Meet Brezhané Townsend

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brezhané Townsend.

Brezhané, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Honestly, it’s really hard trying to explain how I got here. However, I know, without a doubt, I’ve made progress. I knew at a very young age that I was into fashion but it wasn’t until 2013 that I made it a goal for myself to become a stylist. Every decision I made throughout the years has brought me closer to manifesting my dreams. It’s 2019 and I can finally feel that I am about to breakthrough.

Has it been a smooth road?
My journey has been everything but smooth. Any person who wants to pursue a career in the creative field can probably tell you, their parents or someone relatively close to them, did not support or fully support their decision to be an artist. My dad constantly told me, “You need to leave Los Angeles and be in the navy” and other things that made me look at him as if he were crazy. I won’t say my mom didn’t support me but she had her own opinion as well. She’s sort of onboard now. I don’t tell her or my dad much about the things I’m trying to accomplish but what I do share with her, she will sometimes say really nice things to me and that’s refreshing. My step-father is supportive as well. I’m technically being a hypocrite, because I don’t give people much room to support me, but I think support is one of the most important things when trying to pursue anything you are passionate about.

I’m not allowing anyone to get in the way of my success, but I definitely feel as though I had many minor setbacks because I did not ask enough questions. As individuals, we will always need to experience things for our own personal growth, but people should know that they are not obligated to take any and every job or gig for “experience”. I agreed to be apart of a few jobs, that I did not do my research on. The day came to shoot and as I was watching things unfold, I thought to myself, yeah this shit is out. I realized that it is okay that I don’t agree with everything the next person likes or loves. I realized that I need to do what’s best for me. Now, I accept gigs that I only understand and connect to. Sometimes I don’t understand every single gig right away. Sometimes, understanding a gig takes some research and I love that part of my job so much. I usually ask the artist or director to send me a mood board or to explain the direction and inspiration behind the concept they are trying to bring to life. If I love it, connect with it, or understand it, then I’m down to help bring the idea to fruition.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am an Image Consultant or in other words, a stylist. I have personal clients that I dress for their everyday life and I have clients who may also need a stylist for music videos, magazine editorials, album covers and so on. I’d rather not refer to myself as a blogger, but I do run my own website as well. I created the platform, B-TOWNSEND.XYZ, to give myself a voice and to create opportunities for others. This is very important to me because I know what it feels like when no one wants to give you a chance or help you. No one owes me anything, but I definitely felt discouraged a lot because of that. I know I can’t help everyone, but I do want to help those who are as passionate as I am and even those who are unsure of themselves. Sometimes people need to be inspired and that’s okay.

I don’t refer to myself as a photographer either, but once I started posting my work, people began to reach out in attempt to hire me as one. I’ve always loved taking candid photos but I didn’t post the photos I produced until I began to shoot with film. Digital photos come out too perfect for me and I don’t want to produce perfect photos, just timeless ones.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Man, I have no idea where this shit is headed, but I’m also not worried about it because what does that solve? I do feel as though the impact of technology is reshaping the fashion industry, in a good way and in a bad way unfortunately. I can’t even fathom what’s next. I’m just doing my best to focus on and cherish the present.

Contact Info:

• Website: WWW.B-TOWNSEND.XYZ
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/brezhanex

Image Credit:
Bayo (@Goldby7), Isaiah Martinez, Myron Rogan and Brezhané Townsend.

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