We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shawnta Bowie. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shawnta below.

Shawnta , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The Story of Life Line

In spring/summer of 2016 my health had took a really nasty turn that honestly I didn’t think I would be alive to see my 27th birthday in 2017. I just got really sick out of nowhere. I went to see every specialist, every doctor you could imagine and all my tests and exams came back showing nothing. I spent so much time in and out of not only doctor offices but emergency rooms as well. Just to paint a quick picture of what I was experiencing, my body was in excruciating pain everyday, I was tender to touch, I could not stand for long without feeling like I would fall on my face, when I did stand my heart rate would drop like 20-30 beats and I was so weak all the time. Some nights I was afraid to fall asleep due to fear of not waking up… Then something happened, God sent me a life line to keep me holding on to hope, to keep me inspired, he knew I needed a piece of heaven to get through this hell storm I was in and would be facing… That Life Line was my wardrobe styling business Uniquely Beautiful. On my worst days, I was the most creative, God was setting me up to accomplish some amazing things and experience some really dope opportunities. Uniquely Beautiful kept me holding on to hope, it made me realize that no matter how ugly life gets, if we trust God he will show us the beauty of the storm. God had to strip me from everything I had planned for my life so that he could birth my purpose! Fast forward I was eventually diagnosed with fibromyalgia and this journey is not always pleasant. Knowing that I know the effects of life breaking you down completely, I knew that I wanted to create something that everyone, no matter age, race, walk of life could relate to and also believe in; so I created an apparel brand called Life Line Brand. The sole purpose of the brand is to encourage, motivate and inspire individuals to keep holding on to hope and to trust God’s process. God will always be the ultimate life line but I do believe that he sends us tangible life lines to help us get through the storms of life. For every season of life, we may need a different type of Life line, whether it be family, spouse, children, work, school, friends, etc. For me and the season I was in, Uniquely Beautiful was mine. Living with Fibromyalgia is definitely a struggle more days than not but I vow to keep holding on to hope and trusting God and the plans he has for me, so I just want to encourage others to do the same.

Shawnta , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always been into all things fashion and style. Growing up I was a Tom boy, I played basketball, very athletic and hated dresses and skirts but I loved putting outfits together. I knew that was a happy place for me. I have always been the friend that my friends would ask for fashion advice or to help put outfits together.. Fast forward to when I got high all of that changed. I was still a tomboy but now I loved to get dressed, I would literally plan out my outfits for the week on Sundays . From the shoes, the accessories, everything. Then the night before all I had to do was grab a complete outfit and iron it and I was good to go. Now as an adult fashion and styling is still my passion. I love to get dressed up, all my friends would say I’m the over the top friend. I love all things tulle, I love prints, patterns and fedoras are my ultimate favorite accessories, I would wear one everyday if I could. For me fashion is always a way to express myself and I how feel that day. My motto has always been that you can tell a lot about a person style based off of their personality and that helped me so much as a stylist. Clients would be shocked that I could describe their style without them even trying to explain it to me, just based on their personality.

Once I got diagnosed with fibromyalgia and my styling company was birthed, I was blessed with some amazing experiences. I got to go to New York fashion week and experience doing fashion shows and just experience New York and its fashion world. If you’ve never been to Fashion Week, hunny, it is an experience I will never forget. The mission behind Uniquely Beautiful was to help individuals feel Beautiful inside and out but through fashion. We all have flaws and insecurities but we have to learn to enhance them, compliment them so that our confidence will blossom. The clothes should never where you, you should always where the clothes.

Fast forward to now I knew that God needed me to do something different and that’s when LifeLine Brand was Born. I wanted to encourage others that could be battling the same health challenges I am to keep holding on to hope, keep trusting God’s process and to be keep striving no matter what. It’s not easy living with a chronic illness. I knew that God had to strip me of everything I thought I needed and wanted so that he could birth my purpose. Life happens and it gets rough, but no matter how hard it gets, you have to keep the faith, pray, but most importantly never give up. Know that God is the ULTIMATE LIFELINE but he sends us tangible life lines to help us get through the storms, whether it be your job, children, spouse, friend group, a stranger, therapist. Every season won’t require the same LifeLine but he’ll definitely send you one, you just have to be open to receiving it.

