Today we’d like to introduce you to Nateida Lathon.
Nateida, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hi, I’m the owner and creator of The Fabric Beautique. It all started with the name; The Fabric Beautique, which was given to me over 10 years prior to me even thinking of opening a business. As a young child, my mother taught me to sew and over the years I have enjoyed sewing and more recently began cultivating my sewing skills and techniques even more. I’ve always loved fabrics and envisioned traveling the world to curate beautiful pieces. Well, it wasn’t until 2015 when it felt like my entire world was falling apart did I feel God ignite the fire in my bones to use the gift he had given me to fulfill the purpose he had for my life that I could not have ever imagined.
To understand, during 2015, not only had I been laid off unexpectedly from my full-time job, which I enjoyed, but I also found myself separated from my husband on the verge of divorce and there was a host of other family-related challenges I was dealing with. It was during all this pain that God kept speaking to me as I sat on my bed with a pillow on my lap, notebook, pen and highlighter in hand crying and toiling day and night. You see during this time, I spent more time with God than I ever had before and I found comfort in talking to God through prayer and journaling. All the while, God was telling me to BIRTH The Fabric Beautique. It made no sense to me, I had so much going on at the time, and I asked God “you really want me to do this, now?”, all I kept hearing was “YES”.
At the time, it hadn’t yet connected for me how a pillow, a notebook, pen and highlighters was the beginning of birthing The Fabric Beautique. God gave me the vision to create the Prayer and Devotional Pillow, as well as Prayer Journals to kick start The Fabric Beautique. I could not be more grateful that God sought to use me and at a time when I didn’t know heads from tails to give him Glory. My praise report is not only that my marriage is fully restored, but I am also walking in my God-given purpose and using the gifts and talents God gave me to encourage others to draw closer to God even in the most trying of times in their life. I’m proud to say that today, The Fabric Beautique has grown over the years to include the Wives Still Pray Ministry as well as expanded to include products for children, such as Children Prayer Journals and Cases, Prayers Scarves, Bible Covers, Bible Totes & Wallets and so much more! The Fabric Beautique offers a variety of Christian based products for the home using beautifully curated fabrics and bespoke designed fabrics.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I had no idea what I was doing starting a business. Granted, I have the education and credentials, but launching an LLC, obtaining business licenses and I even registered my own Trademark for The Fabric Beautique, which I successfully received. None of this was easy and I made many mistakes along the way, but they were valuable lessons that I can now share with others.
One of the biggest misconceptions I believe that holds people back from starting a business is money. I definitely did not have a lot of money when I started. In fact, I was unemployed, but I was blessed to obtain a short-term temporary job that allowed me to at least pay for the LLC registration and Trademark fees. I also had to invest in the materials & supplies to sew my Prayer & Devotional Pillows. I needed to create my product and so I bought what could at local craft stores using as many coupons as I could. Do not discount small beginnings, everything does not have to be perfect, starting out. Social media while very good for business can give the wrong impression and not tell the true story of where that person started. Businesses tend to share just the “good stuff” “what looks pretty” on social media because that’s the “happy place”. There’s nothing wrong with that at all, but realize there are stories behind everyone’s picture on social media. We tend to create what we “think” their story is in our head as we scroll through images, but most times we have no idea.
Finally, I suggest collaborating, networking and connecting with other like-minded women. We hear this all the time as women, but it is true. Be discerning about the relationships you cultivate, you still need to protect the vision God gave you so you don’t allow others to push you in a direction God did not intend for you to go. The best way to do this is through constant prayer and meditation. Simply ask God to send to you the person(s) he wants you to connect with.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Fabric Beautique – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Well, I’m most proud of how I have grown spiritually as a wife, friend and businesswoman. Not until you go through the most painful time in your life do you realize, that pain has it’s a purpose. While the pain I experienced is not something I would wish on anyone, I would not change the course God laid out for me. I’m proud to say that through the gifts and talents God gave me I have truly enhanced my sewing skills to allow me to create products I know will benefit many in the marketplace.
I’m also proud of the Wives Still Pray ministry. I have had many wives over the years ask me to pray with them and for them as they deal with challenging times in their marriage. Or, just to celebrate all the exciting things God is doing in their marriage. We have also created a private FB Group, Wives Still Pray for wives to share, encourage and uplift one another.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
My advice would be to look for local networking groups in your area as well as online. Also, consider going to a local community college or nonprofit that may offer free business workshops and seminars. With the growth of social media these days, it’s a bit easier to find groups, clubs or conferences you can attend to begin networking and finding a mentor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thefabricbeautique.com/
- Phone: 713-425-3074
- Email: Inquire@TheFabricBeautique.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefabricbeautique/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabricbeautique/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/FabricBeautique
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/fabricbeautique/
Image Credit:
Kim’s Photography, Atlanta, GA for MAIN photo only
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