Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikayla Golatt.
Nikayla, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started in Highschool. It was around the time where the distressed, colorful high waisted shorts were on trend and what I would call the age of DIY. I followed, who at the time was my favorite YouTube channel ‘The Fashion Citizen’ I was always inspired by what they would find while out thrifting and the redesign projects they’d work on and create how to videos on. I convinced my dad to take me thrifting so I could try my hand at it and I got pretty good at finding and making myself things.
What I didn’t expect was to absolutely fall in love with everything thrift and redesign. I sent so much and got really skilled at navigating the thrift store to find gems and unfortunately for my parents, I had a hard time passing on gems even if they didn’t fit me or I’d never wear them. Somehow I knew I’d cross paths with the perfect person for the gem which means their garage and home was filled with clothes almost constantly! Haha, but I had found my passion and have been selling upcycled clothing ever since.
I didn’t know it at the time but I would make my side hustle official 7 years later.. At school a friend of mine as me to redesign a pair of shorts for her and although I had only done it a couple times she trusted my skill set and we had a deal! She paid me for the shorts and I figured… I can keep this up as a side hustle of this. That’s what started a host of things I redesigned for my friends. Throughout the years I treated it as a side hustle and dabbled in it as I finished Highschool while working a part-time job and graduated
college while also working a job that would turn into a five-year long career pushing Slackers Closet to the back burner. In 2016 I pushed myself to commit to growing my business and finally gave my service a name, in November of 2016 I pushed myself to try hosting my first ever pop up. It was a success! Although I had succeeded in hosting a profitable event, I hadn’t made room in my life to keep it up consistently so about a year went by until I hosted my next event. I could go out in Dallas without being grilled about when I’d do it again.
Low and behold my next event had an even bigger turnout than the first one but this time I was planning a wedding so in the throws of planning and starting my new life with my husband and advancing in my career job at the time I was still treating Slackers Closet as a side hustle. I had two more pop-ups following my second while still working, all great turnouts but I wasn’t growing the way I felt I should have been growing due to the fact that I hadn’t focused enough time and I hadn’t made Slackers Closet my main priority.
This year in February I decided to make one of the most difficult and undeniably most pivotal decision in my life. I left my 9-5 to focus on Slackers Closet and get clear on my vision and then use everything I have time, swear, blood, energy to execute that vision. Which brings me here today. I’m using my history with hosting events to host my biggest event yet. I’m creating a vendor fair for Women who live sustainably, recycle/upcycle clothing, make their own goods and are ultimately boss women who are taking charge of their own lives. I want to create a space for women to feel strong and supported, most importantly through their entrepreneurial endeavors. My vision is the clearest it’s ever been and I’m excited for what’s to come!
Has it been a smooth road?
Absolutely not! lol, I’ve doubted myself, tried to give up and accept a normal life with a normal job life everyone else but when you’re destined to do something that hasn’t been done you can’t be satisfied with normal. You’ll always be miserable chasing mediocrity. For me, it’s mainly been an internal battle. It’s a different journey for everyone but I’ve always struggled with feeling good enough, talented enough, special enough… I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression throughout my life but a lot more since I’ve left my job lacking the structure and status that comes a 9-5 job which as I’m sure you can imagine can interfere with self-motivation and pursuing your dreams and accomplishing your goals.
I’m learning now, as an entrepreneur that those feelings only get bigger and badder but you have to be your own cheerleader and you can’t please everyone so you should make sure whatever you do, you just need to be proud of yourself and what you’ve created. The journey is meant to be rocky to teach you what you to appreciate the smooth parts.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Slackers Closet – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Slackers Closet provides a curated selection of up-cycled clothing and accessories for the modern busy woman who lives a sustainable lifestyle and wants an accessible way to maintain that lifestyle. We are known for our one of a kind pieces at an affordable price and our pop-ups. I am most proud of Slackers Closet’s ability to draw a diverse, energetic, and supportive community at our events. The demand for our pop-ups really gives me pride in what we’ve created and I’m excited to see that grow!
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love the very diverse group of people. A lot of people don’t know this but Dallas has a cool art scene. You get the best of both southern and city living. What I least like about Dallas is the lack of interesting things to do. Unlike most big cities, Dallas can seem really slow at times. Which one of the big reasons I am so passionate about hosting events that bring people together and allows creatives to network.
Contact Info:
- Email: slackerscloset@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Slackerscloset or @Nikaylagbarrett
Image Credit:
Denzel Golatt
@denzelgolatt
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