: point where you're like, yeah, I met this person because 517 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,600 Speaker 1: I was doing this because of this part time shit 518 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 1: job I had doing X, and now they're running this 519 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,679 Speaker 1: place and da da da. You know, so like each 520 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 1: thing really, but it's hard in the moment, right, It's 521 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:32,879 Speaker 1: hard in the moment because you're just like where is 522 00:26:32,880 --> 00:26:34,080 Speaker 1: this leading and what happens? 523 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 3: Right? 524 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,440 Speaker 1: So then you go to New York and then at 525 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,080 Speaker 1: what point are you like, I'm starting my own brand 526 00:26:40,160 --> 00:26:41,920 Speaker 1: because that's really scary moment. 527 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,040 Speaker 2: You never had a moment moment, So what happened was 528 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:47,280 Speaker 2: you're like just kidding, I didn't have that moment. 529 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:50,679 Speaker 3: I okay. So my father was born and raised in 530 00:26:50,720 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 3: Ghana and he died when I was little, and I 531 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,640 Speaker 3: just never I didn't really know anything about Africa beyond 532 00:26:56,760 --> 00:26:59,840 Speaker 3: like what you see on TV, which is like a 533 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:02,560 Speaker 3: time was like World Vision commercials that are like you 534 00:27:02,600 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 3: can feed a kid for penny of days, and I 535 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:04,600 Speaker 3: was like. 536 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,399 Speaker 2: I did that. I did that. I kept that. 537 00:27:07,840 --> 00:27:10,240 Speaker 1: I kept adopting kids, and my parents would get the 538 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:11,360 Speaker 1: phone calls and I was like. 539 00:27:11,320 --> 00:27:13,280 Speaker 2: I got there at the kid with the tear, mom 540 00:27:13,359 --> 00:27:13,840 Speaker 2: taking this. 541 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 3: Kid totally right, yes, every day. And so then I 542 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:24,160 Speaker 3: ended up like saving up. It was actually a weird situation. 543 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,280 Speaker 3: Friends of mine were going there to do a fashion show. 544 00:27:27,359 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 3: It was like a sponsor at fashion show in Nigeria, 545 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:31,920 Speaker 3: and so I ended up They were like will you 546 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 3: come with us to help like the produce to show, 547 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:35,160 Speaker 3: and I was like yes. So that was the first 548 00:27:35,200 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 3: time I ever went to Africa, and I ended up 549 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 3: basically over the course of like a year kind of 550 00:27:41,440 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 3: backpacking around different places in Africa. And my mom, as 551 00:27:47,080 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 3: I mentioned, was like very into like traditional like Danish CLOBs. 552 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 3: She had like Japanese kimono that she would like keep 553 00:27:55,240 --> 00:27:59,080 Speaker 3: and preserve and like is really were but really appreciate, 554 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 3: you know her. So when I was going to Africa, 555 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,600 Speaker 3: I was like immediately looking for like anything artisanal right 556 00:28:05,760 --> 00:28:10,160 Speaker 3: and traditional, and I was really shocked because a lot 557 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 3: of what was there was like like knock off true 558 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,760 Speaker 3: religion genes and like hood by Air, like basically the 559 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:22,560 Speaker 3: vibe was Christiano Ronaldo. No, like yeah, they were like 560 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:28,879 Speaker 3: really emulating like Christian. I was shocked because I wasn't 561 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:33,679 Speaker 3: expecting but actually, yeah, I wasn't expecting like European or 562 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:38,640 Speaker 3: Western like fashion standards to like creep onto the continent 563 00:28:38,720 --> 00:28:41,720 Speaker 3: of Africa, which I guess in retrospect to silly, but 564 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:44,440 Speaker 3: that's definitely what was happening, and so it was hard 565 00:28:44,480 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 3: to find anything traditional. But anyways, I ended up going 566 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:53,560 Speaker 3: to South Africa, Namibia and seeing this shoe which was 567 00:28:53,640 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 3: called a velly and actually the full word is fell 568 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:03,200 Speaker 3: skewn like l D sko e n, which they call 569 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,760 Speaker 3: felsky or a belly for short, and it was kind 570 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:08,760 Speaker 3: of one of the very first shoes that ever evolved 571 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:10,840 Speaker 3: on the continent. It started out with just being like 572 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:13,600 Speaker 3: leather that they wrapped around their foot from an animal 573 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:16,240 Speaker 3: they ate, and then it became like a top bottom 574 00:29:16,240 --> 00:29:19,560 Speaker 3: and a side piece of leather tacked together, and then 575 00:29:19,640 --> 00:29:22,280 Speaker 3: at one point when they started working with the rubber tree. 576 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,160 Speaker 3: They put a rubber sole on it, and when British 577 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:28,360 Speaker 3: people were in Southern Africa, they saw the belly and 578 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 3: they fell in love with it and they brought it 579 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,880 Speaker 3: back up to the UK and they kept it exactly 580 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,840 Speaker 3: as it was, but they renamed it a desert boot 581 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 3: and they launched the company Clarks. 582 00:29:40,080 --> 00:29:40,640 Speaker 2: Wow. 583 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 3: Yes, that's story right, So that shoe is actually a 584 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:49,640 Speaker 3: traditional African shoe. 585 00:29:49,880 --> 00:29:52,920 Speaker 1: That's wild. I thought you're going to say wallabies, remember those? 586 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:55,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I remember wallabies. 