5 6
You are the founder of Haute Life Eyewear . How did you get into designing sunglasses and how long have you been designing sunglasses ? And what are some of the challenges you have faced in building and sustaining your businesses ? How do you overcome the challenges ?
Designing Sunglasses was easy for me because I love them , and I have always wanted my own line . The truth is , I had the idea for two years before I decided to launch Hautelife World Eyewear . The brand is three years strong . In the beginning , it was a bit challenging because starting a business is never easy , especially if you are starting with your own money . I still have challenges today being a black woman in business . We have so much more to prove compared to our non-Black counterparts . I have realized that challenges will always be a part of life and business , and I am intentional in having the right mindset whenever I manage any challenge . My faith and my ability to trust in God let me know that it too shall pass .
You speak unapologetically of your faith in God , tell us about that .
I have always been guided by faith , and when I moved to New York , I lost that for a bit . God came to me in a dream and told me I have a mission , so I needed to cleanse my spirit and get back in line with my spirituality . The night when I got the dream , I knew my purpose on earth was not just for me . I knew that I would be that light that will shine in dark places . I have lifted soooo [ emphaisis added ] many people just with my words of love and light , and I want to continue to do that .
My faith is the most important thing to me . It is what gives me sight beyond sight . My faith is what guides me and tells me not now but later . It is my faith that says go up to that stranger and encourage them . It is my Faith that has brought me here not of my own doing but by faith .
8How do you avoid compromising your belief in the fashion world ?
7Any advice for women in life and career ?
The Fashion Industry is an overly complex one , with so many different layers . As I mentioned before , I am
My Advice to women entering or operating a in this world , but I am not of this world . I have been business or life for that matter is , to stay rooted in around models , other designers , etc ., at events that who they are . I have never followed what the world are doing unspeakable things , and I chose to leave . I is doing because ' I am in this world but , I ' m not of simply stay true to myself and my beliefs . It is that this world '. I follow my God-given spirit , and I use simple . I have nothing to prove to anyone . I live life on the wisdom of this spirit to guide me . As women , my terms and what I know is to be true to who I am . we naturally have strong intuition , but it becomes stronger when we believe in something higher than ourselves . If that can be your guide through life , you are on the right path . Remember , we are just mere mortals passing through this earth . And so , the
9
question is , what legacy are you leaving for the next Is the fashion world as glamorous as we think ? generation ? Why not make it a good one ? I would say the Fashion Industry can be glamorous , and it can also be superficial . It just depends on which lenses you are looking through because it is a form of art too , a fantasy for some . I love fashion and whether you are into fashion or not , it sets the tone for how people will shop .
TheBeyondWoman Magazine | 13