Today we’d like to introduce you to Terrance Williams.
Hi Terrance, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am a self-taught sewer. I taught myself how to sew back in 2009 after developing an interest in fashion design and how garments are constructed, and from there, I started my Etsy in 2014. After being on Etsy for a few years and outgrowing the platform, I decided to move to my own websites Terrance Williams, designs that I launched in 2019, and that has taken me two today! I run my small business full time
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the major struggles that I have faced is accessibility. Being a Black and gay small business owners, the amount of opportunities for me to expand and grow my business are very limited. Historically we as a whole have not been able to secure as much funding, we have not been able to expand into brick and mortar as easily, partnerships and collaborations with big companies are few and far between, so it’s very difficult to make strides being a minority business owner. I am originally from a small town in Pennsylvania that is mostly white, and years ago, I was pitching my business to local boutiques to try and get shelf space in their stores, and each and every one of them turned me down. It was devastating, especially since they had other businesses in their stores, but they were all white-owned businesses. It’s still difficult to find a seat at the table and for people to take a chance on Black-owned businesses. Despite all of that, I’ve been able to use my business and my platform to uplift and support other Black and POC businesses. I firmly believe that we are all in this together and that if one of us can succeed, then we all can succeed. I feel it is my responsibility to uplift the community, share different resources and knowledge and help other small business owners achieve success in what they are doing. It truly is about giving back and not letting the hardships and adversities deter you from following your dream It’s so easy to help other people succeed.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My business Terrance Williams Designs, is ethically sourced and sustainably produced clothing and accessories that I design and sew myself. I sew headbands, caftan dresses, dusters, capes, scarves, bandanas, and more! Everything is genderless and size-inclusive. I wanted to create a brand that focused on sustainability and human rights because they are both topics that are important to me. I’ve always had a love for human rights and planned to attend law school to be an international lawyer, but I also had a love for fashion design. So, I turned down law school, taught myself how to sew, and now run a business that advocates for people in garment factories being paid fair wages and working in safe conditions. 5% of my sales also go towards businesses and initiatives that are removing carbon from the atmosphere. I routinely try to use my platform to educate about sustainability and the plight of garment workers. It was important for me as a gay Black man to create clothing and accessories where anyone, regardless of race, size, and gender identity, could feel included and feel beautiful in my pieces while also respecting the environment and the people who make out clothing. Fashion can be so limiting and restricting, and what started out as me wanting to creating a safe space for myself has grown into creating a safe space for others.
What do you think about luck?
I have been denied so many opportunities that I really wanted, and I have worked at places where I might have enjoyed the job, but management made it completely unbearable for me, and in those situations, it pushed me to pursue my craft of sewing and design full-time. I still remember working a retail job, and I liked it, but every minute I was at that job, I was thinking about my small business and sewing and designing. And there were eventually moments that led me to quit, and I think through those moments, even as difficult as they were, were a blessing to me to show me that I really needed to pursue this full-time. I don’t necessarily like the idea of romanticizing our struggles and hardships, and I don’t want to give credit to those who have wronged me, but I’m proud of myself for realizing I was in a situation that I was not happy and was not going to thrive and had the courage to change course and pursue something that I love!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.terrancewilliamsdesigns.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/terrancewilliamsdesigns
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/terrancewilliamsdesigns
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/terrancedesigns
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/terrancewilliamsdesigns
- Other: www.tiktok.com/terrancewilliamsdesigns
