Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Rice.
Julia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My name is Julia Rice. I’m a fashion designer. I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. I’ve been designing clothes for as long as I can remember. Watching my Mother sew buttons, or a hole always seemed to be in slow motion as I studied the technique. I was 4 or 5 when I started cutting pieces of fabric from any place I could find – even the inner lining of my mother’s blazers and coats. I would even produce photoshoots for my dolls. I remember saving my lunch money in grade school to buy Vogue magazine. Andre’ Leon Talley was an icon to me. His stories seemed to connect with my heart’s purpose. I came home from school one day to find the surprise of my life. My mother had bought me a sewing machine. I don’t even remember asking for it. I just think she could see I needed it. I discovered I had the ability to analyze a garment and create its pattern. At eight years old I began designing and styling for the girls in my 3rd grade class. At nine I created a group of young females, we used recess time to collaborate our talents and minds. We would produce shows for our 4th grade class.
I continued creating throughout middle school and high school. I was a young entrepreneur – styling and designing for any reason from the everyday to special event. I was trusted by various ages, genders, background. I was infatuated with putting together a look, a style, creating trends, forecasting fashion or enhancing the beauty of anything or anyone I saw.
I enrolled at Morgan State University. I became a member of a study club of models called Iconic Modeling Empirical (IME). I became the Head Fashion Coordinator of IME Board Members and a member of FACS fashion program. Outside of my studies, I was busy working with celebrity photographers, directors, top modeling agencies, published in various magazines, attending award shows, fashion shows, interviewed by various media sources, traveling and touring showcases, networking with different talent – all while striving to complete my college courses. I was blessed to follow my passion to create and design for others. Fashion was my lifestyle – makeup, hair, styling, photography, art, writing, creation – I honed it all. I left Morgan State with a wealth of experience and a degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis in Fashion Merchandising with a minor in Business.
On to New York City full time. I wanted to cut my teeth and hone my skills in modeling and fashion design. Within a year, I had been interviewed on Sirus Satellite Radio, spent time as a styling assistant to various celebrities and companies such as Big Sean, and featured in U.K. Vogue magazine. All my accomplishments fueled my fire. I wanted my own brand.
I moved to Dallas in the Spring in 2016. I redesigned my logo, created my LLC and filed a trademark application for my name and logo with the USPTO, all within a year’s time. I was a featured artist and designer in the RAW Artist – Dallas show in 2017. I produced four of my own fashion shows. And I was recently accepted as an Executive Member of Fashion Group International of Dallas. I’m currently collaborating with fashion consultants, clothing manufacturers and web design and marketing teams to launch my first full line. I want to spend the rest of 2019 building my brand and establishing an inventory. I’m projecting a full launch in 2020. Until then, know that I’m working hard to add my footprint to the wonderful fashion style that is Dallas, Texas and beyond.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No road to success is easy. Mistakes are a part of the journey. Finances and building trustworthy relationships have been my challenges. It takes capital to open and run a business. I’ve run into financial struggles. I try to spend every dollar wisely. It was an eye-opening blow when I used a discount web-design company to create my first website. They were extremely professional until they had my money in hand. Then the professionalism and productivity vanished. I’ve also had ideas stolen from me. I’ve trusted people to help produce fashion shows. When unexpected delays hit me, I saw my idea given directly to another fashion designer. That hurt me. Save your pennies and know who you’re collaborating with is a word of advice for anyone going into business.
Julia Rice LLC – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
The Julia Rice LLC brand specializes in haute couture and ready-to-wear fashion; the pursuit is to be a full fashion house and lifestyle brand. I would like to eventually produce luxury goods, fashion accessories and home decor.
The Julia Rice logo is a connecting JR. “Rice” is my maiden name. I wanted to honor the memory of my deceased father when I created my company.
The objective is for the Julia Rice brand to be synonymous with innovative, classic, appealing yet comfortable designs that last a lifetime. Julia Rice fashions are often tailored for the individual looking to stand out.
My brand caters to the taste for elegance in dress while embracing simple designs. Then I take that simplicity and splash it with opulence and fantasy in just the right places. A Julia Rice woman or man will find themselves equally confident and comfortable in a small room of like-minded people or a room full of established superstars.
I am most proud of the “We are Julia Rice” motif. My customers will know we are all the influence of this brand. We love to enhance the natural beauty of a person or create the beauty they fail to see. What sets us apart is we choose not to be trendy yet create classic designs that have a lasting effect on the fashion culture.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is seeing my brand on someone I don’t know. To create a profitable business from my passion. Honestly, I want to create a legacy that last longer than my earthly body. I want to have knowledge to teach my children while being a full-time mother, wife and entrepreneur.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.JuliaRice.com
- Email: julia@juliarice.com
- Instagram: julia__rice
Image Credit:
Stylist- Julia Rice, Photographer- Joshua Vadi, Photographer- Rob Relo, Mua- Darolyn Gray, Stephanie Cornelius, Hair Stylist- Bre Bre
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