587 00:29:55,160 --> 00:29:56,280 Speaker 1: I thought you were going to I thought it was 588 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 1: going to be a wallaby. But I guess that's awsie 589 00:29:58,200 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: just kidding. Yeah, well yeah, maybe maybe blonde moment I 590 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:03,840 Speaker 1: want to know. 591 00:30:04,560 --> 00:30:07,880 Speaker 3: And so, you know, my mom used to talk to 592 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 3: me about ug boots because those are like a traditional 593 00:30:10,040 --> 00:30:11,360 Speaker 3: Australian surfing shoe. 594 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:12,880 Speaker 2: Yep, sure do you know that? 595 00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:19,120 Speaker 3: Crazy? So, so that's the origin story of that shoe. 596 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 3: And I when I would find I found a few 597 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 3: workshops that were like multi generationally owned and they had 598 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:28,440 Speaker 3: a supply chain that was fascinating. There would be you know, 599 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:32,719 Speaker 3: a farmer who worked with the animals and sold all 600 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 3: the meat at the local farmer's market and then had 601 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:37,600 Speaker 3: the hides leftover and that's what they would use to 602 00:30:37,640 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 3: make the shoes. And then there were women that would 603 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 3: dye the leather using plants or tree bark. 604 00:30:43,560 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: Or utilizing every possible resource. Nothing is wasted ever, totally 605 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: As a CEO fashion authority and Mom, I know, it's 606 00:30:52,600 --> 00:30:56,200 Speaker 1: the details that truly matter, and when it comes to luxury, 607 00:30:56,280 --> 00:30:59,840 Speaker 1: every stitch must be perfectly tailored. That's why driving this 608 00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:04,680 Speaker 1: Genesis GV eighty is such a luxurious experience. The SUV's 609 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:09,800 Speaker 1: exterior design, including two line led headlamps, exudes athletic elegance. 610 00:31:10,200 --> 00:31:13,239 Speaker 1: When you sit inside the expansive GV eighty cabin, you 611 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,720 Speaker 1: can customize the ambient interior lighting to match your current mood, 612 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:20,120 Speaker 1: a feature that makes driving in LA a more relaxed 613 00:31:20,160 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: and serene experience. So go ahead, take a close look 614 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: at the Genesis GV eighty and you'll see lux is 615 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:27,960 Speaker 1: in the details. 616 00:31:28,440 --> 00:31:30,560 Speaker 3: You know, it was crazy because these workshops were just 617 00:31:30,600 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 3: like closing down like rapidly. There's only a few left. 618 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 3: And I just loved what they were doing. I started 619 00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 3: wearing the shoes a bunch, and I was like, listen, 620 00:31:39,920 --> 00:31:41,760 Speaker 3: there was a workshop that I loved so much, and 621 00:31:41,800 --> 00:31:43,440 Speaker 3: it was at risk of going out of business, and 622 00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:46,880 Speaker 3: I was like, had thirty five hundred dollars in savings, 623 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 3: and I was like, Okay, let's work together. I want 624 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 3: to make a batch of these shoes. I want to 625 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:55,760 Speaker 3: change them a little bit, and you know, maybe we 626 00:31:55,760 --> 00:31:58,320 Speaker 3: can make a bunch and I'll just take them back 627 00:31:58,320 --> 00:32:01,000 Speaker 3: with me to New York. And they were like, okay, sure, whatever. 628 00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 2: You want to do, lady, you know and crazy lady. 629 00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:04,920 Speaker 2: Oh guy, yeah. 630 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,840 Speaker 3: And I was like, can you like help me learn 631 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 3: how to make them. So they taught me like how 632 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 3: to make a shoe kind of from beginning to end, 633 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,040 Speaker 3: and but all the different types of leather. I met 634 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:14,680 Speaker 3: with the farmers, I met with the women. There was 635 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 3: a specific tribe of women called the Himba that were 636 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 3: dying this amazing red color because they cover their whole 637 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:23,200 Speaker 3: bodies every day in red clay and their hair in 638 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 3: red clay. And so they taught me how to die 639 00:32:26,520 --> 00:32:29,320 Speaker 3: using red clay. I brought this. I put all the 640 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 3: shoes in my luggage and I brought them back to 641 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:36,120 Speaker 3: New York and I set up a booth. For seventy dollars, 642 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 3: you could get a rend a booth basically at something 643 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:40,760 Speaker 3: called the Hester Street Fair, which is like a flea 644 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,600 Speaker 3: market in the lower east side of Manhattan. 645 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:45,000 Speaker 1: They were going to say twenty sixth Street. I was like, 646 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: I lived at the twenty sixth Street flea Market, Like. 647 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 3: Right, yeah, totally right. When you're that's the vibe. It's 648 00:32:51,280 --> 00:32:51,760 Speaker 3: a flea market. 649 00:32:51,840 --> 00:32:55,160 Speaker 2: That's why I shopped. That's shopping, absolutely absolutely. 