Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Washington
Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey began with a personal struggle. Growing up plus-size, I often felt inadequate due to societal pressures and a lack of representation in fashion and media. I spent years on endless diets, trying to fit into a mold that wasn’t meant for me. These experiences profoundly impacted my self-esteem and sense of belonging.
After becoming disabled and feeling useless because I couldn’t work, my outlook shifted dramatically. The birth of my son was a pivotal moment, reigniting my drive and creativity. While transitioning to natural hair, I searched for empowering apparel that celebrated natural beauty but found none that resonated with me. This gap inspired me to create My Beautiful Fluff, a brand and community dedicated to plus-size individuals and women with natural hair.
My Beautiful Fluff is more than a clothing line; it’s a movement promoting self-love and body positivity. The brand offers body-positive apparel, accessories, and beauty products designed with our community’s unique needs in mind. One of our notable products includes a fluffy makeup brush set and a facial mask applicator, emphasizing ease of use and accessibility.
One of the significant challenges I faced was finding clothing options that were both age-appropriate and size-inclusive. This struggle was particularly poignant when I was shopping for my wedding dress and couldn’t try on any dresses because boutiques didn’t stock my size. Instead, I had to choose a dress from a catalog, which was a frustrating and disheartening experience. These experiences fueled my determination to create My Beautiful Fluff, ensuring that no one else would have to go through what I did.
Participating in the Our Village United HerBono program, sponsored by Walmart, was a significant milestone. It provided technical assistance that helped us grow through ads, non-paid growth, and revising our size chart. This program not only helped us expand our offerings to sizes up to 40 but also sparked my interest in collaborating with Walmart.
Giving back to the community is a core value for My Beautiful Fluff. We sponsor gifts for events related to sickle cell and autism and support local nonprofits. We also utilize Printer’s Mark, a printing company that hires people with mental disabilities, aligning with our commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity.
One of my proudest achievements is the release of our body-positive coloring book, now sold on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart online. It ranks 17th in its category for Ingram Sparks. Following positive feedback from educators, we are developing a new coloring book specifically for teens and tweens to promote self-love and inclusivity.
Looking ahead, we aim to expand our reach and continue fostering a supportive, empowering community for plus-size individuals and women with natural hair. My Beautiful Fluff is not just a brand; it’s a testament to the power of resilience, self-love, and the importance of representation.
Thank you for allowing me to share my story.
Brittany Washington
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One significant challenge has been managing our supply chain. The COVID-19 pandemic greatly affected shipping costs, making it more expensive to get our products to customers. Additionally, we faced disruptions with print-on-demand companies. One company abruptly eliminated plus-size options, forcing us to eliminate 40 SKUs with just two days’ notice. We quickly transitioned to another print-on-demand provider, only to find out after our Black Friday sale that they, too, had discontinued plus sizes without notifying us.
Despite these setbacks, we pivoted by upgrading orders, providing free gifts and gift cards, and offering refunds to affected customers. This experience reinforced the importance of our mission. Even though sizes 14 and greater make up 60% of the U.S. population, there is still a significant lack of representation in fashion for sizes above 3XL. This gap drives us to continue advocating for and creating inclusive fashion options.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about My Beautiful Fluff?
My Beautiful Fluff is a brand and community dedicated to promoting self-love, body positivity, and inclusivity for plus-size individuals and women with natural hair. We specialize in body-positive apparel, accessories, and beauty products designed with the unique needs and preferences of our community in mind. Our offerings include clothing up to size 40, a fluffy makeup brush set, and a facial mask applicator, all created to empower and celebrate our customers.
What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to representation and inclusivity. As a disability-owned business, we bring a unique perspective to the market, emphasizing ease of use and accessibility in our designs. Our journey has been shaped by personal experiences and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by plus-size individuals, which drives our mission to create fashion and beauty products that genuinely reflect and celebrate their beauty.
We are particularly proud of our body-positive coloring book, which has received excellent feedback and ranks 17th in its category on Ingram Sparks. This success highlights our dedication to promoting self-love and body positivity in innovative ways.
We also prioritize giving back to the community. We sponsor gifts for events related to sickle cell and autism and support local nonprofits. Our partnership with Printer’s Mark, a printing company that hires people with mental disabilities, reflects our commitment to social responsibility and inclusivity.
Our readers should know that My Beautiful Fluff is not just a brand; it’s a movement. We are dedicated to creating a supportive and empowering community for plus-size individuals and women with natural hair. Whether through our stylish, size-inclusive apparel or our beauty products designed with accessibility in mind, we strive to make everyone feel seen, valued, and celebrated.
Thank you for learning about My Beautiful Fluff. We invite you to join our journey and help us continue to foster a world where everyone feels beautiful and enough, just as they are.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Absolutely! Several resources have been instrumental in helping me achieve my best both personally and professionally:
1. Miracle Morning: This book and its practices have significantly improved my daily routine and mindset. It emphasizes the power of starting the day with purpose and positive habits, which has been transformative for my productivity and outlook.
2. ChatGPT: As an AI tool, ChatGPT has been invaluable for brainstorming ideas, refining content, and providing insights on various topics. It’s like having a personal assistant that helps streamline my work processes and enhance creativity.
3. Canva: This graphic design platform is a game-changer for creating visually appealing content for My Beautiful Fluff. It’s user-friendly and allows me to produce professional-quality designs without needing extensive design experience.
4. Sunshine Enterprise Community Business Program: This program has provided essential support and resources for growing my business. The community and mentorship aspects have been particularly beneficial.
5. Our Village United HerBono Program: Sponsored by Walmart, this program has been pivotal in our growth, offering technical assistance and support that have helped us expand our product range and improve our business strategies.
6. Goldman Sachs’ Black in Business Accelerator: This accelerator has been an incredible resource, offering mentorship, funding opportunities, and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs. It has helped us scale our business and navigate challenges more effectively.
These resources have collectively empowered me to grow My Beautiful Fluff, stay motivated, and continually improve both my personal and professional life.
Pricing:
- My Beautiful Canvas Affirming Coloring Book is available on our website, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Walmart online. We are also working on a sequel: an affirming coloring book specifically designed for teens and tweens.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mybeautifulfluff.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/shopmybeautifulfluff
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/shopmybeautifulfluff
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shopmybeautifulfluff?si=4taTPbOpNhXyECtZ
