Writer: Tenesha Hughes
Sierra "Siejay" Jackson from Huntsville, Alabama is the founder of the new hip clothing line "Filthy Broke Fa$hion". I received word about her stylish clothing line and decided to get the 411. She shared with me, how she got into fashion, and what inspires her to keep going.
1. Tenesha: When did you become interested in fashion, was there a certain event that made you decide to go for it?
Sierra: "I became interested in fashion in middle school, when I first learned to sew. I would see expensive things in stores at the mall (and I'm a very frugal person) so instead of paying $100+ for one item, I would go home and try to sew what I saw at the stores. So I wouldn't say it was a certain event that made me "go for it," it was more of a "I know what I want so I'm going to do it" type of thing".
2. Tenesha: How long have you been into fashion? (Please include years and age if possible).
Sierra: "I've been into fashion since I was about 12 or 13, but I didn't start taking it serious and noticing that I had a gift until my senior year in high school".
3. Tenesha: Are you more into high end clothing or lower end, or even thrifting?
Sierra: "I'm into high/low end fashion and thrifted fashion. Price tags aren't what makes you fashionable. You can have on a $300 dress and look a mess just as well as you could have on a $40 dress and look amazing. If you have style, you can dress up a blazer and high-waist skirt from the thrift store just as well as you could a one-piece jumper from a high end fashion designer's store".
4. Tenesha: What inspires your unique style? Also which celebrities would you say you are more like (Fashion wise)?
Sierra: "I get inspired by different looks that I see on Polyvore or by simply mixing and matching my clothes and colors until I come up with something that I like. Also, I would say I'm a mix between Rihanna and Katy Perry when it comes to fashion. Reason being, they can rock anything from Christian Louboutins or Chuck Taylor's and they are still able to make it look fab every time"!
5. Tenesha: What are you in school for right now? How do you plan on using that for you fashion career?
Sierra: "I am in school at Jackson State University, majoring in marketing. As a businesswoman, you have to market yourself and your brand. I plan to use this with my career by continuing to market myself and inform more people about my business as well as continuing to master my craft of sewing and designing".
6. Tenesha: Do you plan on going to fashion school? If so When and Where? If not what are your career goals? (Please go into detail)
Sierra: "I have given it some thought and made some connections with people about possibly attending New York University to get my masters in Fashion Marketing but as of now, no, I do not plan on going to fashion school. After I graduate, I plan to move to Atlanta, Georgia to open up a brick and mortar Filthy Broke Fa$hion store. But please know, this will not be your average store or boutique! Since sewing and creating custom things is my forte, there will be a station set up where you can come in and design your very own one of a kind piece of clothing or denim by machine (kind of like the custom Coca-Cola "create your own drink" machine at Burger King, lol). You will then be able to add in details stating whether you want buttons, studs, spikes, tulle, specific colors or type of jean wash, etc. Everything will be set up for the customer to come in and design things themselves. There will be many other different things to make this store far from average, but that's just one of my secrets". (Shhhh!)
7. Tenesha: Are you interested in pursuing a career as a fashion designer or celebrity stylist? Or would you say that this is something you want to do as a hobby?
Sierra: “ Honestly, I’m really not interested in being a celebrity stylist. I would rather send them my clothes and let them wear and promote them”
8. Tenesha: Do you feel that most people these days are just following a "trend" rather than being themselves and finding their own style?
Sierra: "I wouldn't say "most" people are just following trends but there definitely are some who are just following the new trends instead of finding their own sense of style".
9. Tenesha: Do you have any original pieces you are working on?
Sierra: "Yes, I am currently working on new fall/winter pieces for The Denim Killaz Collection Pt. 2"
10. Tenesha: How did you come up with the name Filthy Broke Fashion?
Sierra: "When people usually hear the word filthy, it's used to describe dirt, debris, etc. or an adjective to describe how rich someone is. At Filthy Broke Fa$hion, I strive to make FILTHY BROKE a positive saying and description about the road to success. Filthy Broke basically means grinding, chasing your dreams, getting dirty to be successful, so that you can soon be "filthy rich."
