Meet Alisa Murray of Twali Hats in Koreatown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisa Murray.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Alisa. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Quarantine brought for everyone something different but for everyone, it brought lots and lots of free time. As an actress and screenwriter, now that all the sets were closed and production had ceased on all our upcoming projects, I wasn’t really sure of what to do with all my extra time. Before quarantine, I had been trying to develop a sense of style I discovered this hat manufacturer in the garment district and among the many hats, there were these cool colorful fedoras. I purchased one and started to wear it around and was shocked by the way putting on a hat was like becoming a new character it was like seeing a new version of yourself. You walked a little taller, maybe added a strut in your step, a new sense of confidence came with this new character and I liked it! I wanted other people to have this experience so that inspired the beginning of Twali. The name derives from the beginning of my own name Alisa and the T and W stand for “to wear.”

Putting together a business gave me an outlet for all the creative energy that had been displaced. It was a relief to create again from the photoshoots for social media marketing and marketing materials to create a website. It started off literally as something to do to not go crazy. Then it became something else. There was adversity, there was uncertainty because starting a business at any time is risky, but in the midst of a pandemic, it’s crazy. I used the little capital that I had and poured it into the venture because I believed in it. I’m glad that I did! Twali hats is now eight months old and thriving! The business has been consistent sales are thriving and now the world has opened up again. We’re gearing up for a major fall push since were back in Fall Fedora weather. We’ve expanded to sales through other outlets such as Poshmark and Etsy and have partnered with other brands for various cross-marketing campaigns.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There were definitely struggles along the way. This business started out as a joint venture and due to some creative differences, it didn’t stay that way. The business in a way reflected real life, sometimes you have to let some people go to thrive and become the best version of yourself. There were some months that sales were slower than others but the appreciation I have for each one of my supporters and customers is overwhelming!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
What makes me most proud is that were black-owned, we also utilize black-owned manufactures. I feel it’s important to uplight black-owned businesses’, especially during this time. Also, as a creative professional sometimes our industry can be unpredictable. Having a business gave me a sense of stability, something I had control over. It also gave me a great sense of power over what I could achieve when I put my mind to it.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always interested in acting, I remember going to see my first play on Broadway, Beauty and the Beast, and being enamored by the art. I had a music teacher who always encouraged our individuality. Growing up in inner-city Philadelphia she knew it was crucial for us to open our horizon to the culture the world had to offer. When we went to see the Lion King on Broadway it was the first time seeing people of color on stage, it was my first time seeing myself. I saw myself in Nala and only being ten years old, I realized that this was my calling. I was more sure of that than anything ever before.

My mother started to send me to a Young Performers Theater Camp where I learned the art of theater and acting and was able to perform on stage for the first time; thirty years later nothing has changed. I still find the same joy from getting a new script, I still get excited when I’m able to play a new character I still long for the life of a performer. I’m finally living that dream that I had all those years ago. That dream has informed every major decision in my life, it has motivated my time in New York and now Los Angeles. It infused itself into a career in screenwriting. It is the reason why I’m finally able to play characters on some of my favorite TV shows, like Insecure. It’s my why, it always has been.

Pricing:

• Each hat is 29.99

Contact Info:

• Website: www.twalihats.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: twalihats

Image Credit:
Xodustudios

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