Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Christian.
Hi Tracy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Can you imagine attending Cannes in nothing but black leggings?
I’ve done it, and it’s horrible. My luggage was late, and none of those designer stores carry a size 20. I’ve been a talent agent for over 25 years, and a huge part of my job is protecting my clients’ creative vision for their work and themselves. So, when the fashion industry at large didn’t produce clothes I wanted to wear, I took care of it myself.
I began designing my own wardrobe and saw the difference clothes make in your life. After designing for myself I began designing and manufacturing for other professional plus size women and it caught on. Before I knew it my line, Sante Grace, was being featured in blogs like Refinery 29, Who What Wear, and worn by celebs like Jennifer Coolidge.
I LOVE what I do and my career in entertainment and my fashion business inform one another. I’m able to offer the plus size market confident clothing made from luxury sustainable fabrics.
Stop fighting for a seat at the table; build your own.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never a smooth road. The amount of negativity around the size-inclusive movement is insane. In addition, female founders are awarded less than 2% of the available venture capital, and the numbers for Black founders are even worse. But every day, I’m encouraged. I negotiate multimillion-dollar deals for my clients and apply that knowledge to Sante Grace.
There aren’t a lot of premium plus size brands so many women are walking around with acrylic sweaters and matching stretch pants. They’ve never had the pleasure of wearing cashmere or silk so sometimes part of my job is encouraging plus women that they deserve these clothes. They don’t need to wait until they are smaller to have nice things. Great clothes are available to you today.
I’ve longed wanted my own clothing line, and the emergence of tech/apps like Shopify, Klayvio, Attentive, IG… make operating the business possible. Years ago, each app would have been a person or company I would have had to hire; today you can do it yourself. For example, I was able to attend Parson’s during the Pandemic thanks to Zoom, etc. But just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s easy. To be successful, I had to become a capable social media manager, CMO, CFO, website designer, stylist, and more. Nothing is easy about any of this, but it’s our duty to create a life worth living. Find a way to do the things that give your life purpose and meaning. I’m constantly reassessing my schedule to make sure I’m getting the most out of life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Sante Grace?
Sante Grace is an online boutique and a plus-size clothing line. We offer attainable luxury clothing and accessories to the plus women’s market.
Our clothes are made from luxury sustainable fabrics, produced domestically, and even packed with environmentally friendly materials in a fair-wage environment. Sante Grace is made for the plus woman eager to live life to its fullest. Sante Grace is downtown chic, sexy, and ultra-stylish with a Rock and Roll edge… We’re all about wearing the clothes that inspire you to take on the world.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in two very disparate places: the projects in Newark, New Jersey, and then San Francisco. Both have a profound effect on who I am today.
The friends and family I have from my days in Newark really impressed upon me values like loyalty and friendship; San Francisco opened my eyes as a kid. You didn’t have to be the same as someone to respect or care about them. Also, everything is possible in SF. It’s a city of hardworking, smart misfits. My family was solidly middle class so any of the extras in life I knew I’d need to provide for myself. In high school, I was never without a job; sometimes, I had several jobs at once. I blew all my money on clothes, music, and travel. Magazines like Essence and Vogue were staples in our home, and I remember combining what I saw in the magazines with looks from videos, all through my own lens. By the time I got to college, my girlfriends and I were following bands like The Cult, Metallica, and Guns and Roses around the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: SanteGrace.com
- Instagram: @SanteGrace
Image Credits
Ana Ochoa
