Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brydric Wright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brydric, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. How did you scale up? What were the strategies, tactics, meaningful moments, twists/turns, obstacles, mistakes along the way? We’d love to hear the backstory the illustrates how you grew your brand.

In 2020 life as we know it came to a stop, but not for my clothing brand, Five Eleven Collection. Instead of giving into a dark situation, I made my own light by making masks for my family and friends. I made as many as possible to have on hand for anyone in need of one. That energy from supporting my community fueled my momentum and love for sewing and designing. I continued by creating a new collection called ‘Be Free’, which was showcased at Austin Fashion Week in October 2020.

The purpose of the collection was to deliver a message of joy and liberation during that epidemic. To remind everyone to never give up on the good times and the love we find in life. My focus was not on generating income at that time, but rather being a symbol of good. This aspiration was not easy to achieve but through the help of my close friends, late nights of sewing, and using personal resources, I made it happen. People were inspired and they were happy when they wore my designs.

Since then, Five Eleven Collection has grown as a business through client orders, working with stylists, photographers, and modeling agencies, and showcasing new collections. Over time I saw the income working as an operational budget, further supplying my way to invest in new supplies and equipment which allowed me to execute my designs with higher quality materials and finishings. By 2022 I was in full swing taking on custom client orders even while holding down a full-time career in marketing and event planning for a master-planned community.

While I balanced my career and personal business, I saw that I could no longer do both. The long hours of constructing garments after five p.m. did not match the early mornings of an event planner. I needed to find a new path that allowed me to focus on my business. Where I could have free, dedicated nights and weekends to design, fulfill orders and construct collections. The commitment as a lifestyle director sometimes meant 18–20-hour days, which was not ideal for my future as a fashion designer. I needed to learn how I could maximize my time as a business owner and still provide a life for myself. By the time I discovered what that solution could be, I found myself having brunch with a good friend that worked in marketing. That conversation led me to my current company where I do full-time marketing ONLY Monday through Friday.

This new life is a breath of fresh air. My schedule means I can come home after work and truly be behind my sewing machine without random concerns like vendors not showing up on time or that I need more volunteers to run the craft tent. Now, 2023 has only been pure gold. This year is proving to me that I can operate my brand as a business. I now have time to be a member of the Fashion Group International (FGI) Dallas, work with interns that help with construction, manage marketing for my brand, and manage website updates on a consistent basis. In addition, Five Eleven has been able to contribute designs to charity events such as DIFFA Dallas, continue collaborations with stylists and photographers, maximize client orders, and show opportunities in and OUTSIDE of Texas. With each project, I gain more exposure that leads to a new network, and the growth of my brand is reaching great heights.

I see my future and it looks attainable, it looks F-ING amazing, and I cannot wait to fully indulge in the Five Eleven Collection. My dreams are manifesting right in front of me, and it is only a matter of time before the world will be free, adventurous, and reborn through my designs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As an artist, Brydric Wright has been creative since the age of six by cooking, playing various instruments, acting, singing, and of course designing. By the age of 17, Brydric began designing clothes in his school notebooks, imagining both men’s and womenswear for his classmates. Drawing upon his own hard-fought path from small-town Sulphur Springs, Texas to studying at both the Art Institute of Dallas and Wade College, Brydric designs with innate compassion and creativity. Combining intensive training in pattern making, draping, hand-tailoring, and textiles, his designs reflect connection, spirit, and style.

Since he moved to Dallas in 2008, he started off by volunteering and attending fashion-related events and art shows to be active and build a name for himself. His network in the Dallas area became his number one resource for learning how to establish a business and understand what client needs to exist. Brydric developed the Five Eleven Collection in the heart of metropolitan Dallas in 2016. While he was not in business, his love for design was explored through custom client orders, collections, and personal designs.

Five Eleven Collection enhances your wardrobe by combing various construction techniques, bold colors, shapes, and patterns. We present modern bohemian-inspired ready-to-wear, custom apparel, resort loungewear, and handmade accessories. Signature elements include free-flowing gender-fluid silhouettes, luxurious prints, and abundant textures. We also offer alteration services. We are more than a brand, rather a way of life for the person who does not follow trends. Instead, we set the bar high to positively inspire others.

We design for those who think outside of this world and seek the big picture but appreciate the journey. Brydric cultivates a deep understanding of each client’s unique journey. Only then does a look come to life. Your personal style is considered which is why it is so important to be yourself authentically. Being a free spirit means being you, uninhibited, and unapologetically. As a free spirit, how we dress is up to who we are on the inside, and showing who we truly are is genuine honesty, strength, and boldness. We are dreamers, passionately longing for design, culture, art, and overall creative engagements with ourselves and others.

Five Eleven Collection was made for those that know their inspirations as well as their aspirations, know who they are, their strengths, desires, and dreams. Our community is built around free spirits that are not concerned about expressing themselves through their wardrobe, or their way of life. “I created Five Eleven for free spirits on the go, at any level in life, that want to look breathtaking yet sophisticated. Your journey is important and that’s why I’ll go above and beyond to make sure your experience is one you’ll remember forever.”

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I never thought getting a marketing degree would be beneficial for my clothing line. At least not in the beginning, I had no idea why I was majoring in marketing, but I soon learned how it help me develop and communicate my brand voice and be useful for product promotions, and sales. With that in mind, I took my time understanding who I am in my brand and focused on my bohemian side mixed with my appreciation for modern design. I found my voice and my clientele and began designing graphics in Photoshop and Canva. I love to design graphics and create campaigns that tell a story and that is how I use my platforms on social media.

The “photo shoot” that grew my audience on Instagram was in 2016 when I used my Android, YES, I said Android to do a photoshoot of my model in two looks. The first would be a pair of high-waisted white pants and a cotton eyelet crop top. The second was a simple high-low boho dress with ruffles around the neckline. The “shoot” was taken in an unused location in Irving, TX. It is a field of tall, dead grass and a road. I timed the “shoot” perfectly at sunset and captured the photos of a lifetime. Those photos became my starting point for gaining new followers and establishing my brand voice. I am proud to say I have 1300+ followers now compared to the 400 before I posted those photos.

So my advice to those who are trying to get started on social media is to first know your brand identity, create your brand kit, and be resourceful. If you do not have the funds to hire a professional photographer, use what you have. I started with an Android One+ 6T and now photographers contact me often to shoot my collections.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Instagram hands down and client referrals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FiveElevenCollection.com
• Instagram: @FiveElevenCollection
• Facebook: Five Eleven Collection
• Other: info@fiveelevencollection.com

Photographers:
@MariaFlash | @NathanPaul_IsTheName | @MashburnPhoto | @Jameson_Shoots

Models:
@MargoFallin | @ElliottShipman | @teresaap98 | @parisroseprince | @b__moist | @garret.fredrickson.86