Website: https://www.outfitsnaccessoriesbymaib.com
Instagram @outfits_by_maib
[00:00:00] This is the FCB Podcast Network. This is Backstage Pass with Victoria Henley. Hi everybody and welcome into another episode of Backstage Pass, it's your host, your Victoria and I have an amazing guest here with me today.
[00:00:32] It is the designer and CEO of The Dynamic Brand, outfits and accessories by May. May how are you today? I'm good, I'm excited and thank you so much for this opportunity Victoria. Well May thank you so much again for joining us.
[00:00:48] It's just always a delight to kind of be in your orbit and I, you know, taking it Taking it back, we're just, you're our number one winner from our Spring Showcase. I mean, you didn't incredible job.
[00:01:00] We're going to talk about that and I want to take it to the origin of your brand. When did you first know that this is what you wanted to do with your life? And what's your, what's your origin story as a designer?
[00:01:11] Well, I'm originally from a country called Liberia that is located on the west coast of Africa. And my memory goes back to my mother grandmother on because my family can be traced back to the US. The free-sleeers go into Liberia and our flag was actually designed by a
[00:01:37] Descendant of mine courses and on Lewis. And because she have my greater from here to Africa that is why we have the similarity with the stripes and the one star. Okay. So, going has always been in my background. My earliest memories go back to family sewing.
[00:01:58] So it's something I grew up with. And I remember making my very first outfit at the age of 11 years old. I made a dress and I wanted to church. So that's more, it's not a hobby for me. It's a weird life.
[00:02:16] If I'm going through a situation, that's where I go to find my car. So I love it. I really do. And about I've been sewing for other family members. Coyons for I would say going back maybe 15 years. Well, okay. It will be cool. I'm doing the pandemic.
[00:02:38] I started to make masks because as you all know, that was a hot commodity. It was not something easy to find. So I started to make fabric masks. And I would take pictures and post it on Facebook and social media. And I started to get orders.
[00:02:56] And I would say during the heart of the pandemic, I made over 2000. Wow. Yes. And I started getting orders on my mistakes. So I did that for the longest time. You know? So sewing is where I find my car.
[00:03:15] You know, no matter what's going on in the world, I'm center. You know, I resheld to my Heavenly Father. I'm a Christian and the next thing from that with other than my family is sewing. And then I register my business officially three years ago.
[00:03:33] Like I said, doing the harder to put them in. So yeah. That's such an incredible story. Also your family's origins because so many people do not know their ancestry. And what an incredible ancestry you have.
[00:03:44] So may I have to ask somebody who you know, I've seen your line of warn your line. You have everything from you know the Audrey Hepburn style, like classic pieces to a little bit funky and edgy. You even can see that that African print, you know,
[00:03:57] you do a lot of them culturally immersive pieces. So what is your process like when you're designing these pieces? Where does your mind go to tell us about how that comes to be? So as you just mentioned, the style is everywhere.
[00:04:13] When it comes to fashion, I love it all, no matter what it is. And I think that's how my creation starts. Like if I'm going to an event and there is a theme, that's where my mind will go. I always wanted to incorporate my background as an African,
[00:04:34] but just I'm restricted. I can make an outfit where you look at it and not see that. Oh my gosh, she's from a small country in the West Coast of Africa. Like the dress that I made purposely for you,
[00:04:48] Victor, it's where and I'm so I want to engage in nail-bad dress. And like you said, it's back to the 60s because what got to the 60s or the 40s or the 30s? You can still see that style coming back. You know, and that's the beautiful fashion.
[00:05:04] It's not just in one corner, you know, it, you bring it back up, you add a little fun to it or something different. And there you go, you have a new style. So I take the moment as it happens. Like with the fashion show, I wanted to show
[00:05:20] every possible style that I'm able to make. And that is why you saw that there was a 60 look. There was an African print look. There was a hoodie, you know, that I made. So yeah, I don't like to be restrained.
[00:05:37] And that is why you see that in my style. I love that. And it's such an eclectic mix. There truly is something for everyone. Another thing I love about your brand is that you cater to a diverse array of body types and heights.
