We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Youree Maddox Dickerson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Youree, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful, it takes hard work, dedication and consistency. Each person measures their personal success differently. For me, it starts with setting goals and being committed to them. Rather than focusing on the outcome as a whole, take time to focus on each small step it takes to successfully complete each goal. Celebrate small and large victories. Have fun while you are doing it and enjoy the journey. Think positively, but also be honest with yourself.

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

I am Queen Youree, designer and stylist out of Dallas, Texas. I was born in Union City, Tennessee, and I graduated with a Fashion Merchandising and Design degree from the University of Tennessee at Martin.

I started a clothing line called Youree’s aFREEcan Runway during the pandemic in 2020. I’ve always loved bright, vivid, colorful, patterns and prints, so African Ankara fabrics tend to catch my eye. These fabrics are loud and proud, a lot like my personality. I can make my statement and leave my mark without saying a word.

I mentally create different styles and garments often. Sometimes it’s frustrating to know exactly what you want to wear, but that piece only exists in your head. That’s when I put pencil to paper or merge parts of garments together almost like a puzzle. I then find fabrics that I think will really bring my designs to life. I send the designs to Nigeria and Ghana to have them handmade. I choose to have all my pieces made in the continent of Africa so they will be authentic.

I am also a stylist. Styling gives me a chance to create looks based off of someone else’s personal wants and needs. Making other look good and feel confident by using my gift feels amazing.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing my clientele is consistency, consistency and consistency. The more work, time and effort you put into your craft, the more your business will grow.

As a designer and stylist, I have to be confident in my work or the client won’t feel confident in me. I listen to my clients’ needs and deliver styles/looks that make them feel confident. Confidence is key!

When you combine consistency and confidence together, you will get a happy client! This clients not only wants to return to use your services again, but they also refer potential clients to you.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

I started designing and styling in high school. I didn’t do it on a professional level back then, but I was always the go-to person when it came to fashion and style. It was something that just came naturally for me, so I decided to go to college and major in fashion. It was tough trying to get into the fashion industry, because I was in a very small city in Tennessee.

After I graduated college I was offered a teaching position at the high school that I graduated from, so I took the job. I didn’t have to apply or anything! The principal basically called me and ask me to come work for him. I was fresh out of college with my job so I took it. I enjoyed teaching, but my dreams of being in the big city and being a famous fashion designer never left me.

The next school year I moved to Dallas and continued teaching. During that time I would only use my styling and fashion skills on myself, family and friends. Let’s just say, I was the Fashionista teacher.

I left the school system and later started working at a university in Dallas in hospitality management. The salary was good, but I still wasn’t doing what God put me here to do. I could just feel it inside, but I was content and felt secure with the money I was making at my 8-5 job. Then COVID hit and the world felt like it was shutting down.

The campus I worked at closed, so that’s when I birthed Youree’s aFREEcan Runway. I feel like if it wasn’t for COVID, I would have never created my first clothing line. I was still working virtually and eventually back on campus, but it didn’t feel right anymore. I still worked, all while trying to grow my brand, and it was a struggle.

Fast forward to today, I now have my own designing and styling company that I work full time. I also work for Nordstrom as a stylist for there online video production team. I absolutely love what I do, and I am ready to share my gift even more with the world. Watch out for me!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.youreesafreecanrunway.com
• Instagram: youree_maddox
• Facebook: Youree Maddox
• Linkedin: Youree Maddox
• Other: https://qyshops.myshop.fashion/

Image Credits
Boss Image Studios