Today we’d like to introduce you to Nijeria Whitfield.
Hi Nijeria, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to work in the fashion industry. Being born and raised in Los Angeles was great because I grew up all around it. Los Angeles has a prevalent fashion industry, so it never felt out of reach. I feel most empowered through knowledge so initially, I wanted to learn as much as I could about the industry. I explored various aspects of the industry through my work experience in retail, wholesale, e-commerce, then lastly PR.
Although I did well in those avenues, my heart was always set on being a creative and business owner in my own right. After almost ten years, I was completely burned out with working in the industry for others. Not being able to express myself creatively became heavy. My last fashion job was in 2018, I knew it was time for me to close that chapter of my career and that I needed to focus on building something of my own. In 2019, I switched my day job to a completely different career and focused all my creative energy on getting back to myself and starting a business. Last year, the pandemic shook everything up in a positive way for me. I started doing different creative projects with the gift of free time 2020 offered. I spent a lot of time in quarantine doing resin art and making resin jewelry. It sparked around July that this was the perfect way for me to launch 9/29 and I began to build the business. I finally launched on September 29, 2020, almost two years after the initial idea.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It is challenging, but I embrace it. I want to do things in my own authentic way and pave my own path, so I have no choice but to embrace anything that comes along with it. My biggest obstacle so far was getting out of my own way and letting go of limiting beliefs. The personal things I worked through were self-commitment and discipline. I always had a strong work ethic and I am naturally a creative person, so having good ideas come easy. The dedication and discipline are what I struggled with in the past. A lot of outward circumstances distracted me or discouraged me from pursuing my own dreams. It can be an ongoing battle overcoming fears and obstacles along your journey. Dedication and discipline are what continue to help me meet every new day with the same energy to push forward.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about 929 Brand?
9/29 is my birthday so it is my version of a namesake brand. 9/29 is a brand that brings effortless and long-lasting styles to the market. When curating each collection, I think about how much I love the style, versatility, and quality. I think these pillars are key to building a wardrobe you love and developing your personal style, and that is what I want all 9/29 supporters to embrace about fashion. Most pieces are made of resin or acrylic because these materials offer so much uniqueness to classic styles and last longer.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Because of my belief system, I do not believe in luck or operate in it. I do believe in alignment and I am an intentional person. I set goals, work toward them, and achieve them. When I was out of alignment with my path, life felt very difficult. No matter how hard I worked, it felt like I was spinning my wheels, which feels like bad luck. On the other hand, being aligned feels more easeful and has a natural flow. The natural flow feels like good luck where things just fall into place without so much effort.
Pricing:
- $17-$35
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: 929brand.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/929brand
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