LifeLine is a street wear brand that provides unisex apparel. The apparel is a reminder of two things, one that your lifeline is coming and two that you must keep holding on, keep holding on to hope, don’t give up. God has a purpose for our pain. We have Crewnecks, hoodies, joggers, hats, accessories and my favorite tumblers.

I think what sets me apart is that this brand is so personal because I live the daily struggle of coping with being/ having an illness. And yes sometimes it gets really dark but on those days when I’m at my worst I either wear a t-shirt, Crewneck for a physical reminder that this too shall pass or I have to remind myself that my lifeline is coming. Also I’ve learned to be comfortable with knowing that there is power and healing for others through my struggle, so although it makes me very uncomfortable for various reasons people knowing my story, I can’t have the brand without it and people need to know what they are supporting. I’m most proud of the testimonials of how lifeline has encouraged someone. If one person is inspired, motivated and touched, I am satisfied and I consider my mission accomplished.

So just a moment of vulnerability, yes I have fibromyalgia but I just don’t like that name, so in true Shawnta form I gave it a name. I refer to it as Fabio, he’s like the boyfriend that just won’t go away or let you break up with him. I had to find some type of humor in this chaotic diagnosis.

So having Fabio makes it very difficult to be consistent in my business because I’m down more than I’m up, I never know what my body will decide to do or feel like at any given moment. So it’s hard to create content consistently, it’s hard to make the clothes, I usually press everything myself but now my body started fighting against that so it’s been hard to do.. but I am learning to ask for help. When Fabio won’t let me be great which is most of the time, I have to ask for help. I’m thankful for my family and friends who help out with whatever it is that I need, from pressing clothes, packing clothes, just mental support, promoting, sharing everything. My tribe is definitely top tier…

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

So last year, I did my very first vendoring event at a pop-up shop, and it was a success. Now you won’t sell out at all the pop-up shops, but it’s still good exposure. I was able to meet so many great people and make connections with people that I may have never had the chance to meet otherwise. I was able to vendor at a festival this year, which was a really dope experience. Pop-up shops are a great way to network and also build your social media following. Most of the people who purchased from my table have become repeat clients. I had them sign up for my SMS messaging and follow my social media page as well. That way, they can see new releases and promotions. I look forward to vendoring a lot more in the future.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

So I have always worked in retail, over 10 years of experience but Fabio just wasn’t happy there anymore. My body had started to fight against me in more ways than just one and was making it really hard for me to be able to fully do my job. I can’t stand for long periods of time, so I was Already working short shifts, I started having nerve issues in my hands, arms and feet so I couldn’t really use my hands, could barely walk some days. I was just a mess and although my supervisor were very understanding and worked with me, I knew I had to try and find a desk job. Physically i just couldnt do it anymore and i was tired of my body defeating me. But I didn’t just want any desk job, it had to be something I would enjoy. So long story short, I am a dog lover with all my heart. I’m definitely that over the top dog mom, but I used to work at a doggie daycare/boarding facility. So I took my dog to board there for the first time last summer and my old boss was there, I told her that I’d love to come back but I’d have to work at the front desk and sure enough she needed someone and I started like 2 weeks later. It was definitely bitter sweet leaving the mall because I’ve been there forever, but Fabio was breaking me down. He hated it. So I’ve been there a year this August and yes I still have Terrible days but my boss is very understanding and works with me but the dogs are my happy place. They know when I don’t feel well, they stick to me especially my favorite little office dogs. Sometimes when I’m really struggling I’ll go snuggle in a kennel with one of my favorite big dogs and it doesn’t take away my pain but it makes me feel better.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.thelifelinebrand.com
• Instagram: @_thelifelinebrand_
• Facebook: @Life Line Brand