Dream Rich Plans To Make History With New Art Museum In Detroit
This interview was released on November 2, 2020.
Entrepreneurship is a pathway filled with risk and reward that few are willing to take. Explain your first experience with business and entrepreneurship.
I’ve always had jobs, but I’ve always found ways to make money through business. Fashion is something that I’ve been passionate about throughout my entire life. I started making purses at 11 years old. As I got older, my friends would hire me to get them dressed and ready for events because I knew how to mix and match certain pieces together. When I went to college in Lansing, I even majored in early-child care development and fashion.
When I transitioned into business full-time, I was tired of working for people. I didn’t do great with authority, so I had to go into business for myself. I hosted parties starting in 2010, but everything started in 2014 with Dream Rich.
What were some factors that drove you to create Dream Rich Clothing?
The name Dream Rich came with ease because everyone likes to Dream Rich. After hitting some personal roadblocks, I moved to Miami to start over. In Miami, I started researching different ways to make T-shirts. My first T-shirts were dye-sublimation. One day while on the beach, I met a guy who told me he makes T-shirts. I really liked the T-shirt he had on, which sparked our conversation. He ended up becoming my manufacturer for Dream Rich from 2014–2016. My friend Gene from Fresh Baked Prints also bought a printing press machine from this same person.
While starting Dream Rich, I lost my biggest support system who was the owner of Rude & Rich Clothing in Detroit. When I lost him, it was tough because he was my biggest support system on all fronts. Another motivating factor in why I started Dream Rich was my battle with epilepsy from 14–21 years old. I had to create something that I could continue to do outside of college because I couldn’t finish due to my condition. On my birthday, September 24, 2014, I did a pre-order through Instagram. I didn’t make a dollar from the pre-order. One week later, I took my check from my job, paid my manufacturer $350 for 50 T-shirts, moved home, and they sold out the very next day. The rest is history.
Talk about the support factor from your peers in the City of Detroit and beyond regarding Dream Rich.
It’s an amazing feeling. My brand has been recognized in songs, and I’m great friends with many music artists in the City of Detroit. One of my biggest moments was when rapper Mozzy from California wore one of my shirts. Detroit rapper Peezy and Snap Dogg had a show at St. Andrews Hall. Peezy and Snap Dogg wore the same jogging suit from my collection. Mozzy asked about the jogging suits, and I ended up giving him a T-shirt. When he posted it on Instagram, things went to another level, especially since he’s one of my favorite rappers, and I’m in the music industry as well.
Break down your current role as manager to music artists Matashia and Baby Money and how you balance both music and fashion.
With music management, like anything else, you have to have your own rhythm. I can do several things at once, so I’m not conflicted at all. Music and fashion are intertwined within the culture. As long as there’s a set schedule and business is handled, everything else falls into place.
Fashion and art are components that flow from the vein of one’s creativity. Talk about your new clothing store and art museum, Dream Rich Exclusive Art Museum, and the grand opening on November 8.
I came up with the idea for Dream Rich Exclusive Art Museum last year, but I couldn’t find a location. I got discouraged about it, but I learned that timing is everything. Also, I was embroiled in a trademark dispute for the name Dream Rich, so I had to develop a creative way to keep the name Dream Rich. When you’re on your purpose, God will find a way to make it happen.
Dream Rich Exclusive Art Museum (every first letter spells out D-R-E-A-M) is where fashion meets art. I know a lot of artists and graphic designers, and none of them get the credit they deserve. I wanted to be different, which is why I added the art component to the fashion store. Every piece of art in the museum comes from a Detroit artist. No matter what type of art they create, it’s all commissioned from Detroit artists. I even have a sculpture being made that’s from a Detroit artist. I also have a scrapbook being created that honors the people that passed away on my journey and everyone that ever wore Dream Rich clothing.
To purchase Dream Rich clothing, CLICK HERE.
For updates regarding Dream Rich Art Museum, CLICK HERE.
