Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronni Parson.
Hi Ronni, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The very beginning was all about having an outlet and being creative. I REMEMBER I TOOK A DESIGN COURSE BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL AS A FRESHMAN AND WE GOT TO DESIGN A SHIRT AT THE END. This is where it sparked BUT MY PASSION truly began once my grandmother died I was faced with bettering my life or going down a bad path and I realized I HAD TO DO SOMETHING. I originally started with a custom T-shirt design company, although that didn’t really satisfy my need for designing and creating which is how I came up with having a clothing brand.
I decided on Loyalty because that is the biggest trait that I feel my grandmother instilled in me and my cousins. From there, a lot of my elevation was solely based on pain. I was 20 and just dealing with finding myself and my purpose. As time went on designing became therapy for me I poured a lot of my grief, sadness, and anger into every single design. Facing daily life obstacles became a canvas. With the support of friends and family in growing social media my line slowly began getting a bigger and bigger following.
Within six months of launching, I had a sold-out fashion event which had never been done at the time in St. Louis, I think that’s at the point where people realize that I was really serious and I think at that moment I realize that I could really do this. I took a break from 2019-2020 to really buckle down, stack funds, and come up with a plan! Although I relaunch in the middle of a global pandemic this is the most consistent I have been able to be with my clothing brand. I am now a full-time entrepreneur.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Noooooo, nothing about my story has been smooth at all. There has been time and time again where doors and opportunities have been shut out or I’ve been excluded from. I personally went through a bad depression from 2018 until 2020 that hindered my productivity and ability to produce.
Once I finally got over that we were in a pandemic, I planned for my summer collection starting in February 2020 but once the pandemic hit my manufacture shut down and I wasn’t able to release a summer collection until the end of August… Summer was over but that is what I had to work with. After September 2020, I was involved in a car accident which left me short term unable to walk… So I thought. After walking around on crutches for months I finally decided to start walking without them because my doctors told me I was OK, it wasn’t until December 2020 that I found out that I would be needing reconstructive knee surgery, that I wouldn’t be able to walk on my leg for months, that the surgery would leave me needing to relearn how to walk again.
Then, at this time I had already started my winter and spring collection but I knew that in February 2021 my surgery would be happening. I was actually told to stop everything and get the surgery ASAP. I decided to wait to get surgery because I had to put my business first. I did everything I could to prepare, not really knowing what to expect of recovering. So from February until June, I was operating my business while laying in a bed. This is probably the most single-handedly hardest thing I ever had to do in life.
The world did not know the things that I was facing behind closed doors but I also did not want to mix my personal problems and allow them to interfere with my business. On the business side things, I struggle with things like timing of releases, finding manufacturers that would produce quality items at a good affordable rate, just figuring out how to be a full-time entrepreneur, whether it be my schedule, a work-life balance, just financing, and managing your social media
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a clothing designer. I don’t have any specialties per se but my favorite season to designer for is fall. I believe I’m known for outerwear. Hoodies, Windbreakers, Crewnecks. Know for being the person with the Lion logos. My clothing ranges from Cubs (kids/toddlers) to lions and lionesses (male & female) I have t-shirts, hats, and sweats as well.
The thing I am most proud of is that even in all the times of adversity I somehow keep going, my ruthlessness to never ever give up and quit on myself. I also think that’s what sets me apart from most. A lot of people think what I do is easy or that “anyone can do it” but, I struggle a lot in my personal life and against all odds somehow I still bet on myself and bet on the success of my clothing line.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I tap into people in a professional setting more so than I do apps or podcasts. I lean on fellow creatives a lot for design and inspiration. I lean on music a lot, to keep me focused and keep me grounded. I have enrolled in some business school courses and those resources do help me better myself as well as brand myself for my business more.
Contact Info:
- Email: sales@loyaltyclo.com
- Website: www.LoyaltyClo.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/loyaltyclo
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/loyaltyclo
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/loyaltyclo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLIFjGKUDu02v4v2guAbrzA
Image Credits:
@TikaBoo and @KReaganPhotos
