Terrance: Making Space in Fashion
Welcome to the first in a new series focused on building queer sewing businesses! In this series, we’ll hear from business owners in our community who will offer advice, tips, and lived experience around creating sewing businesses that uphold their values. Look forward to new posts in the series every other month!
To find more queer sewing businesses to support, check out our directory. If you’re a queer sewing business owner who would like to be included in the directory or contribute a blog post to this series, email us at info@sewqueer.org.
Terrance sits in a tree, eyes closed and head on one hand, wearing an embroidered tulle duster layered over a dark green skirt.
Ever since the beginning of my business there have been certain principles that have been very important. The first thing is sustainability, and specifically human rights in regards to sustainability. The second has been inclusivity: not putting labels and limitations on things in order to make it accessible to everyone. We are currently in a time where more and more people are able to openly and freely express who they are and how they identify. For a lot of people strict gender roles and expectations are blending together and all but disappearing, making way for people to be able to express their identity how they want to. Because of this newfound freedom it’s been a really exciting time for fashion, especially for brands like my own who put inclusivity at the forefront of everything that they do.
“Your brand needs to be more than just a brand. Your business needs to be more than just a business. It needs to stand for something.”
One thing that I tell other small businesses and brands is that it’s not enough to just be a small business, you have to have a very clear brand identity and purpose. Now more than ever it’s vital for that purpose and that brand identity to connect with the current customer who isn’t necessarily looking for blue for boy and pink for girl imagery and items.
A flat lay of Terrence’s packaging, showing a folded yellow, pink, green, and orange paisley fabric wrapped in twine with a photo of Terrence in a belted embroidered tulle duster. The package and photo are tied together with white string and lying on top of a recycled mailer.
When I started my brand I did it to create a safe fashion space for myself, but it has evolved into creating a safe fashion space for everyone. And it’s been working! As I close in on 3000 orders to date, I reflect on the emails and messages that I get weekly from people thanking me. Thanking me for creating an inclusive line that helps them feel beautiful and have the confidence to take on whatever life throws at them. Whether it is someone who is battling cancer who buys my headbands to help them feel beautiful without any hair. Whether it’s someone who tells me they could never find plus-size clothing that made them feel confident and beautiful and now with my pieces they finally do. Or even the messages from people who thank me for being authentic and living in my truth because it helps them on their journey of coming out and living in their truth. I also get messages from parents who can now have conversations with their children about their children’s personal journey and how as a parent they can better understand what they are experiencing and going through in order to support them and be the best parent that they can be.
Terrence stands in front of a modern building, photographed from slightly below eye level, wearing a black tulle gown embroidered with white flowers and dots and matching boots with white sequined flames on the toes.
Your brand needs to be more than just a brand. Your business needs to be more than just a business. It needs to stand for something. The items on my website are made to order, so people can enter in their size and their measurements and then I make the garments according to that. Even the headbands are adjustable by the knot in the front. They can be made bigger or smaller so they can fit a variety of head sizes. I don’t label things male or female, they are just genderless. It’s small things like this that make an inclusive brand and that make it so people feel welcome and safe. Sustainability also should be a focus of your brand and business, and sustainability extends beyond just saving the environment and the animals to include the people who make and manufacture your items, your supplies, your clothing. By sourcing fabric from companies that pay their workers fair wages, do not exploit their labor, and provide them with safe working conditions, my brand is always advocating for human rights and the improved treatment of garment workers. By using fabrics that are produced in a conscious way, by using mailers that are recyclable, reusable, and compostable, and by donating to businesses and programs that are removing carbon from the environment, my business is constantly advocating for environmental change. Consumers are voting with their dollars and showing us more each day a conscious brand is something they are willing to invest in.
Never be afraid to let your identity lead the way and drive what you do. Being visible as a black gay man and creating fashion pieces that speak to who I am has helped inspire other people to live in their truth and wear pieces that speak to who they are. At the end of the day that is one of the most important things for me!
Terrance stands barefoot in a grassy field, smiling and wearing a long red ombre tulle duster over a white tank top and shorts.
Terrance Williams is a self taught sewist and small business owner of the brand Terrance Williams Designs. IG: @Terrancewilliamsdesigns and @terrancewilliams_ Twitter: twitter.com/terrancedesigns Facebook: www.facebook.com/terrancewilliamsdesigns
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