We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amani Williams a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amani, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Deciding to move out on my own was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken. I’ve lived with my family for years, surrounded by comfort and familiarity, but I began to feel the need for independence and space to grow. The thought of managing rent, bills, and being completely on my own was intimidating, but I knew staying would hold me back. When I finally made the decision to move, I prayed then submitted the apartment application before I could change my mind. The first weeks were challenging, I had to learn so many things about independency in such a short amount of time. Routine day to day things helped me learn more about myself, soon I realized the power of standing on my own. That risk, as scary as it was, became one of the most empowering choices I’ve ever made. It taught me that growth often begins the moment comfort ends.

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 a true entrepreneur who loves streetwear fashion. I got into this industry because I loved wearing vibrant colors to school. So I decided to make my own brand that was a representation of who I was as a person using colors as a form of expressionism. I used to help my dad with bulk order t-shirts and eventually started learning how to design, order shirts and print on them myself. Where my clothing line became self manufactured, I recently shifted to wholesale buying. My brand sets me apart because my message is powerful: your mind is the most powerful tool and how you use it, is what makes you different. I want potential followers of the brand to know growth is continuous process and you have to enjoy wanting to grow. Nothing will ever be the same.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my audience by aligning other creatives with my message. Sending my brand pieces to creatives who had audience helped grow mine. People love clothes and different pieces, so being able to share my creativity to them allows for growth for the brand. Also, doing different fashion shows, and being intentional about networking with other brands was helpful. Customers got to meet me face to face, ask questions and inquire about Different Breed’s message.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

For me, I never wanted to do business loans because the long term interest scared me. So I worked three jobs just to fund my personal life but also invest into my business. I was able to travel with my brand, get the brand out to creatives and also, invest in other ideas. So for me, working and saving until I got to my investment goal was my capital.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.differentbreedmvmnt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/differentbreedmvmnt/
• Twitter: https://x.com/different_db
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@differentbreedmvmnt

Image Credits

@stucko.media