650 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 3: So I like set up a little table and I 651 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:00,880 Speaker 3: brought the shoes and I put them out there and 652 00:33:00,920 --> 00:33:04,720 Speaker 3: I just wanted to I didn't call it anything. I 653 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:07,080 Speaker 3: was just I wanted to sell these shoes because I 654 00:33:07,080 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 3: thought that they were awesome. And then I, you know, 655 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:11,520 Speaker 3: started selling them and I used the money that I 656 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:14,280 Speaker 3: got to you know, send it back there and get 657 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:17,480 Speaker 3: more shoes and stop. That's how it was born. 658 00:33:17,760 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 2: That's it, you like, I mean, that is wild. 659 00:33:22,040 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 3: Yeah. The first time I was there was the first 660 00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 3: or second week I was there, there was a woman 661 00:33:27,200 --> 00:33:29,560 Speaker 3: that came and she bought a pair for her husband, 662 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:32,760 Speaker 3: and then I guess she'd come back, like maybe four 663 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,160 Speaker 3: weeks later, and I wasn't there because I'd ran out 664 00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:38,200 Speaker 3: of shoes, and then I came back and she came 665 00:33:38,280 --> 00:33:39,960 Speaker 3: back and she was like, where have you been? And 666 00:33:40,000 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 3: I was like, oh, like, I ran out of shoes, 667 00:33:42,600 --> 00:33:44,520 Speaker 3: so I wasn't here, you know. And she was like, well, 668 00:33:44,800 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 3: I need to buy more. My husband really loves them. 669 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 3: And I was like great. And she was asking me 670 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 3: all these questions about, you know, how I sourced it 671 00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 3: and the story of the valleys, and I was telling 672 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:55,520 Speaker 3: her everything, and she was like, you know, you really 673 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:57,520 Speaker 3: need a website. And I was like, oh, well, it's 674 00:33:57,520 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 3: really just a stall right now, Like this a big 675 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,040 Speaker 3: list for me at eight am. 676 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, And she. 677 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,520 Speaker 3: Was like, well, I need you to make one. I 678 00:34:06,520 --> 00:34:08,440 Speaker 3: need you to make a website. And I was like okay, 679 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,479 Speaker 3: I mean she's my number one customer at this point, Rachel. 680 00:34:10,520 --> 00:34:12,040 Speaker 3: She got like four pairs of shoes, so I'm like, 681 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:13,799 Speaker 3: anything this woman wants she gets. 682 00:34:13,600 --> 00:34:16,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, vurs And how much were the shoes? How much 683 00:34:16,200 --> 00:34:16,880 Speaker 1: were you selling them for? 684 00:34:16,920 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 3: I think they about one hundred and thirty five dollars. 685 00:34:19,160 --> 00:34:21,320 Speaker 2: Which had a flea market. By the way, is a lot. 686 00:34:21,640 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 3: Is a lot? Is a lot is a lot? And 687 00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:27,240 Speaker 3: so she was like, I need you to make a website. 688 00:34:27,280 --> 00:34:29,880 Speaker 3: Can you do it by like Wednesday afternoon? And I 689 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:33,160 Speaker 3: was like, oh god, you know, it's Saturday morning. I'm like, yeah, 690 00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:35,160 Speaker 3: I can try, and she's like, promise me that you'll 691 00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:39,560 Speaker 3: do it, and like I need to know like early 692 00:34:39,640 --> 00:34:41,960 Speaker 3: on Wednesday. And I was like, okay, fine, you know, 693 00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:44,880 Speaker 3: and i'll email you by like Tuesday night. And she 694 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:47,120 Speaker 3: was like okay, great, so excuse me like her Gmail 695 00:34:47,480 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 3: or whatever. So I call my friend as soon as 696 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:54,400 Speaker 3: I leave, who's like, you know, another like twenty year 697 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 3: old playing like dungeons and dragons like in his parents' basement. 698 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 3: And I was like, will you make me a website, 699 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:04,440 Speaker 3: you know, for this thing I'm doing. And he was like, 700 00:35:04,480 --> 00:35:08,440 Speaker 3: oh man, like a bit, I guess, so right, like 701 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:12,200 Speaker 3: I ordered him a pizza, like he did it, you know, 702 00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:14,640 Speaker 3: kind of begrudgingly. And so then I send the woman 703 00:35:14,800 --> 00:35:17,200 Speaker 3: like the link to the website on Tuesday night or whatever. 704 00:35:17,239 --> 00:35:19,560 Speaker 3: She doesn't respond. I'm like, oh god, this woman like 705 00:35:20,080 --> 00:35:22,520 Speaker 3: so much effort or whatever. And then on Thursday she 706 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:24,759 Speaker 3: ends up writing me and she's like, thank you so 707 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:28,920 Speaker 3: much for making the website. You should go get a 708 00:35:28,920 --> 00:35:32,279 Speaker 3: copy of the New York Times. And I went and 709 00:35:32,280 --> 00:35:33,839 Speaker 3: I got a copy of the New York Times and 710 00:35:33,880 --> 00:35:36,840 Speaker 3: she had written this big story in the style section 711 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 3: section about me and the shoes. 712 00:35:42,600 --> 00:35:44,040 Speaker 2: Did you like die? 713 00:35:44,560 --> 00:35:46,960 Speaker 3: I died? I died. I died. And then I went 714 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 3: onto like our little website and all of the shoes 715 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:51,320 Speaker 3: that I had like put up there had sold. 716 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:57,759 Speaker 1: Oh that's actually the American dream. It is no, like, 717 00:35:57,840 --> 00:36:01,240 Speaker 1: that's the American dream. That's like what people talk about. 718 00:36:01,360 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: That's like, that is that is the thing we don't 719 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:10,080 Speaker 1: hear enough about, to be honest. That is such a 720 00:36:10,120 --> 00:36:14,759 Speaker 1: story and like the most beautiful story. So then at 721 00:36:14,760 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: that point, that is that when you were like, Okay, 722 00:36:17,239 --> 00:36:19,200 Speaker 1: I'm going to do this and I'm going to try 723 00:36:19,200 --> 00:36:22,719 Speaker 1: for a CFDA, a Vogue Fashion Fund or did you. 724 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 3: Kind of So I was like, okay, how do I 725 00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 3: get in front of people? Like how do I get 726 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:33,680 Speaker 3: people to see this? Like I don't know anyone? Right, 727 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:36,520 Speaker 3: And so I would get the magazines and I would 728 00:36:36,520 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 3: read the masth head so I had everyone's names at least. 729 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:42,839 Speaker 2: Who's the accessories director? Exactly right? 