Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Keyosha Pulliam. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Keyosha , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
I created the name Blackstarr when I was an intern back in 2013.. I always been a fan of anime and galaxies. my favorite anime is Sailor Moon . So I created a brand that I have the aesthetic of Sailor Moon and mixing it together with my alternative Afro punk aesthetic.
And with the name Keyo_customs it was a no-brainer. My name is Keyo and I do Custom Clothing.
Keyosha , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
All right well my name is Keyosha I’m a fashion designer from South Jersey and I got into designing clothes when I was 15. I went to a technical high school and learned the technical skill of fashion design. After high school, I went to college at the art institute of Philadelphia to learn fashion and consumer science.. after I learned a lot about myself as a Designer, I can read it blackStarr fashions for all the alternative Afro punk out there ! Sooner than later, because of my constructive skills, I also create , design and construct clothing custom to my customers that I personally get to design with one appointments. During the pandemic, I decided to make it Keyo_customs to make it its own thing and making BlackStarrfashions remaining it’s all ready to wear brand
Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?
When I started my business, it was a Work by mouth. My very first custom suit I made at 18 years old in borrowed sewing machine for my neighbor.
Sooner or later, I was at a internship at a local boutique, and wondered how I can make a brand of my own.
I knew I needed money for equipment so I started with only $20 in my pocket to buy three of the cheapest shirts and some acrylic paints . I took three little shirts, and made galaxy portraits out of the three shirts and in the acrylic paints..
From the three shirts at Price each one at $40 . Give me a profit back of $120
I took 110 of the profit and bought me a song machine . The last $10 I bought it when you’re a fabric. What are your favorite I was able to make a small body con to price it as $75 and from there, I continue to make pieces and also do custom and tailoring services all because I invested $20 to make three T-shirt on my own .
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
My best success strategies so far been me connecting with customers, face-to-face. Just by showcasing. Or sitting at a booth with my creations.
May be able to give the excellent customer service in person drives my customers to come back, knowing that it is a real lady behind the fashion that they are wearing.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Blackstarr – https://instagram.com/blackstarrfashions?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA== : Keyo_customs – https://instagram.com/keyo_customs?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@Blackstarrfashions