Today we’d like to introduce you to Maia Butler.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been teaching for the past six (going on seven) years. I started my teaching career in Jacksonville, FL teaching high school students with an amazing organization called City Year. A year later, I moved to Charlotte, NC to teach middle school through an organization called Citizen Schools. In August of 2016, I moved to Dallas, TX to be a part of a rigorous teaching program called Urban Teachers. Throughout all of my experiences across the three different states I’ve lived in, I was able to see the power of what it truly meant to be a Black educator.
I grew up in Alpharetta, GA, a predominately white suburb of Atlanta. I love my hometown but when I think back on my schooling years, I remember having my first Black female teacher in 1st grade but my first male Black teacher wouldn’t be until I got to college at Hampton University. I am thankful for what my K-12 experience gave me, but I often think about what my life would’ve been like if I had more people that looked like me facilitating my academic success in school, earlier in life.
I’ve always been an artistic person who is known to make a bold statement. I have designed many t-shirts for various organizations I’ve been a part of over the years, but it was always just a hobby. In the early part of 2019, I decided to finally take my talents more seriously and that’s when my brand was officially born! Originally, I created apparel that centered around HBCU’s but decided to make a shift towards the end of 2019. I wanted to focus on a target market that I felt was somewhat untapped and that I was currently submerged in. To be a Black educator is something to be proud of. I love the field of education and what I do because the opportunities of are endless. I believe that all children of color, especially Black children, should have the opportunity to have a teacher that looks like them at some point in their lives. Even in schools where African American youth make up the majority of the student body population, knowing that there’s at least one Black teacher on your side, wanting to see you win, can make a huge difference. Historically, Black people in this country weren’t allowed to learn, let alone teach, so I take what I do very seriously and so do many others.
I want my apparel to be worn as a badge of honor and pride. When I see someone has purchased some of my apparel for themselves or someone else, I know that they are on the same team I’m on, fighting for the same causes, understanding some of the same struggles. Knowing that you have the power to make a meaningful impact in someone’s life is a great feeling! A classroom is one of the few work environments where you must bring your full, authentic self to the table every single day. Sometimes when we want to make a statement loud and clear, we put it on a shirt. Just like my company name, I do believe that Black educators indeed have a higher standard of being set not only for ourselves, but for every student we interact with.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest hurdles I’ve had to face all center around timing, paperwork, and quickly learning new technology. At the end of the day, I have an apparel business and I need to always stay up to date with the latest trends which includes creating new ideas for future launches. Yes, my website is up and running 24/7 but I still have to stay locked into a calendar to plan and know the best times to release new apparel. As an educator myself, I have to think how my target audience might think and know little things like back to school time blocks, what is and is not allowed to be worn at school, etc.
To protect myself and my designs, there’s a specific set of paperwork I’ve had to look into, file, and maintain. In this industry, trademarking is very important, and I’d hate to see all of my hard work stolen by someone else all because of a careless mistake on my end. Lastly, building a website from the ground up is no easy task! My advice to anyone looking to do so is do your research and use YouTube tutorials where necessary! You never know how much works goes on behind the scenes until you are the one behind the scenes. At the end of the day, it has been a labor of love.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Elevation x A Higher Standard story. Tell us more about the business.
We specialize in apparel for Black educators! I can also create custom orders for schools and organizations upon request. At this moment, I primarily have t-shirts but have plans for more apparel and accessories such as long sleeve shirts, hats, sweatshirts, backpacks, tote bags, etc. I handle everything from the designs down to the shipping and website maintenance. The intent of every design is to showcase the pride in being a black educator.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
While I do believe in luck, everything I have now is from faith, consistency, perseverance, and hard work. Every day presents a new learning experience to grow and get better.
Pricing:
- T-shirts start at $20
- Hoodies start at $55
- Bulk orders have a minimum purchase number of 12
- Any sales will be announced via the brand’s official social media handles. Customers can also subscribe to the email list via my official website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.apparelxahs.com
- Email: apparelxahs@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ahigherstandard_
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/apparelxahs
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