730 00:36:42,920 --> 00:36:45,360 Speaker 3: Exactly right. And so when I would go to Africa, 731 00:36:45,480 --> 00:36:50,400 Speaker 3: I would get postcards and I would send them postcards 732 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:52,120 Speaker 3: and I'd say, Hi, I'm in Africa right now. I'm 733 00:36:52,160 --> 00:36:54,960 Speaker 3: working on making some shoes if you're open to it, 734 00:36:55,040 --> 00:36:57,479 Speaker 3: Like I would love to show you what I'm making 735 00:36:57,600 --> 00:36:59,640 Speaker 3: when I when I get back and by the time 736 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:03,919 Speaker 3: you were this postcard, I'll be back, you know, and 737 00:37:04,360 --> 00:37:07,960 Speaker 3: like this is my email. And so a few people 738 00:37:07,960 --> 00:37:10,480 Speaker 3: would email me, which was really amazing, Like women's were 739 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:14,880 Speaker 3: daily email me, and Elle emailed me, and and and 740 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:18,200 Speaker 3: someone at Vogue emailed me, and and kind. 741 00:37:18,040 --> 00:37:23,000 Speaker 2: Of probably like yeah, yeah, yeah. 742 00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,799 Speaker 3: It was really awesome that people were like open to, 743 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:28,480 Speaker 3: you know, having me come by. And I was like 744 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:32,520 Speaker 3: this very you know, crunchy, hippy tippy as I still 745 00:37:32,560 --> 00:37:35,080 Speaker 3: kind of m and I think people were just like, 746 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 3: what is happening with this person? 747 00:37:36,640 --> 00:37:39,800 Speaker 1: And so then but they all but the thing about 748 00:37:39,880 --> 00:37:45,560 Speaker 1: fashion is like when they smell something new and telling, 749 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,520 Speaker 1: it's like you know right, and they all like me 750 00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:51,080 Speaker 1: first me first, I get the first part, the first look. 751 00:37:51,120 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: I get that, you know, frenzy totally. 752 00:37:55,600 --> 00:37:58,479 Speaker 3: And so then I was like, I actually didn't tell 753 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:02,080 Speaker 3: anyone that I was applying to the Fashion Fund except 754 00:38:02,080 --> 00:38:04,640 Speaker 3: for like my same friend who helped me with the 755 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:08,000 Speaker 3: website because I needed to help like like put my 756 00:38:08,080 --> 00:38:10,640 Speaker 3: materials together. And I was like, you know, what I'm 757 00:38:10,680 --> 00:38:14,440 Speaker 3: never going to get in, but I know that someone 758 00:38:14,719 --> 00:38:17,879 Speaker 3: is going to have to review my materials and if 759 00:38:17,880 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 3: it's one of these judges, yeah, then it will be 760 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:25,920 Speaker 3: worth it. Sure, you know, I'm like, whoever Genna Lions 761 00:38:25,960 --> 00:38:27,120 Speaker 3: at J Crew, like. 762 00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:29,960 Speaker 2: Whoever any of these people are y? 763 00:38:30,600 --> 00:38:35,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, So that was why I applied. And it was 764 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:39,640 Speaker 3: really crazy that I made it to the next phase 765 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:43,399 Speaker 3: because I really wasn't expecting that in a hundred million years. 766 00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:43,640 Speaker 4: I ended up. 767 00:38:43,640 --> 00:38:45,640 Speaker 3: I won two years after I launched the brand. 768 00:38:45,680 --> 00:38:48,160 Speaker 2: That's so wild. That is so wild. 769 00:38:49,160 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: I mean, that is such a story and I'm so 770 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,240 Speaker 1: happy I know it and fully understand it now because 771 00:38:56,200 --> 00:38:59,200 Speaker 1: I don't think enough people know that story. You know, 772 00:38:59,560 --> 00:39:01,879 Speaker 1: I really don't, and you should actually share it more. 773 00:39:01,960 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 1: But I think because it's so inspirational and it's so 774 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,239 Speaker 1: hard and it's so hard to do, and like you know, 775 00:39:08,440 --> 00:39:11,520 Speaker 1: just now and I'm you know, involved in fashion trust 776 00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:14,560 Speaker 1: and all these things, and it's just watching the talent 777 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:18,279 Speaker 1: that exists in the world and in this country and 778 00:39:18,320 --> 00:39:23,840 Speaker 1: in every country. But like the amount of talent, undiscovered, unnurtured, 779 00:39:24,040 --> 00:39:29,160 Speaker 1: unmantored talent you know that's out there is so incredible. 780 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:32,080 Speaker 1: And it's like it is so hard. And when I 781 00:39:32,160 --> 00:39:35,840 Speaker 1: meet so many young designers and they're like, you know, 782 00:39:35,880 --> 00:39:38,120 Speaker 1: I'd love to give these to you and like whatever, 783 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:40,200 Speaker 1: and it's like I don't want to take it because 784 00:39:40,200 --> 00:39:41,319 Speaker 1: in how much that cost? 785 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:41,920 Speaker 2: You know, I know. 786 00:39:42,760 --> 00:39:45,640 Speaker 1: But at the same time, they're like, even if you 787 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:47,400 Speaker 1: just wear it, you don't have to post it, And 788 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,440 Speaker 1: it's like no, no, no. If I'm taking this, I'm 789 00:39:50,440 --> 00:39:52,719 Speaker 1: posting the fuck out of this because there's going to 790 00:39:52,760 --> 00:39:57,080 Speaker 1: be a real purpose to like taking this. And you know, 791 00:39:57,360 --> 00:40:02,480 Speaker 1: I think that I think that these stories are so 792 00:40:02,680 --> 00:40:06,760 Speaker 1: important because we have to continue to nurture talent totally 793 00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:11,480 Speaker 1: and mentor and fund more importantly, because you can make 794 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:15,239 Speaker 1: incredible things, but if you can't afford to make them, 795 00:40:15,680 --> 00:40:19,879 Speaker 1: they don't get made and people need to buy them. 796 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:20,840 Speaker 2: So yes. 797 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:24,120 Speaker 4: So I was just explaining this like someone who doesn't 798 00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:26,960 Speaker 4: know about the other day and I was like, they 799 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:30,000 Speaker 4: were asking me about the CFTA Vogue Fashion Fund and 800 00:40:30,320 --> 00:40:32,960 Speaker 4: and I just went to the cft Awards on Monday 801 00:40:32,960 --> 00:40:35,200 Speaker 4: and I wore the woman who is a runner. 802 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,040 Speaker 2: Up this Yeah, you look so beautiful. 803 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:42,440 Speaker 3: I love that gorgeous theotima. It's all gorgeous in Jamaica 804 00:40:43,600 --> 00:40:44,720 Speaker 3: from where I went to school. 