We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charnissa Williams. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charnissa below.
Charnissa, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later
I wish I could have started my business earlier. I say that because when I was younger I had so many more ideas and excitement about starting a fashion line. I have books from back then where I created things everyday in hopes of getting them brought to life by a seamstress since I am unable to sew to that extent. I feel there were opportunities missed when I had the money to invest in myself more and life just took a turn where I was more involved with helping my family and making sure my son and I had a stable home. As a parent, especially a single one, you want your children to have access and opportunities to things you didn’t. This means putting your dreams aside to nourish theirs. In hindsight I wish I would have decided to do both 20 years ago. I could have amassed an empire by now.
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 am Charnissa Williams, Visionary clothing designer with a mission to add beauty to the world with wearable art pieces to help other visionaries express themselves through clothes. My clothing line Statuesque Designs, encourages people to stand tall when being themselves. Embrace your uniqueness and individualism. Most of my pieces are derived from my own artwork therefore definitely a one of a kind print. I currently make active/leisure wear like T-shirts, joggers and leggings. I have dabbed in lightweight outerwear as well. I hope to build my business enough to either support or start my own organization helping to provide housing and other living needs to those that age out of the foster care system or young adults whose parents decided that once their children turn 18, they no longer need to support them. There is a serious support gap for these young adults and many end up homeless or trafficked just trying to survive without family support.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Since I started my business it has not thrived as I had hoped. I think that it is due to my low social media presence. Even thought this is the case, I have not given up on creating more items to put on display for sell. I have decided to open up my offerings to now include handing works of art to decorate personal spaces. I am going to upgrade my social networking by adding an Instagram and Facebook site. Even though it has been slow moving over the past, now 3 years, I am confident that with exposure like this article, I am moving in the right direction toward my goal of being a known merchandiser of one of kind items.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
One book that has helped my entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy is “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey. It has helped me to not be so fearful of the future and to push through with resilience and a plan. One quote that sticks with me the most is, “If you can change seeing, you can change being.”
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