[00:05:51] I mean, it's truly an inclusive. It's that fashion is for everyone. And I love that that fits your narrative. Now, may you've designed for so many people. I mean, you've done commission work and shows. Tell me, though, if you could dress a dream client,
[00:06:05] it could be a celebrity a public figure from the pastor present. Who would that be? Oh my God. Okay. So I am still a huge fan of prints. I'm so proud of you. But with us. Yes. As in was it's not a fan.
[00:06:24] But I was able to drag her to the essence festival the last one he. Wow. You know, highlight. Great. So I'm joyier to New Orleans. We have fun. It was so beautiful. And that is the one thing I regret not even him.
[00:06:44] You know, to be able to be the same stage other than that arena. But if I had that opportunity because you know his style was just his own. He did not have. You could not, you know, tie him down to one style.
[00:06:59] So if I had an opportunity for someone pass that would be prints. Present Michelle Obama. I would love to design something for her because she is also an icon. She told us and continue to show us beautiful styles. You know, so that would be my two top.
[00:07:23] Someone that has that is no longer with us and someone that is still with us. I love that. I love that and big prints fan to and hey, for Michelle Obama put it out in the universe. You never know where you heard it here folks.
[00:07:35] And I think that would be such an iconic iconic duo right there. You know, her in one of your pieces and truly may. I mean, your styles. They're unique. They're different. It and there's not a lot of the same thing. So you've, you've done these shows.
[00:07:51] You know, you really kind of kicked into gear during the pandemic. You've been sewing for a while. But that was kind of your it seems like that was returning moment of okay. I'm I'm really going to really push this brand. Since then you've done shows.
[00:08:04] You've done, you know, appearances events. What is the standout? What's the top appearance that you've done so far without fits in accessories by my by me? Well, honestly, your fashion show was my very first one.
[00:08:20] And I love that you, you know, as a person who always remember our first the opposite or negative one. Your fashion show is going to be definitely in my memory for the rest of my life because you allow me. You created this platform and allow someone like me.
[00:08:40] I have come close several times where I've been invited something will happen. And I just felt like it was not the time that God created to say, Hey, this is where this is the time that you're going to do this.
[00:08:54] So he was able to have us connect and you are allowed me to do that. Now I have made outfits for so many crimes. I did my first European outfit for someone's wedding or a destination wedding.
[00:09:12] It was my first sign doing that as well as African, you know, traditional African weddings. I've soon, you know, divided outfit or family member standing in the ceremony. But if it comes to fashion shows, yours was the first and I loved it. Wonderful.
[00:09:36] I love this, because it's just the atmosphere. There's no way to explain what you're experiencing. Because there's so much good no, and you become part of a family, you know, that helped the assistance that you get even with me being my first.
[00:09:51] I won't point out what's just lost and then a couple of models come over to me and like, Okay, so this is what you need to do. This is what. And within hours at 30 minutes, I felt like I was a pro.
[00:10:03] There was that help coming in and then you coming with all that. Action with you, you know, you just rev up the room. You do what you have to do, sector where you walk out and you, that's that's it with us, you know,
[00:10:18] having to show, um, comments. So thank you for that. I wanted to tell you, thank you, thank you, thank you for this opportunity. And when I learned that I won, I learned on you posted it on Instagram.
[00:10:31] And I learned because my family, I came to the night and four. And then right after my show, I left. And we didn't get home until two or three o'clock in the morning. So that was my joy the next morning. I cried when I saw that.
[00:10:45] I was like, oh my God, I can't believe that she presented me with this platform. My goal when you was just to share, you know, with everyone there, everyone on social media, what I'm capable of doing. And you elevated that five, presenting me with that winning price.
[00:11:03] So thank you. Well, you were the top score of the event. And I mean, we had a lot of very high scoring designers, but you, I mean, so many tens across the board and you really just blew our judges panel away as well as the audience.
[00:11:17] And you mentioned the vibe and energy. It was such an amazing energy during your presentation. And you know, that's palpable. It's about the clothes, but it's also about the way it makes people feel. And you could tell the models were feeling it. The audience was feeling it.