805 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:46,520 Speaker 2: Beautiful. I saw that. 806 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,600 Speaker 1: I was like, it was gorgeous. I loved both justices. 807 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:50,560 Speaker 1: You look stunning. 808 00:40:51,160 --> 00:40:53,800 Speaker 3: Thank you, thank you so much. Yeah, we talk about 809 00:40:53,800 --> 00:40:57,160 Speaker 3: creativity and young designers and even like made in America 810 00:40:57,400 --> 00:40:59,799 Speaker 3: or you know, sustainably made stuff, and it's like all 811 00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:03,719 Speaker 3: of that is happening, it's just not really being supported 812 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:07,560 Speaker 3: in the way that we want, right, and so that 813 00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:10,640 Speaker 3: really means that as consumers, we have to shop with 814 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:13,160 Speaker 3: our values in mind too, right. It's like, if you 815 00:41:13,200 --> 00:41:16,200 Speaker 3: want to see more women's designers, you have to shop. 816 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:19,399 Speaker 1: More women's and support small businesses if you don't want 817 00:41:19,400 --> 00:41:23,719 Speaker 1: Amazon to take over. So now your collection is incredibly successful. 818 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:26,239 Speaker 1: You're sold like all over the place, not all over 819 00:41:26,239 --> 00:41:28,399 Speaker 1: the place, but in a lot of places, and you're 820 00:41:28,480 --> 00:41:31,480 Speaker 1: on site. Tell everybody where to find you please. 821 00:41:31,440 --> 00:41:34,800 Speaker 3: Oh Brothervellies dot Com also nord Strums or Sacks. 822 00:41:36,239 --> 00:41:39,200 Speaker 1: Okay, and now you've but now you're also doing aren't 823 00:41:39,200 --> 00:41:40,319 Speaker 1: you doing clothing as well? 824 00:41:41,480 --> 00:41:44,600 Speaker 3: No? Not really, I'll do like clothing labs every once 825 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:47,320 Speaker 3: in a while, you know what I mean. But really 826 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:49,680 Speaker 3: still focusing on shoes and backs because that's what feels 827 00:41:49,680 --> 00:41:50,880 Speaker 3: like most connected to me. 828 00:41:51,239 --> 00:41:54,080 Speaker 2: You know, it's better? Can I just add that better? 829 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,400 Speaker 3: So there's like there's a lot of amazing people already 830 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:00,839 Speaker 3: in the clothing space. So I'm like there is Oh gosh, 831 00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:01,360 Speaker 3: your dogs. 832 00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:07,040 Speaker 2: Oh do you see her? Where are you can see? 833 00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:10,160 Speaker 2: It's such a mama's girl. 834 00:42:10,280 --> 00:42:13,279 Speaker 1: She literally like won't let me podcast without being in 835 00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:13,960 Speaker 1: the vicinity. 836 00:42:14,080 --> 00:42:16,440 Speaker 2: She won't. But wait a minute, Okay, So then so 837 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:16,839 Speaker 2: then you. 838 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:24,560 Speaker 1: Write your story, your life story, which very cathartic, very profound, 839 00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:31,520 Speaker 1: very strong, honest, beautiful, thank you all the things I 840 00:42:31,560 --> 00:42:35,600 Speaker 1: scream to anyone who will listen to buy it, gift it, 841 00:42:35,840 --> 00:42:37,000 Speaker 1: great holiday gift. 842 00:42:37,880 --> 00:42:38,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, great holiday gift. 843 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:43,600 Speaker 1: Great holiday gift, great holiday gift. Sell your book, yeah. 844 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 3: I mean I really wrote it because I wanted to 845 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:51,600 Speaker 3: give an opportunity for other women who might think that 846 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:54,960 Speaker 3: they're not quite the right person to take that big 847 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:56,880 Speaker 3: leap of faith on themselves. 848 00:42:56,719 --> 00:42:59,560 Speaker 2: Right, which that business at most. 849 00:42:59,440 --> 00:43:02,080 Speaker 3: Right one hundred percent, Like we get in our way 850 00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:05,719 Speaker 3: more than anyone else. There's a whole statistic about you know, 851 00:43:06,000 --> 00:43:09,440 Speaker 3: like if you put job posting in front of a 852 00:43:09,440 --> 00:43:12,960 Speaker 3: man and a woman, like men can not meet like 853 00:43:13,120 --> 00:43:15,680 Speaker 3: eight of the qualifications, and they'll still apply. If women 854 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:18,040 Speaker 3: don't meet one of the qualifications, they won't even think 855 00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:18,760 Speaker 3: about applying. 856 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:22,200 Speaker 2: That is so true? Yes, what is that? 857 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:24,880 Speaker 1: That is so true? Yeah, I'd be like, oh no, 858 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:25,759 Speaker 1: this isn't for me. 859 00:43:25,840 --> 00:43:28,480 Speaker 2: I can't do that. Nope, right, no, completely. 860 00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:31,439 Speaker 3: It's like we get in our own way of success, right, 861 00:43:32,040 --> 00:43:34,399 Speaker 3: And I think that like my story in a lot 862 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:36,640 Speaker 3: of ways is not really getting in my own way 863 00:43:36,640 --> 00:43:37,880 Speaker 3: of sex. I mean, don't get me wrong, I do 864 00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 3: in certain moments, But I think there's something about me 865 00:43:41,480 --> 00:43:45,200 Speaker 3: that's like, well, I should just try, right, I should 866 00:43:45,239 --> 00:43:47,839 Speaker 3: just try. And I think maybe because of my time 867 00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,080 Speaker 3: in Jamaica, maybe because of the way that I was raised, 868 00:43:50,120 --> 00:43:53,080 Speaker 3: I've always been like really tapped into my own privilege 869 00:43:53,120 --> 00:43:56,200 Speaker 3: that I have, right, And even when I started becoming 870 00:43:56,200 --> 00:43:58,160 Speaker 3: a little bit more successful. And don't get me wrong, 871 00:43:58,200 --> 00:44:01,120 Speaker 3: brother bellies is not you know Michael Core's, but. 872 00:44:01,360 --> 00:44:04,920 Speaker 2: What is my friend? What is? Right? 873 00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:08,319 Speaker 3: So? But you know, like I think we make really 874 00:44:08,320 --> 00:44:10,960 Speaker 3: beautiful shoes, they sell really well. You know, it's imported 875 00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:13,440 Speaker 3: me in pretty great life and a pretty great platform. 