Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tyler B. Free. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Tyler thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Outlaw LOTE (Life On The Edge) is a story and a brand that was built upon the inspiration of my family and upbringing. Growing up my father and grandfather always watched western movies and TV shows. Whether it be Gunsmoke, Andie Griffin, Tombstone and many others, you can always hear the sound or horses galloping and gunslingers shooting in the background. My mother is a big fan of cows and our family kitchen was always heavily decorated with cow accents, Cow Clocks, Cow salt and pepper shakers, Cow oven mitts, and more. My grandfather before he passed away was a big time gambler, the risk taker of the family, He would always win big at the casino in Las Vegas. Oh yeah did i mention i grew up in Las Vegas?, talk about the wild west. My entire upbringing inspired the idea behind OUTLAW. I Knew it would be a worthwhile endeavor because of the ideology of the brand Outlaw itself, and also the rare skins and designs i introduce to the world. What got me most excited about this idea was that I am a minority, creating a luxury handbag brand that will one day reach the heights of LV, Dior, Gucci, Chanel, Etc. The Thought of achieving heights like that, from the ground up was enough to inspire and excite me to embark on this journey
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I first got in fashion design about 4 years ago with Outlaw in the back of my mind. I knew what I wanted to do, but i just had one problem, I didn’t know how to sew the designs I wanted. Coming from Las Vegas I dedicated the majority of my life to basketball. Once my playing days were over after college, I knew that fashion design was what I wanted to do next. The problem that Outlaw solves for clients is 1. social status and 2. confidence. When someone buys an Outlaw item it instantly gives them a confidence boost. If a Client buys a bag, they are able to carry confidence with them everywhere they go. I am most proud in my faith in myself and in my journey. As a creator it is easy to get discouraged in this instant gratification culture we live in. I believe my faith that I will achieve the goals I have set out for myself no matter what obstacle may be in front of me, has allowed me to really excel along the way. Outlaw is a brand for the confidence, ambitious person that knows no matter what, they can overcome and reach the mountain top.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I think what helped build my reputation within my market was my ability to present a product that exemplifies professionalism & luxury in a way that is enticing. People also respect and admire that I make each bag myself, and the fashion shows I’ve thrown since being on this journey. My ability to say something and then actually make it happen and possibly exceed peoples expectation I believe is what has helped me the most.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy that has helped grow my clientele more than anything is word of mouth. I believe word of mouth is still stronger than social media influence. I get customers all the time saying they heard about me from a friends, or family member, and because they were notified about OUTLAW by a trusted person in their life, they are more likely to become a customer.
Contact Info:
- Website: outlawlote.com
- Instagram: outlawlote
Image Credits
KENDRA VISUALS