[00:11:31] The judges certainly were and well deserved. You did an incredible job and we're so happy to have you. Have you as our winner? And thank you for your kind words too.
[00:11:40] You know, it means a lot as a producer to hear that somebody came in and had that positive experience. Now speaking on positivity, your, your positive person, you're very encouraging to the people around you.
[00:11:50] What would you say to a designer that's maybe might have been you, you know, 10 years ago. And it is doing some designing, but maybe not pushing their brand out of wanting to. What would be the advice that you would give them?
[00:12:03] My, um, I've had a lot of family members friends tell me, Nate, you need to show others what you do.
[00:12:16] I love to teach that is something I love because this is a craft that whenever I look back in my life has always provided strong financial balance for me.
[00:12:30] The matter was going on, my son has always taken me to where I'm not what you would say going falling, you know, rock bottom.
[00:12:41] And I will love to teach others, you know, this craft that is beautiful to see where it is, but sometimes in my community, I see it as a craft that's dying of talent. Yes, as many people wanting to run.
[00:13:01] So that is something I would love to do, but I would also like to speak to that designer out there that is doubting themselves. You know what you're able to do. And I know sometimes, you know, we hear from the negatives outside.
[00:13:17] To answer yourself if you are a Christian or your religious person, whomever you look up to, you're pretty too. That you listen to, listen to that in the voice because a lot of times when you hear the noise around you, you know what you're able to do.
[00:13:35] And I know sometimes it's not easy, but keep pushing. Whenever you see that smile on that person's face, when you make a garment for someone and you see the audience, I made a girl she graduated from high school, was devised for her school.
[00:13:56] And I've never seen confidence come through when a person puts on a garment and you could see it in the picture. It was like, she did not care what the world had to say because she knew that she looked good.
[00:14:14] You've got to witness that with her wearing something I created. So when you see that all person's face, you know what you're capable of and when they are negative, worst coming through, you can just tell and say, no what?
[00:14:29] You're wrong. Look at what she looks like or what look at what he looks like.
[00:14:33] So you can do it. It's not easy, I'm not going to tell you that it would be easy days, but pull the positive people that you have around you, pull that positive strength from with whom and yes, you will get there.
[00:14:47] Beautiful advice. I could not have said it better myself and you know what a great thing to put out there to other designers because a lot of people like you said may it's a bit of a dying art.
[00:14:58] And the age of fast fashion where everybody's just cranking out pieces and they're not sustainable is such a beautiful thing when you see designers like yourself making these one of a kind pieces and inspiring other people to really push their brands out.
[00:15:11] Now with your brand, we want to make sure I'll be posting links on how we can get connected, how we can follow along with you on social media, but how do we connect with you online social media platforms if you don't mind sharing that with us.
[00:15:23] So thank you for that. So I do have an Instagram page, the handle is sorry, outfits with a nest on the score by on the score may and the scrolling is M-A-I-B-S-N-Boy. That's my Instagram handle. I also have TikTok and the talk is outfits dot by.
[00:15:53] I have a Facebook as well and my Facebook page is outfits by May be. Okay. So there's a couple websites as well and the website is www.outfits.net or accessories by May be.com.
[00:16:17] Wonderful. We're going to make sure we share all of that for those of you listening connect with this incredible brand. I mean, the things the art that she creates is just outstanding and we'll let you know if you have a commission,
[00:16:29] if you have an event coming up and you want a one of a kind design she can do it for you. And she can do it all May, it's been a real pleasure speaking with you. Congratulations on your winning and thank you so much for talking with us today.
[00:16:41] Thank you, Victor. Thank you so much for this opportunity. Thank you for your mom. I love the beautiful pictures that she took. You can see the love of what she does. I also can see the love of what you do on this platform.
[00:16:57] Bring in models, designers, accessories together and thank you. I appreciate you allowed me this opportunity. And thank you for providing this platform for me to speak to the world. I appreciate it.
[00:17:14] Of course. Of course. Well, May congratulations again on your winning very well deserved and thank you all as always for tuning in to another episode of Backstage Fast. We'll see you next time.