Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Esi Fletcher.
Natalie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Well, let’s take it back to where the name Nitz By Nat (NBN) came from. When I was in undergrad at CSU Northridge in 2005, I majored in Liberal Studies and had also been working as a paraprofessional at a local elementary school in Los Angeles for over six years. During one of our lunch breaks, a co-worker was crocheting a scarf for the upcoming fall holiday season. Being someone that loved to be creative with my hands I was intrigued to learn how to try. Within no time I was rotating that crochet hook and yarn through my fingers like a pro, my craft became better and by the next holiday, I was crocheting and selling scarves to family, friends, and co-workers. Everyone started to fall in love with my “Nitz,” which I borrowed from the word “knitting,” and Nitz By Nat was born. My “Signature” NBN Earring are red, gold and green. The colors that represent love, peace, and harmony amongst cultures especially the Caribbean. For me, the colors symbolize my love, pride, and respect for my late father’s native land Ghana, Africa. Which are also the same colors as the flag. My passion for fashion, accessories, and style has been greatly inspired by my late mother. She loved a colorful headwrap, a pair of fly “stunna shades” and a bold red lip. Hence my typical everyday go-to wardrobe.
After college, I transitioned to a full-time Corporate position as a Recruiter for a Staffing Agency in the field of Early Childhood Education. Recruiting, hiring and placing Directors, Teachers and Assistant Teachers for Head Start, Pre-School and After-School Programs. I was working over 40 hours a week, taking post-bachelorette classes, while simultaneously braiding hair and doing NBN on the side. My mom always taught me to have a hustle and multiple streams of income. I had a regular clientele, was making scarves and jewelry, but it wasn’t my passion, so I thought. My Corporate job and school became more demanding and the focus on NBN became less and less. Over the years, I would make scarves for my friends and family for their kids birthdays, baby showers and Christmas gifts. I just loved sharing my creativity but wasn’t passionate enough about it at the time to even think about turning it into a business.
In late 2014, I suffered the traumatic loss of my maternal grandmother from Cancer in October, and my mother from heartbreak in December, a week before my 33rd birthday. Losing a parent, especially a mother, has been one of the most difficult challenges of my life. Grief has no timeline. I’m still working through it every single day. She was my best friend and life just hasn’t been the same without her. During that time I had to take a step back from work, friends, and even some family. It’s inevitable that you start to feel, hear, look and respond to people differently after a loss. You begin to examine your current life a little deeper and realize that your changing. You’re growing. You’re not the same person. You’re evolving and its all called God’s Plan.
Therapeutically, I found healing, comfort, courage, and strength through making jewelry again. I can be at it for hours and hours. It’s the only thing that motivates me to get out of bed, especially on days when I all I could think about is my mom. Growing up with an African father and a Fashionista as a mother, I was exposed to a lot of bold, beautiful, and colorful prints, patterns, and fabrics. A family member returned from Ghana on vacay with tons of African Wax and Dutch Prints. I started to teach myself how to fabric wrap, which wasn’t easy since I can be a perfectionist when it comes to my work. I had to get reacquainted and familiar with the crochet needle again, and learned more about different yarns, types of denim, leathers and good quality luxury African Textiles like Kente. I started building a collection of accessories full of earrings, bangles, chokers, and button earrings. Nitz By Nat was reborn. My Afrocentric Statement Jewelry Collection would be Rich in Style, Colour & Culture. Designed for BOLD, UNIQUE and FUNKY Divas and Fashionistas that are ready to make STATEMENT without having to SPEAK.
In late 2015, I returned to my full-time position as a Recruiter, which had its challenges. Dealing with the politics of working in Corporate America as a young black woman, while simultaneously building NBN wasn’t easy. A lot of long nights and early mornings. I was beginning to see that my passion was shifting. I started promoting my business via Instagram and Facebook media platforms to build followers, clientele, and visibility of my brand. I enrolled in social media and branding workshops, classes and online webinars through Constant Contact and other avenues of learning how to grow and build a successful Small Business. Most importantly, I started networking and building a team of people around me with the same vision, drive, and hustle as I have. People that I could learn from and it’s reciprocated. If we all grind hard enough, we will continue to grow and that glow will definitely show.
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?
We all know that the road to success isn’t easy, but you have to put in the work. You can’t just speak about it, you have to be about it. One of the main struggles that I think we all grapple with is believing in you. I struggle with believing in myself all the time. Self-doubt can be your biggest crutch and hurdle. But like my mom used to always say, “You gotta keep it pushin.” Secondly, not letting other people’s opinions or concerns dictate what moves I make. My journey is, in fact, my journey. I’m in control and creating my own lane.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Nitz By Nat – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
NitzByNat is a handmade Afrocentric Statement Jewelry Collection that is “Rich in Style, Colour and Culture.” The NBN Collection specializes in one of kind statement accessories that adds an extra “Pop” to your personal style. We design and are known for our BOLD, funky and colorful earrings and Kente bangles. We love for our clients to make a STATEMENT without having to speak. As a company, I’m most proud of the love, responses, and feedback I get from my NBN Tribe. I’m emailed and receive DM’s daily either inquiring about purchasing inventory, NBN Merch being used in VIP Swag Bags, or being a vendor or a sponsor of an event. It feels great to see that my work it touching my community and others. What sets me apart is that my work is original. I don’t try to keep up with what others are doing because, to be honest, I don’t have time. I’m too busy trying to keep up with my own shit. Of course, it’s important to know who your competition is but it’s not my concern. I just do me and let me work speak for itself. One of my favorite business quotes that I live by is, “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.” It’s not always about the money, its about the experience.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to continue growing my business locally, online and expand the brand with new merch beyond jewelry and accessories. I’m currently booked as a vendor for the upcoming events: The Gardena Jazz Festival, the Compton Art Walk, and the 4th Annual Headwraps in the Park in Grand Park, DTLA.
Contact Info:
- Website: nitzbynat.com
- Email: [email protected]
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