876 00:44:13,880 --> 00:44:15,640 Speaker 3: And so I think for me, it's like I think 877 00:44:15,680 --> 00:44:18,920 Speaker 3: we should use those things to our advantage, right, And 878 00:44:20,080 --> 00:44:22,920 Speaker 3: I really love making beautiful things in a really beautiful way, 879 00:44:23,040 --> 00:44:27,080 Speaker 3: you know. I love playing with different fabrics and materials 880 00:44:27,160 --> 00:44:30,000 Speaker 3: and creating shoes that I think can stay in people's 881 00:44:30,120 --> 00:44:33,960 Speaker 3: archives for forever. And and I think that really my 882 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:36,920 Speaker 3: guiding light in doing that has just been about wanting 883 00:44:36,920 --> 00:44:39,680 Speaker 3: to connect with other people and nature and women and 884 00:44:40,920 --> 00:44:43,759 Speaker 3: communities of women that can support each other. And I 885 00:44:43,800 --> 00:44:48,400 Speaker 3: think a lot about the book is, you know, women 886 00:44:48,520 --> 00:44:51,200 Speaker 3: and how and how women have supported me, and how 887 00:44:51,239 --> 00:44:53,080 Speaker 3: I want to give back and support their women. And 888 00:44:53,120 --> 00:44:58,800 Speaker 3: then also like, you know, the whole thing about blooming 889 00:44:58,840 --> 00:45:02,200 Speaker 3: in places where you're not expected to bloom, right, Like, 890 00:45:02,400 --> 00:45:05,160 Speaker 3: people aren't always like rooting for you to succeed. People 891 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:08,560 Speaker 3: aren't always like leaving space for you to like show 892 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:12,640 Speaker 3: up with all of your full colors and like radiant light. 893 00:45:13,360 --> 00:45:14,920 Speaker 3: And I think it's like, we got to just do 894 00:45:15,000 --> 00:45:17,760 Speaker 3: it anyways, you know, we got to find the courage 895 00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:19,640 Speaker 3: to do it anyways. And I hope that this book 896 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:22,120 Speaker 3: helps give people some of that courage. And now the 897 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:25,160 Speaker 3: messages people are so amazing. 898 00:45:25,000 --> 00:45:28,359 Speaker 1: And you're also tapping into so many other parts. Now 899 00:45:28,400 --> 00:45:32,320 Speaker 1: I feel like, right, you just launched a fund with Ama. 900 00:45:32,480 --> 00:45:36,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, separately from separately from em but we work 901 00:45:36,800 --> 00:45:39,400 Speaker 3: together sometimes. She's so amazing and she's been crushing it 902 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:40,920 Speaker 3: on Shark Tank, which is so cool and. 903 00:45:41,239 --> 00:45:42,880 Speaker 2: Just as crushing period. 904 00:45:43,000 --> 00:45:47,239 Speaker 3: I know, she's awesome. I launched it separately, but I 905 00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:49,440 Speaker 3: like it's been telling that I've been working on for 906 00:45:49,680 --> 00:45:52,319 Speaker 3: you basically since i started the pledge, because I was like, 907 00:45:52,600 --> 00:45:57,680 Speaker 3: you know, we can create a lot of opportunity for founders, 908 00:45:57,719 --> 00:46:01,400 Speaker 3: but unless they have access to capital, it's really hard 909 00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:01,960 Speaker 3: to grow a. 910 00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:05,919 Speaker 1: Business, you know, really hard, really hard. 911 00:46:06,520 --> 00:46:07,799 Speaker 2: We talk about that a lot. 912 00:46:07,880 --> 00:46:10,799 Speaker 1: It's really hard, and it's hard even more so for 913 00:46:10,840 --> 00:46:12,319 Speaker 1: women to get money, you know. 914 00:46:12,400 --> 00:46:16,640 Speaker 3: Absolutely absolutely, And I think for me it's like, even 915 00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:20,120 Speaker 3: when someone does want to invest, it's like your business 916 00:46:20,160 --> 00:46:21,920 Speaker 3: is your baby, Like do you want to trust that 917 00:46:21,960 --> 00:46:26,560 Speaker 3: person with your baby? Right? No? That part? 918 00:46:26,719 --> 00:46:29,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, I know, I know that's the part. 919 00:46:29,120 --> 00:46:31,680 Speaker 3: Because sometimes you'll finally manage to get an offer and 920 00:46:31,680 --> 00:46:32,120 Speaker 3: then you're. 921 00:46:32,000 --> 00:46:34,040 Speaker 1: Like, wait, like, I don't I don't want to work 922 00:46:34,040 --> 00:46:35,680 Speaker 1: for this person doesn't understand me. 923 00:46:36,200 --> 00:46:38,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, he doesn't understand me, my customer, my brand, what 924 00:46:38,760 --> 00:46:39,360 Speaker 3: I'm trying to do. 925 00:46:39,480 --> 00:46:39,960 Speaker 2: Mm hmmm. 926 00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:43,759 Speaker 1: One thousand percent, it's it's hard. So you're going to 927 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:47,560 Speaker 1: be providing strategic capital to founders. 928 00:46:48,000 --> 00:46:49,040 Speaker 2: Yep, I love it. 929 00:46:49,480 --> 00:46:52,120 Speaker 3: I love it and like hopefully an ecosystem of support, 930 00:46:52,400 --> 00:46:56,600 Speaker 3: you know. And I think for me, like I decided 931 00:46:56,640 --> 00:47:00,520 Speaker 3: to call it friends and family because when you hear 932 00:47:00,520 --> 00:47:02,640 Speaker 3: these stories about launching a business, it's like, oh, you're 933 00:47:02,680 --> 00:47:04,640 Speaker 3: supposed to get money from your friends and family, and 934 00:47:04,680 --> 00:47:06,279 Speaker 3: it's like, what if your friends and family don't have 935 00:47:06,360 --> 00:47:06,840 Speaker 3: any money. 936 00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:09,560 Speaker 1: It's by the way, I say that all the time. 937 00:47:09,680 --> 00:47:11,840 Speaker 1: It's like, we're just going to do friends and family. 938 00:47:11,880 --> 00:47:14,560 Speaker 1: We're doing like a two million rais for friends and family. 939 00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:18,160 Speaker 1: I'm like, nice friends, that's great, right, totally, that's good. 940 00:47:18,160 --> 00:47:20,799 Speaker 1: How many friends? How many friends did that? How many 941 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:21,960 Speaker 1: friends and family did that? 942 00:47:22,120 --> 00:47:24,960 Speaker 2: Round with you? Right, that's great, good for you. 943 00:47:25,040 --> 00:47:28,040 Speaker 1: But what about people that don't have friends and family 944 00:47:28,120 --> 00:47:31,000 Speaker 1: that can put a million dollars into a business or whatever. 945 00:47:31,120 --> 00:47:34,919 Speaker 3: And that was so crazy for me. Like when I 946 00:47:35,040 --> 00:47:37,920 Speaker 3: was you know, in the early years of Brother Bellies, 947 00:47:37,960 --> 00:47:39,319 Speaker 3: and people would say like, oh, you need to just 948 00:47:39,400 --> 00:47:41,080 Speaker 3: raise from your friends and family, and I was like, 949 00:47:41,080 --> 00:47:44,080 Speaker 3: there's one hundred percent chance my mom is not even 950 00:47:44,120 --> 00:47:46,680 Speaker 3: giving me one hundred dollars. Like I know, it's just 951 00:47:46,719 --> 00:47:49,360 Speaker 3: like it's not happening, guys. 952 00:47:49,239 --> 00:47:50,960 Speaker 2: But that's that's most. 953 00:47:51,560 --> 00:47:54,760 Speaker 1: That's most, And so I think that's important to really 954 00:47:55,280 --> 00:47:58,680 Speaker 1: talk about and provide and help again like pay it 955 00:47:58,800 --> 00:48:01,400 Speaker 1: forward from all that you done and all that you've learned, 956 00:48:01,440 --> 00:48:05,680 Speaker 1: and try and nurture, you know, more people that are 957 00:48:06,000 --> 00:48:09,360 Speaker 1: taking that brtal road because they love it, you know, 958 00:48:09,520 --> 00:48:12,320 Speaker 1: and they believe in what they're doing two thousand percent. 