11. Tenesha: What is your main focus or goal for Filthy Broke Fashion?
Sierra: "My main goal is to inspire people through Filthy Broke Fa$hion by showing them that you can achieve whatever your mind can conceive! I feel that I am too creative for an average 9 to 5 job so why not wake up and do something I truly have a passion for everyday? I am striving to make Filthy Broke Fa$hion a household name"! :
12. Tenesha: What advice would you give someone that wants to pursue a career in fashion, but is discouraged by others telling them find something else?
Sierra: "I read a quote in a book called GIRLBOSS, by Sophia Amoruso that read, "I truly figured out what I wanted to do by people telling me I couldn't do it or shouldn't do it." I know, it sounds a little rebellious but it's totally true. In the beginning, people told me that I wasn't going to make any money because "everybody has a boutique." Every time I heard that I thought, "well, I'm not everybody!" Soon after that I was making so much money that I was able to quit my job at a local clothing store. With that being said, even when the naysayers doubt you, KEEP PUSHING! Don't let anyone stop you just because they can't see your vision! You may not see your hard work paying off in the beginning, but before you know it it'll be happening right before your eyes and you'll be SO glad you didn't listen to those people"!
13. Tenesha: Where can you be reached if one was interested in purchasing from you?
Sierra: "Filthybrokefashion.com is the website. Also, this is just some other details: In April, I started a documentary series called Building my Brand: Filthy Broke Fa$hion. It basically just shows the behind the scenes of building my brand. You can go to filthybrokefashion.com and on the opening page under Media Spotlight you can watch the episodes. Once again thank you for this opportunity and if you have any question don't hesitate to contact me".
14. Tenesha: Alright well, Thank you, so much for supporting me and doing this interview!
Sierra: “You are welcome,Thank you"
Sierra "Siejay" Jackson from Huntsville, Alabama is the founder of the new hip clothing line "Filthy Broke Fa$hion". I received word about her stylish clothing line and decided to get the 411. She shared with me, how she got into fashion, and what inspires her to keep going.
1. Tenesha: When did you become interested in fashion, was there a certain event that made you decide to go for it?
Sierra: "I became interested in fashion in middle school, when I first learned to sew. I would see expensive things in stores at the mall (and I'm a very frugal person) so instead of paying $100+ for one item, I would go home and try to sew what I saw at the stores. So I wouldn't say it was a certain event that made me "go for it," it was more of a "I know what I want so I'm going to do it" type of thing".
2. Tenesha: How long have you been into fashion? (Please include years and age if possible).
Sierra: "I've been into fashion since I was about 12 or 13, but I didn't start taking it serious and noticing that I had a gift until my senior year in high school".
3. Tenesha: Are you more into high end clothing or lower end, or even thrifting?
Sierra: "I'm into high/low end fashion and thrifted fashion. Price tags aren't what makes you fashionable. You can have on a $300 dress and look a mess just as well as you could have on a $40 dress and look amazing. If you have style, you can dress up a blazer and high-waist skirt from the thrift store just as well as you could a one-piece jumper from a high end fashion designer's store".
4. Tenesha: What inspires your unique style? Also which celebrities would you say you are more like (Fashion wise)?
Sierra: "I get inspired by different looks that I see on Polyvore or by simply mixing and matching my clothes and colors until I come up with something that I like. Also, I would say I'm a mix between Rihanna and Katy Perry when it comes to fashion. Reason being, they can rock anything from Christian Louboutins or Chuck Taylor's and they are still able to make it look fab every time"!
5. Tenesha: What are you in school for right now? How do you plan on using that for you fashion career?
Sierra: "I am in school at Jackson State University, majoring in marketing. As a businesswoman, you have to market yourself and your brand. I plan to use this with my career by continuing to market myself and inform more people about my business as well as continuing to master my craft of sewing and designing".
