Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Braisha Owens. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Braisha, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
What I do us a gift wasn’t much to learn, more so honing in on my craft, and mastering it. My learning process could have speed up in business if I was more focused. Skills that are essential are hard work, faith, and patience. Financial- but there’s always ways around that, when one puts in the work.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was motivated to start my company from my love of sketching gowns. Since I was a little girl, I was very thin so I always altered my clothing to fit me. I received my first sewing machine at 13, I started playing on the sewing machine adding different pieces to my looks to give it a more ” Braisha vibe.” People started to enjoy my different pieces, and how I styled myself- it took off from there. From creating custom pieces for talent shows to my everyday looks being a bit extra than most. During this same time, I attended visual and performance Art Schools in Akron- from middle to high school. Fast forward I transferred my expression of visual art to fashion, by attending the Kent State University Fashion School. Five years later, with a full Editorial Styling Portfolio created, I moved to Chicago, in the hopes of being a celebrity fashion stylist. Although designing was my first love, the styling was safe for me, so that’s what I pursued for about 10 years. Though once I truly believed in my gifts, I became unstoppable. Within a year I had my pieces on the likes of Jordin Sparks, “Wakanda Forever” actress Carrie Bernans, and influencers with millions of followers, also my pieces have graced the Red carpet, at the iHeart Radio Music Awards. That is what it looks like when I bet on my self. This is all happening in 2022, wonder what will 2023 deliver, when I hone in on my craft.
Have you ever had to pivot?
Pivoting is real! I literally had to think of my craft as business not a creative. I had to think how can my talents produce fruit, versus myself wanting to make pieces with no substantial audience to purchase. I did an 8 week Accelerator program, that included a minority competence piece. This program flipped my whole mind! It showed me my skill set, and how I could hone in on the skill set and produce a real revenue.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Listen, this scripture is it, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. ‘” — Jeremiah 29:11
It’s the fruit of my hands, he has blessed me with these gift, so it’s my purpose on this earth to blessed the earth with it. Life happens everyday, (life is literally happening right now to me, distracting me from my purpose– car problems, and moving) but I know like I know like I know that, its will not stop me, I must keep going, keep pushing. Staying focused on my purpose not on what life throws at me. My calling is so much bigger then me! And yours is too
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kissedbybo.me
- Instagram: Kissedbybo
- Facebook: Kissed by BO
- Linkedin: Braisha Owens
- Youtube: Kissed by BO
Image Credits
Jordin Sparks Shamonica Olivia Columbus Urban League Young Geniuses program 3dm Photography Brittany Mason