We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Brie a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful, you have to be resilient. Setbacks and obstacles are a part of the game but, you can’t let them break you. I have had so many moments when I wanted to give up, but you have to be committed. It’s essentially signing a non-negotiable contract with yourself that you are going to finish whatever it is that you have set out to do. I look at people whose careers I admire for tips on how to navigate and become a successful person.

There’s no real blueprint when you’re a creative, but certain habits will make the path less treacherous. I listen to podcasts, read books, and take in as much information as possible.

Rebecca, 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?

I am an artist and designer. I attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for fashion design and worked for several years as a fashion stylist before launching my own brand in 2020. I don’t like to put myself in a box, so I bounce between art and fashion. I enjoy making mixed media collages and designing apparel, accessories and interiors. What sets me apart is that I can move between both worlds in my work. My collections are often playful and quirky, while maintaining a strong message of social justice and inclusion.

For example, my Black Nutcracker series has been very popular because people are not used to seeing powerful black characters on merchandise during the holiday season. My nutcracker was inspired by the 1968 Olympic Black Power Salute when Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised a black fist on the podium. My ballerina and sugar plum fairy are Nina Simone and Billie Holiday, both iconic black singers who also used their careers as a platform to protest the racial injustices in America. I’m a firm believer that representation matters and through my work people of color can see themselves. The Rebecca Brie brand is about being unapologetic in your space and your style.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

I currently sell some of my products on Amazon, my own website (www.rebeccabrie.com), and a few specialty boutiques. Amazon is a huge platform, so as far as marketing and brand exposure it has been a great opportunity.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I love reading books and listening to podcasts to keep me motivated and inspired. A few of my favorite podcasts are The Second Life by Hillary Kerr where she interviews women in various careers who took a risk professionally and began a new career path later in life. The Courtney Sanders podcast is also very informative for anyone looking to grow their business. The Happiness Lab by Laurie Santos and The Homecoming by Dr. Thema are my go tos for mental health and work/life balance. Atomic Habits is an awesome book about creating good habits to elevate your life. I also love visitng museums, traveling, and listening to music to stay inspired.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rebeccabrie.com
• Instagram: rebeccabriebrie
• Facebook: rebeccabrie
• Linkedin: rebeccabrie
• Twitter: rebeccabrie