6. Tenesha: Do you plan on going to fashion school? If so When and Where? If not what are your career goals? (Please go into detail)
Sierra: "I have given it some thought and made some connections with people about possibly attending New York University to get my masters in Fashion Marketing but as of now, no, I do not plan on going to fashion school. After I graduate, I plan to move to Atlanta, Georgia to open up a brick and mortar Filthy Broke Fa$hion store. But please know, this will not be your average store or boutique! Since sewing and creating custom things is my forte, there will be a station set up where you can come in and design your very own one of a kind piece of clothing or denim by machine (kind of like the custom Coca-Cola "create your own drink" machine at Burger King, lol). You will then be able to add in details stating whether you want buttons, studs, spikes, tulle, specific colors or type of jean wash, etc. Everything will be set up for the customer to come in and design things themselves. There will be many other different things to make this store far from average, but that's just one of my secrets". (Shhhh!)
7. Tenesha: Are you interested in pursuing a career as a fashion designer or celebrity stylist? Or would you say that this is something you want to do as a hobby?
Sierra: “ Honestly, I’m really not interested in being a celebrity stylist. I would rather send them my clothes and let them wear and promote them”
8. Tenesha: Do you feel that most people these days are just following a "trend" rather than being themselves and finding their own style?
Sierra: "I wouldn't say "most" people are just following trends but there definitely are some who are just following the new trends instead of finding their own sense of style".
9. Tenesha: Do you have any original pieces you are working on?
Sierra: "Yes, I am currently working on new fall/winter pieces for The Denim Killaz Collection Pt. 2"
10. Tenesha: How did you come up with the name Filthy Broke Fashion?
Sierra: "When people usually hear the word filthy, it's used to describe dirt, debris, etc. or an adjective to describe how rich someone is. At Filthy Broke Fa$hion, I strive to make FILTHY BROKE a positive saying and description about the road to success. Filthy Broke basically means grinding, chasing your dreams, getting dirty to be successful, so that you can soon be "filthy rich."
11. Tenesha: What is your main focus or goal for Filthy Broke Fashion?
Sierra: "My main goal is to inspire people through Filthy Broke Fa$hion by showing them that you can achieve whatever your mind can conceive! I feel that I am too creative for an average 9 to 5 job so why not wake up and do something I truly have a passion for everyday? I am striving to make Filthy Broke Fa$hion a household name"! :
12. Tenesha: What advice would you give someone that wants to pursue a career in fashion, but is discouraged by others telling them find something else?
Sierra: "I read a quote in a book called GIRLBOSS, by Sophia Amoruso that read, "I truly figured out what I wanted to do by people telling me I couldn't do it or shouldn't do it." I know, it sounds a little rebellious but it's totally true. In the beginning, people told me that I wasn't going to make any money because "everybody has a boutique." Every time I heard that I thought, "well, I'm not everybody!" Soon after that I was making so much money that I was able to quit my job at a local clothing store. With that being said, even when the naysayers doubt you, KEEP PUSHING! Don't let anyone stop you just because they can't see your vision! You may not see your hard work paying off in the beginning, but before you know it it'll be happening right before your eyes and you'll be SO glad you didn't listen to those people"!
13. Tenesha: Where can you be reached if one was interested in purchasing from you?
Sierra: "Filthybrokefashion.com is the website. Also, this is just some other details: In April, I started a documentary series called Building my Brand: Filthy Broke Fa$hion. It basically just shows the behind the scenes of building my brand. You can go to filthybrokefashion.com and on the opening page under Media Spotlight you can watch the episodes. Once again thank you for this opportunity and if you have any question don't hesitate to contact me".
14. Tenesha: Alright well, Thank you, so much for supporting me and doing this interview!
Sierra: “You are welcome,Thank you"