We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shanteria Franklin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shanteria , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My clothing line was designed when I was actually really Young . I use to look at Fashion Magazines and put there pictures on my Wall . Growing up I watch my Auntie Cut and Design clothes while I was younger in Miami. So I start off drawing and drawing how I felt about things . And items to go along with my thoughts . And I started thinking in my words of slang language when I see something that’s Different . I always say that Junk Fye . Meaning you put everything together Perfectly . Or when you dress completely different from Others . So I want to be able to express my way of different inside the industry. Despite who may not be accustom to what creative ideas I have . I know my reason in what I’m doing with fashion . By simply being myself no one else
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?
My name is Shanteria But most people know me as Mack. I was born in Miami Fl. Ive spent half my life in Miami and the other half in Atlanta.I’m different is because I know Fashion but I’m just different with my way of fashion. My brand is set apart from other brands because I just be myself with my brand . Express how I’m feeling and knowing mutual people out there feel the same way . I express myself through the mistakes I make everyday to improve and get better . It’s like one day I’m perfect the next day I’m not but my Brand is slowly improving with better quality. Through all the mistakes and challenges and plus I know it takes people a long time to Adjust to something different . So I just keep Grinding. because I know I’m going somewhere with this whole Plan and Idea . I Got inside the industry by just being creative , networking , providing Good Quality Hats , Hoodies, Jeans , Jean Jackets , Shirts. I provide Hats with paint or embroidery. I have 10different hat collections . My Top Selling Hat is the Richer Than Ever Hats . Made by me. I sell my hats 2 for $50. Painted Hats are $55 for now because they are exclusives . I actually made one hat that’s selling out pretty fast . My Hoodies are 2 for $100 my top selling Hoodies are the FyeJunk hoodies . The money collection was the Top Selling hoodies. Made a lot of money off them. My Jean Jackets are my top selling Items . Off of 2 you are usually looking at about $250. But it comes with patches and my view of art. Im most proud of my all my collections . I’ve made good connections that people love till this day. To see people wearing something you worked hard to creat when it was all just thought you had and put it into reality is Beyond Great and a Blessings. I just want everybody to know I’m only getting Better . The more obstacles I express with running a business and the hard times only build me and my Brand up for better long term . It may be Hard To adjust to something different I know . But without change you remain the same like you in a box so if you want to place outside the box . Shop with at Fye Junk
Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?
I had just created a Hockey Jersey online. I love wearing Jerseys . And I always wanted a hockey jersey but designed in a way to support my brand . I went online started looking for vendors to design my Hockey Jerseys . So I went to fansidea They did my Jersey completely wrong . But I didn’t get mad at them because the front was missing the Logo I created the back was Perfect . I received it after waiting months for it . I posted a TikTok video of it . And then on my Instagram story on IG. People were hitting me up like crazy that day . I told them the price is $150 After I posted I seen many others doing it . And then people started shopping with other brands of it . When I was the one who put it together . So I learned to not post my ideas on social media until it is correctly promoted
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I was at 100 followers on IG I just moved up to 255 I’m promoting now for more my plan this year is set for a 1000 people of more never know what God plan maybe . I started promoting more on Instagram reaching to more states then my Sales grew in Due time . But it’s still Up and Down . but if you want build your IG followers with your brand just be yourself and be creative if people a vibe with everything you put out .
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