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

Tki , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How do you feel about asking friends and family to support your business? What’s appropriate, what’s not? Where do you draw the line?

I have an amazing support system when it comes to Tki Francis and the brand Real Gunkie. The Real Gunkie fan base is made up of friends, family, former classmates, customers, and others who I have met on my journey as a fashion designer. I am always overwhelmed with joy of the outpouring of love and support from those that I know. Just recently, I created a campaign to sell raffle tickets to afford the opportunity to showcase my brand with an organization during Los Angeles Fashion Week. To my surprise, I was able to pay for all of the travel expenses through the “LA. TO L.A. Benefit Raffle.” When asking friends and family to support, I normally make social media posts, create an email campaign with my subscribers list on my website, and reach out directly. I am truly grateful and blessed to have my family and friends support my business and believe in my brand.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Upon graduating from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Fashion Merchandising and Consumer Studies, I moved to New Orleans to pursue my career in fashion, and this is when Real Gunkie was born. Since the birth of Real Gunkie, the clothing company has been featured in several fashion shows including Raw New Orleans, Raw Austin Texas, Rock the Runway Essence 2017 hosted by Angel Love of Basketball Wives, a Featured Designer in New Orleans Fashion Week 2018, the Renaissance fashion show during New York Fashion Week, Let the Good Times Roll Festival in Shreveport, Walk Fashion Show during Los Angeles Fashion Week, and toured with Coastal Fashion Week just to name a few notable fashion shows. Real Gunkie has made her presence known on several radio interviews and commercials on Music Exchange Radio, radio commercials and interviews on 103.7 Tha beat in Shreveport, Louisiana, news interviews on Fox 33 in Shreveport, Louisiana, front-page news in the Shreveport Times, Louisiana Tech University Featured Alumni, published in the Bossier Press-Tribune, and a published stylist in 7 Hues Magazine. Tki Francis has also launched her Real Gunkie Fashion Program which is a free fashion camp dedicated to the youth. The Real Gunkie brand has traveled all over gaining knowledge and building brand awareness. I have used my expertise to host two fashion shows in my hometown while collaborating with fashion favorites from all over the Southeast Region. I am active in my community of New Orleans and Shreveport-Bossier Louisiana and soon Real Gunkie will be a household name.

Real Gunkie sells custom designs, vintage pieces, and active apparel all in one shop. This is what sets us apart from the competition. Real Gunkie allows the customer to feel elite and exclusive at a one-stop clothing shop. Real Gunkie has the ability to keep the fashion-forward and fashion cautious customer exclusive. I am most proud of Real Gunkie remaining relevant in the fashion industry since 2013. This is not easy to accomplish. Real Gunkie has evolved over the years by staying true to who we are but also learning new ways to reach different clients. We started our business revamping demin, to creating an active apparel line and selling vintage items. Now we create custom clothing and host fashion events. There is so much more we plan to accomplish in years to come. Real Gunkie is here to stay!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a fashion designer is being able to use my creative imagination to produce stand out garments and fashion forward events. Our stand out pieces make clients look stunning. To know that a client chose Real Gunkie over other designers and brands will always be gratifying.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m sure that the pandemic was a pivotal moment for every business and creative. Most Americans were not shopping and only spending on essentials. Real Gunkie had to create products that were essential. Everyone needed face masks, so we decided to fufill the demand. Of course we had to make it fashion, Real Gunkie offered a matching headband set and mask option as well a mask and headwrap option. Being able to remain trendy, fashionable, and essential kept Real Gunkie alive during these uncertain times.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.realgunkie.com
• Instagram: realgunkie
• Facebook: Tki Francis of Real Gunkie
• Youtube: Tki Francis of Real Gunkie

Image Credits
Personal: photo credit E Will Photography Other Images: 1. Picture: E Will Photography 2. Real Gunkie during during Los Angeles Fashion Week with WALK 3. Real Gunkie during New Orleans Fashion Week/Photographer: EB Photographer 4.Rory Photography/ Tki Francis with Style of Life Dance Company at The Real Gunkie Fashion Festival 5. Photographer: Young Pros Tki Francis at the Real Gunkie Fashion Program 6.Photographer: Rory Photographer/ Real Gunkie Fashion Festival