We were lucky to catch up with Daniel Grier recently and have shared our conversation below.
Daniel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Starting anything is to take a risk and bet on yourself. Starting my brands has been the most challenging thing to date but those same challenges define your character. I have learned so much about people and business through my journey over the last 10yrs. I am grateful to have seen this journey through for this long. To have impacted the lives I have, dressed the stars I have been able to work with, champion some of the causes I have brought light too, and inspired and uplifted others in the process. I am grateful to do what I love and to continue to see myself grow as an artist. The risk does come with rewards and it’s important to really take those wins in and smell those flowers. I would encourage anyone with a dream to take that risk, do the research, define your passions, know your why, come up with a plan, find your community, and go make the Splash you are meant to make. It will be hard and challenges will come but you get through them and you get better and better with time. Like they say, “No risk, no reward.” The pressure makes diamonds and you have to believe that the entire way through. I feel like the only failure would be to not try. I believe that we are all meant to make an impact. To leave this world better than we found it.
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 got into fashion by taking a risk and showing off my work I had been working on with the public via social media. I had no expectations of what would happen next. I was literally tie dying every pair of jeans I could find and working on my technique and one day I had a stack of jeans that made people wanna wear them when they saw me in them. One day I uploaded some photos I had taken at a football game after the reaction I got there and that literally launched my business. I had no plan, no website or anything, just what I could do. I would collect my orders via social media and conduct the main business through email. Today I offer custom clothing that I repurpose and up-cycle, I also cut and sew and create some ready to wear pieces as well. My items are found online at my e-commerce site. In addition to my clothing brand, Splashed by DKG, I also run and manage, Magic City Fashion Week INC. With MCFW, the goal is to show off emerging talent and build and nurture the creative community in the city of Birmingham and surrounding areas. I am most proud of the work and causes I have been able to bring attention to with DKG, the confidence my brand has played a part in building for our clients and community. That spirit has flowed into MCFW and I am very proud of the impact we have had through MCFW. We have been to fund 3 designers careers moving forward past their competition win, provide professional development for designers and creatives, fundraise to have our shows that showcase our community, and I am very proud of the work the community does to showcase their magic through content meet ups etc. I want people to know that I care deeply about creatives and them having a clearer pipeline to success out of the South. To have access to a network of artists at various stages in their community, as well as resources. It was difficult and still is very difficult to run a brand with no prior experience specifically out of the South. I have had some great success come from it by truly knowing who I am, my why, and who I serve. I pride myself on being good to people and adding value to them and they’re wardrobe. It’s amazing what you can do and accomplishment when you believe in yourself. I believe that when people look their best, then they can feel their best, and therefore show up at their best. Life is hard and if I can help to create that cape for the superhero to go save their world and achieve their dreams then my job is done.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
This is a great question. I feel society can best support artists by seeking them out and engaging with their work. Asking questions to understand their why and supporting what feels right to that individual. If you connect with their work and their message, what they stand for. Support them and champion them like we do with the bigger brands in the world. Share their work which costs us nothing but a few moments of our time to say what we like about the brand or why people should support them. Support them with donations and/or purchasing their products. Gift them to others. Become an advocate for them if you really resonate and then offer them constructive feedback of what they can do better or how to reach more clients. I am a big believer in the quote, ” If you want to see someone win, you help them win.” A lot of artists especially Black artists, need access to capital, exposure, and community. Those are the ingredients after you have your concept and the why down that you need to make your dreams come true. It also needs to be consistent. One amazing thing about an emerging artist is the ability to access them as they build. If you love the brand take advantage of that and help them win. In turn, the community wins, the consumer, and the artist. Just be telling people about great brands and where to find them, you too are adding value and building community for yourself and artists.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
My brands, Splashed by DKG and Magic City Fashion Week, both launched through social media. Once I had the ideas, I would start engaging my followers about that idea. There was a void in the community for what I had to offer and I made sure the message was clear and that I was showcasing my pieces and shows in the best light possible. Clear thoughts and great pictures. I started to share my work and the message behind it. People connected with the work and wanted to be apart of that community so they would engage back. I genuinely poured into them and they would pour right back through the support, sharing, purchases, etc. I went live a lot on social media to talk about products and events to make sure people understood what I was doing or saying. They understood my mission and what value I was bringing so I would host regular pop up shops, fashion shows, and events so they knew what they were buying into and that they could trust me in this space. They could feel the products, try them on, ask me questions. I am always open to engage and regularly showing myself to my community and the process as much as I could show. I also co-design and work closely with my clients and that also helps to build relationships and community. I would also ask a lot of questions and encourage my audience to share with their audiences if they loved it. Always looking for ways to collaborate with people that had a similar vision or an audience that we could both benefit. So I have also been apart of a lot of other peoples events, lives, shows, etc. That was the strategy for the most part and posting as consistently as I could. The objective is to make goals that you can maintain. Social media rewards consistency. You also have to pay close attention to what your audience responds well to.
Contact Info:
- Website: splashedbydkg.com, Magiccityfashionweek.org
- Instagram: @splashedbydkg, @magiccityfashionweek
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SplashedbyDKG/ https://www.facebook.com/magiccityfashionweek/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-grier-674163164/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@splashedbydkg3260
- Other: MCFW youtube https://www.youtube.com/@mcfwofficial965
Image Credits
Daniel Grier Pipe Jaramillo Fuse TV Magic City Fashion Week Nashville Fashion Week