We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Portia Brewer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Portia below.

Portia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

The kindest thing someone has done for me was one of my closest friends paid for my first professional photo shoot for my Fashion line. This selfless gracious blessing came at a time when I needed it the most. As a single mother, full-time career woman, and budding entrepreneur I was trying to balance it all and at the moment it just seemed that the stars were not aligning. BUT GOD….. I am a true testament that God will move things around in your life and you will have no clue as to why but then he shows you what he was planning from the beginning and it all makes sense in the end.

To give you a little context on this friendship and why her kindness meant so much to me. My friend/Fashion model/former business partner shares over 20 years of friendship, laughter, unwavering support, and sisterhood. Within the last 10 years, our communications were infrequent due to us both relocating several times throughout the southern region therefore we weren’t conversing on a regular as we did in the past. However, the last time we connected, we vowed to be more consistent and intentional in our friendship. We talked about all of our goals and aspirations. She would consistently ask “What can I do to help your business grow?” And I would say ‘“Brand Awareness, I just need more eyes on the brand to know we exist.” She would post my content on her social media pages without question or prompting. She would also share any fashion-related information that she felt could benefit the growth of my company, she is truly a genuine supportive friend. One day (out of the blue) she texted me and said “I going to bless you with a photo shoot for your brand” and I adamantly denied the request. Overjoyed and thankful that she would even consider being so kind but respectfully denied the request once more. She then told me “This is what I am doing for you and I am not taking No for an answer!” “This has been your dream since I met you and as your friend, I will help you get a step closer to fulfilling it!” I instantly cried, overwhelmed with emotions because the last few years had been extremely tough. She is truly a God-sent friend and I will repay her every moment I get to show my love and appreciation for her kindness.

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?

Starting a Fashion Brand has always been a childhood dream. In pursuit of my aspirations, I obtained a BBA in Business Marketing with a minor in Fashion Design. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn’t able to start my company until approximately a decade later.

Portia Renia is a Luxury Ready-to-Wear (RTW) fashion line designed for the influential ambitious woman. A woman that gives her clothing true character and is not defined by her clothing. She exudes confidence in every aspect of her life. The Portia Renia Brand is artfully crafted with precision to provide the perfect fit to accentuate all her curves and embrace the female form. We embody the classic silhouette with an even combination of elegance and sexiness. PR embraces femininity by indulging in embellishments such as leather, lace, and studding. Whether it is a day in the office, running errands, or a night on the town, PR has pieces for every occasion. We strive to offer luxury clothing for affordable pricing.

Every woman wants to look powerful, draped in luxurious fabrics. They want their clothes to be a reflection of the person they are and where they strive to be. As the popular saying goes, “Don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want”. Luxury brands provide a wow factor with their opulent fabrications, tailor-made construction, and exclusive designs. But let’s not forget the expensive price tag that comes with the experience. The majority of middle-class working women cannot afford to purchase a suit for $3,000-$4,000. However, my brand will offer affordable luxury clothing, enabling women to confidently grace the boardrooms or any social media platform looking and feeling unstoppable. Women are the foundation of everything, and we want to support women to reach their full potential. Portia Renia donates 2.5% of its annual sales to a well-deserving nonprofit that promotes women’s empowerment and 2.5% to nonprofits that support autism.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Portia Renia designs are designed in-house and manufactured in Atlanta, GA. When starting the business, I had no clue about clothing manufacturing and production. I fully immersed myself daily in researching the fashion industry, clothing manufacturers, how-to books, successful fashion brands, and even unsuccessful brands. From this research, I drafted key interview questions for the manufacturers to determine whether their staff/facility was fully equipped, years in the industry, ethical business practices, competitive pricing, production specialties, and other key pertinent requirements.

The manufacturing/production process is tedious and requires a high level of attention to detail. I have learned a lot since inception as it pertains to manufacturing/production and has much more to learn. Here are some key takeaways or lessons learned I would strongly consider before the next round of production or selection of a new manufacturer. Thoroughly research the manufacturer, ask lots of questions, request to see completed production items to assess the craftsmanship and quality, know what your production package includes, know the per unit production costs during the sample creation process, stay in constant communications with your manufacturer once the process has started and become knowledgeable about textiles/fabrications because it is essential in the construction process.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I solely invested money from my savings and business credit card to start my business. I created a financial budgeting plan incorporating spending limitations along with a contingency plan to ensure I stayed within my ideal budget. I had so many insecurities and uncertainties about starting my business BUT GOD’s profound irrefutable voice told me, now is the time. I said a prodigious prayer and took an extreme leap of faith. And since that day, I have been walking by faith and not by sight, ultimately letting God lead this journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.portiarenia.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/portiarenia
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/portiarenia
• Other: www.Pinterest.com/portiarenia1

Image Credits
Kauwuane Burton Photography