959 00:48:12,360 --> 00:48:14,160 Speaker 3: And that's why I also the Fashion Fund was so 960 00:48:14,200 --> 00:48:16,240 Speaker 3: important for me because it was a three hundred thousand 961 00:48:16,239 --> 00:48:19,560 Speaker 3: dollars grant that I want. Yes, right, It's like, when 962 00:48:19,600 --> 00:48:21,960 Speaker 3: else are you getting three hundred thousand dollars for free? 963 00:48:22,120 --> 00:48:22,839 Speaker 2: No you're not. 964 00:48:23,680 --> 00:48:27,919 Speaker 1: You're not not without someone owning you, right literally yes, 965 00:48:29,239 --> 00:48:29,920 Speaker 1: And so. 966 00:48:29,960 --> 00:48:32,880 Speaker 3: I think, yeah, the opportunity to win three hundred thousand 967 00:48:32,920 --> 00:48:36,239 Speaker 3: dollars and like you know, have access to all of 968 00:48:36,280 --> 00:48:40,200 Speaker 3: those judges like you know and a Winterer DBF, like 969 00:48:40,400 --> 00:48:44,400 Speaker 3: it just was so huge for me. And so I think, now, 970 00:48:44,640 --> 00:48:48,440 Speaker 3: you know, having launched my nonprofits fifteen percent pledge and 971 00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:52,040 Speaker 3: trying to support black entrepreneurs, it's like, how do we 972 00:48:52,120 --> 00:48:55,920 Speaker 3: create grant opportunities and then also ecosystem of founders that 973 00:48:55,960 --> 00:48:58,680 Speaker 3: they can just call for help sometimes to ask those 974 00:48:58,760 --> 00:49:01,560 Speaker 3: questions because when you're the first, like what we talked about, 975 00:49:01,560 --> 00:49:05,160 Speaker 3: when you're the first person, you can feel really lonely 976 00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:07,640 Speaker 3: and sometimes you just want someone that you can pick 977 00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:08,600 Speaker 3: up the phone and call. 978 00:49:08,760 --> 00:49:09,000 Speaker 2: YEP. 979 00:49:09,600 --> 00:49:11,920 Speaker 1: It's like that video game. I always kind of like 980 00:49:11,960 --> 00:49:13,759 Speaker 1: think about it in my head. You're like running into 981 00:49:13,800 --> 00:49:15,799 Speaker 1: the wall and bouncing back. You're like, wait, I got this, 982 00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:19,160 Speaker 1: well nope, I felt backwards again someone else totally. Like 983 00:49:19,680 --> 00:49:22,120 Speaker 1: I always have that visual or like trying to go 984 00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:25,040 Speaker 1: into the ocean and like getting out so far then 985 00:49:25,080 --> 00:49:28,000 Speaker 1: that way of just thing too right back in and 986 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:29,600 Speaker 1: you're just it's that feeling. 987 00:49:29,680 --> 00:49:29,919 Speaker 2: Well. 988 00:49:30,040 --> 00:49:34,399 Speaker 1: I adore you. I'm so impressed with you. I love 989 00:49:34,480 --> 00:49:36,920 Speaker 1: your story. I love your personal story, I love your 990 00:49:36,920 --> 00:49:40,200 Speaker 1: professional story, I love your ambition. 991 00:49:40,760 --> 00:49:42,520 Speaker 2: I love all of it. 992 00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:47,240 Speaker 1: And I also love how you have like taken away 993 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:50,320 Speaker 1: from it, Like not only are you paying it forward, 994 00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:54,640 Speaker 1: but you're also you're so optimistic and you're like, I'm 995 00:49:54,680 --> 00:49:58,080 Speaker 1: not tripping over myself, because I mean I still trip 996 00:49:58,080 --> 00:50:03,480 Speaker 1: over myself. We just do because it's opportunity block. Opportunity block, 997 00:50:03,560 --> 00:50:05,399 Speaker 1: Oh no, no, wait, let me unblock that. Let me let 998 00:50:05,400 --> 00:50:07,160 Speaker 1: me unblock. I don't need to block that. But like 999 00:50:07,520 --> 00:50:12,920 Speaker 1: I think, to your point, women's tip. Women typically block 1000 00:50:13,440 --> 00:50:16,360 Speaker 1: and they're like, why I'm not right for that or whatever. 1001 00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:19,759 Speaker 1: So I think that's so important. And I love what 1002 00:50:19,800 --> 00:50:22,000 Speaker 1: you're doing. I love all the things you're doing, and 1003 00:50:22,239 --> 00:50:24,319 Speaker 1: I'm so impressed and I can't wait to see it 1004 00:50:24,360 --> 00:50:28,360 Speaker 1: you keep doing honestly, and I love that you climb 1005 00:50:28,360 --> 00:50:28,960 Speaker 1: in heels. 1006 00:50:29,680 --> 00:50:32,920 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, I absolutely climb in hills. You know, 1007 00:50:33,000 --> 00:50:35,080 Speaker 3: my mom said to me when I first started designing 1008 00:50:35,120 --> 00:50:38,920 Speaker 3: high heels. He was like, she was like, well, that's interesting. 1009 00:50:40,000 --> 00:50:43,120 Speaker 3: High heels were traditionally created as a tool to keep 1010 00:50:43,120 --> 00:50:45,720 Speaker 3: women from running away, So you have to do everything 1011 00:50:45,760 --> 00:50:47,960 Speaker 3: that you can to use it as a tool to 1012 00:50:48,000 --> 00:50:49,680 Speaker 3: help women run and push forward. 1013 00:50:52,440 --> 00:50:55,759 Speaker 1: You need to put that on your social today. Okay, 1014 00:50:56,040 --> 00:50:56,880 Speaker 1: that's beautiful. 1015 00:50:56,880 --> 00:50:58,760 Speaker 3: I'll put it on. I'll put it on my social 1016 00:50:58,800 --> 00:50:59,640 Speaker 3: when we when we meet. 1017 00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:03,560 Speaker 1: Yes, please, because I really love that. And I'm one 1018 00:51:03,640 --> 00:51:06,200 Speaker 1: hundred percent going to give your mom credit and I'm 1019 00:51:06,239 --> 00:51:09,440 Speaker 1: recycling that because it makes See That's why I was 1020 00:51:09,480 --> 00:51:11,920 Speaker 1: saying when you were saying, she loves the history of everything, 1021 00:51:11,960 --> 00:51:14,600 Speaker 1: and I'm like, I love that because we don't really 1022 00:51:15,160 --> 00:51:20,520 Speaker 1: talk enough about that, and that is amazing and it 1023 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:22,160 Speaker 1: makes absolute sense. 1024 00:51:22,320 --> 00:51:26,040 Speaker 2: And that's why. By the way, fun fact, I went. 1025 00:51:25,880 --> 00:51:28,480 Speaker 1: To Sedars sign a hospital to give birth to both 1026 00:51:28,520 --> 00:51:33,399 Speaker 1: my kids, wearning so many deals. I don't I didn't 1027 00:51:33,440 --> 00:51:35,160 Speaker 1: keep them on during birth. I don't think I'm insane, 1028 00:51:35,280 --> 00:51:39,360 Speaker 1: but let's be real, but I did go in heels. 1029 00:51:39,600 --> 00:51:40,959 Speaker 2: I just wow, it. 1030 00:51:40,920 --> 00:51:43,000 Speaker 1: Was just I don't know, It's all I knew. It 1031 00:51:43,040 --> 00:51:45,600 Speaker 1: was four am my boots were there, I'd put them in. 1032 00:51:46,000 --> 00:51:49,279 Speaker 3: Listen, I mean listen. I think the number one time. 1033 00:51:49,480 --> 00:51:51,640 Speaker 3: Like people talk a lot, well maybe they don't, but 1034 00:51:51,880 --> 00:51:56,680 Speaker 3: in certain worlds, people talk a lot about what luxury means. 1035 00:51:56,840 --> 00:51:59,720 Speaker 3: And I think, to me, when I think about brother bellies, 1036 00:52:00,400 --> 00:52:04,080 Speaker 3: I know that it makes women feel more empowered. It 1037 00:52:04,120 --> 00:52:07,719 Speaker 3: makes women feel proud, It makes women feel accepted. It 1038 00:52:07,760 --> 00:52:10,600 Speaker 3: makes women feel like they can do anything that they 1039 00:52:10,640 --> 00:52:13,200 Speaker 3: want to do. Like a pair of brother Valley's heels 1040 00:52:13,360 --> 00:52:17,800 Speaker 3: is like a cape. So Rachel, do your thing. Were 1041 00:52:17,840 --> 00:52:20,840 Speaker 3: the heels to see your SINAI that's your cape. 1042 00:52:21,440 --> 00:52:22,759 Speaker 1: And by the way, I have to make sure they're 1043 00:52:22,760 --> 00:52:26,080 Speaker 1: brother ballet too. By the way, because next time listen, 1044 00:52:26,360 --> 00:52:28,719 Speaker 1: I love it. Oh my god, all right, I love you. 1045 00:52:28,760 --> 00:52:32,880 Speaker 1: I hope I get to see you soon. Yeah, I'm 1046 00:52:32,920 --> 00:52:35,080 Speaker 1: so happier in LA. I just always think of you 1047 00:52:35,120 --> 00:52:37,719 Speaker 1: in New York. But you know, but you're both. You're 1048 00:52:37,760 --> 00:52:40,960 Speaker 1: both and have a beautiful day and taken OAP thank 1049 00:52:41,000 --> 00:52:41,920 Speaker 1: you for coming. 1050 00:52:41,600 --> 00:52:51,760 Speaker 2: Out that right now, by sweetheart. Bye. 1051 00:52:53,160 --> 00:52:55,440 Speaker 1: Okay, it's that time in the show when I answer 1052 00:52:55,480 --> 00:52:59,080 Speaker 1: to listener questions. So let's see what we have today. 1053 00:53:00,120 --> 00:53:02,759 Speaker 1: How do you recover from having a bad day? And 1054 00:53:02,800 --> 00:53:05,320 Speaker 1: do you let your kids see when you're feeling down? 1055 00:53:05,840 --> 00:53:09,000 Speaker 1: It's a great question. Actually, the way that I typically recover, 1056 00:53:09,120 --> 00:53:13,200 Speaker 1: funny enough, is with my kids. Like truthfully, if I'm 1057 00:53:13,239 --> 00:53:17,080 Speaker 1: having a bad day, I typically will like get off 1058 00:53:17,160 --> 00:53:21,000 Speaker 1: my computer and like have dinner with the kids, and 1059 00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:25,000 Speaker 1: then we'll watch a show or a movie or something 1060 00:53:25,400 --> 00:53:27,680 Speaker 1: to just like shut my brain down and have them 1061 00:53:27,719 --> 00:53:30,040 Speaker 1: both kind of on top of me, cuddling and like 1062 00:53:30,160 --> 00:53:34,440 Speaker 1: full effect. And that really helps me heal because it 1063 00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:38,560 Speaker 1: takes my brain out of work, out of life, and 1064 00:53:38,600 --> 00:53:40,839 Speaker 1: I can just kind of realize how blessed I am, 1065 00:53:40,880 --> 00:53:43,960 Speaker 1: and sometimes for me, my kids just kind of like 1066 00:53:44,080 --> 00:53:45,920 Speaker 1: check me. It's sort of like, your day is not 1067 00:53:45,960 --> 00:53:48,239 Speaker 1: that bad. You have this and you're good. The rest 1068 00:53:48,320 --> 00:53:51,239 Speaker 1: you can figure out. So that really does help me. 1069 00:53:51,360 --> 00:53:54,040 Speaker 1: And in terms of my kids seeing me down, I've 1070 00:53:54,160 --> 00:53:57,480 Speaker 1: tried very hard for my kids not to see when 1071 00:53:57,480 --> 00:54:00,440 Speaker 1: I'm down. It's very rare that they've seen me cry, 1072 00:54:01,600 --> 00:54:04,960 Speaker 1: and the few times they have, they really worry. They 1073 00:54:05,080 --> 00:54:07,840 Speaker 1: really worry. They're like, Mommy, are you okay? Is everything okay? 1074 00:54:08,360 --> 00:54:11,160 Speaker 1: And I do know for me that when I was young, 1075 00:54:11,239 --> 00:54:13,920 Speaker 1: if I saw my mom or dad upset, when I 1076 00:54:13,920 --> 00:54:16,520 Speaker 1: saw my mother in tears, I knew something was really wrong. 1077 00:54:16,680 --> 00:54:20,640 Speaker 1: So I try to be very aware of how much 1078 00:54:20,680 --> 00:54:23,640 Speaker 1: they feel if I'm down. So yeah, not too much. 1079 00:54:23,880 --> 00:54:25,879 Speaker 1: I try really not to show it. But if they 1080 00:54:25,960 --> 00:54:27,960 Speaker 1: ask me and something is bothering me or I'm having 1081 00:54:27,960 --> 00:54:30,680 Speaker 1: a rough days, sometimes I'll just say mommy's tired or 1082 00:54:30,880 --> 00:54:33,000 Speaker 1: I'm having a bad day, but I'll be good tomorrow, 1083 00:54:33,239 --> 00:54:35,040 Speaker 1: you know, because I don't like to lie. 1084 00:54:35,200 --> 00:54:37,160 Speaker 2: And they're old enough now where they understand. 1085 00:54:37,680 --> 00:54:40,600 Speaker 1: Okay, if you could go back in time, what internship 1086 00:54:40,640 --> 00:54:43,839 Speaker 1: would you die to have? Oh that's a good one. 1087 00:54:44,600 --> 00:54:47,040 Speaker 1: I mean, honestly, I would have loved to have interned 1088 00:54:47,120 --> 00:54:50,960 Speaker 1: for like Oscar Delaurenta, you know, living in New York. 1089 00:54:51,000 --> 00:54:54,719 Speaker 1: I think I think interning for Oscar Delaurenta or Mark 1090 00:54:54,800 --> 00:54:58,239 Speaker 1: Jacobs would have absolutely been a dream because I just 1091 00:54:58,280 --> 00:55:01,040 Speaker 1: would have It would have been like going to fashion school, 1092 00:55:01,200 --> 00:55:02,520 Speaker 1: you know, it would have been the best and just 1093 00:55:02,600 --> 00:55:07,000 Speaker 1: learning from you know, just absolute talent. That would have 1094 00:55:07,040 --> 00:55:09,640 Speaker 1: been a dream, an absolute dream. And I never had 1095 00:55:09,640 --> 00:55:12,600 Speaker 1: any of those internships. So you know, for those of 1096 00:55:12,600 --> 00:55:15,600 Speaker 1: you that do get those dream internships, enjoy every second 1097 00:55:15,640 --> 00:55:20,680 Speaker 1: and learn everything you can. Okay, don't forget to submit 1098 00:55:20,719 --> 00:55:23,319 Speaker 1: your questions for next week's episode. All you have to 1099 00:55:23,320 --> 00:55:25,760 Speaker 1: do is dm us your questions to at Climbing Inhals 1100 00:55:25,800 --> 00:55:29,440 Speaker 1: pod on Instagram and I just might answer your question. 1101 00:55:37,440 --> 00:55:40,200 Speaker 1: I want to thank you so much Aura for coming 1102 00:55:40,200 --> 00:55:44,239 Speaker 1: on the podcast. Your story is so incredibly inspiring and 1103 00:55:44,280 --> 00:55:48,920 Speaker 1: again really really living proof of the American dream. We 1104 00:55:49,040 --> 00:55:52,839 Speaker 1: had the most incredible conversation about taking a leap of 1105 00:55:52,840 --> 00:55:56,440 Speaker 1: faith on yourself your journey and really learning how to 1106 00:55:56,480 --> 00:55:57,640 Speaker 1: put yourself first. 1107 00:55:58,120 --> 00:55:59,600 Speaker 2: And I have to say, like. 1108 00:55:59,640 --> 00:56:04,359 Speaker 1: Aura was really fearless in so many ways because you know, 1109 00:56:04,719 --> 00:56:08,719 Speaker 1: from a very shy girl and a somewhat troubled upbringing, 1110 00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:11,719 Speaker 1: to say the least, I think that Aurora really was 1111 00:56:11,760 --> 00:56:14,560 Speaker 1: able to overcome that and say like, this is my shot, 1112 00:56:14,680 --> 00:56:17,160 Speaker 1: let me figure this out. And she took something she 1113 00:56:17,280 --> 00:56:20,240 Speaker 1: was passionate about on a trip to Ghana and turned 1114 00:56:20,239 --> 00:56:22,960 Speaker 1: it into a business, from being at a flea market 1115 00:56:23,160 --> 00:56:26,360 Speaker 1: and selling a few pairs of amazing shoes to turning 1116 00:56:26,360 --> 00:56:29,520 Speaker 1: it into a business. And obviously, now as you've heard, 1117 00:56:29,600 --> 00:56:33,319 Speaker 1: Aurora does multiple things, and she is a force, and 1118 00:56:33,440 --> 00:56:37,479 Speaker 1: she is someone who really lives her truth. And it's 1119 00:56:37,600 --> 00:56:41,200 Speaker 1: incredibly impressive and I am endlessly inspired by Aura. You 1120 00:56:41,200 --> 00:56:45,360 Speaker 1: should absolutely get her book Wildflower. It's pretty amazing. And 1121 00:56:45,400 --> 00:56:48,360 Speaker 1: if you want more Climbing in Heels content, please follow 1122 00:56:48,360 --> 00:56:50,320 Speaker 1: me on at Rachel's Out and at Climbing in the 1123 00:56:50,320 --> 00:56:53,720 Speaker 1: Halls pod on Instagram for more updates and upcoming guests, 1124 00:56:53,760 --> 00:56:56,520 Speaker 1: episodes and all things care Ittor and I will see 1125 00:56:56,520 --> 00:56:57,399 Speaker 1: you next week. 1126 00:56:57,600 --> 00:56:57,640 Speaker 3: What