Today we’d like to introduce you to Dimitri Johnson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dimitri. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I remember as a child on a car ride home with my mother. I told her I wanted to never work for anyone. I wanted to own my own business one day. Well, at that time, I didn’t know exactly what that was but I knew I wanted to run my own company.
To this day, I remember what she said to me, “You will work for somebody no matter what. Everyone works for someone.” At that time, that broke my spirit; it took away my aspirations. My mother was a person of no games, tough love, and straightforwardness.
Right before college, we found out that I had a tumor where my left lung was supposed to be. All the hard work I have put my body through to play college basketball; this was the last thing I thought would ever happen to me. After failing several physicals, numerous doctor visits, and seeing specialists with signs of concern on their faces, I figured it was all over for me. It would be just my luck that as soon as I found my purpose with sports my life would end. Funny looking back, right before my surgery, I wasn’t even scared. I already made my peace. Yet something in me knew it wasn’t over for me. I like to believe that God talked to me that night, telling me everything is going to be okay. Five hours later and one lung missing, I awoke in a room with two beds pushed together because I was too big for the kids’ beds.
The initial question was, how did I get here? Well, after having surgery and the passing of my grandmother Albertine Vaughns. I know nothing is promised in this world, not even tomorrow. I know that is a cliché but yet I guess that helped me create my brand Vanity Dreams. A lifestyle clothing line that keeps people accountable for those selfish aspirations that they might have. To chase each day like it’s their last and not allowing anyone to take their ambition away. There are Dreams & Goals you want to achieve more than anything. Levels of aspirations that you are willing to Sacrifice, Work Hard, and Fight for. Choosing Discipline, Determination, and Most of All Belief in Yourself. This is your Vanity Dreams! I wish my grandmother was here to see it. My vanity dream is to make her proud to make her happy to say I’m hers.
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frighten us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. You’re playing small Does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; It’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Has it been a smooth road?
Any road where you’re sacrificing everything is never going to be a smooth one. There were many challenges to overcome and one more stressful than the last. I studied business economics in college at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and even then, that did not prepare me for the ‘Eat or be Eaten’ mentality of the business world. With a lack of knowledge, people will take advantage of your inexperience and try to use you. I have even had family members that are no stranger to the hardships of starting a business and being an entrepreneur trying to get over on me. Trying to charge me outrageous prices for a logo and then yelling at me once I did my research to find true prices. Telling me that’s not how you do business. With that experience right out the gate, I knew it was going to be a long road, from collecting vendors, outsourcing, to knowing good deals and keeping expenses and profit margin together, juggling all of this while still working a full-time job that demanded most of my time.
Working 12-hour shifts every day, going to the gym to stay fit for my brand, and then staying up all night working on the company. Imagine waking up at 4:45 A.M., taxing yourself mentally and physically and then finally going to sleep at 3:30 A.M. A lot of time is lost due to work. Staying focused was hard and a lot of self-doubts has crossed my mind. Will people love my product, can this business last, and can I stand out in this saturated market? So many questions of the unknown caused me to push the launch date back. I reached out to many business owners to host my products, events, and pop up shops. I was faced with a lot of no’s and closed doors. Keeping up financially, in the beginning, was a toll. Almost all my paychecks for the past three years have been reinvested back into my company.
Vanity Dreams has been a concept of mine since college in 2012. I have had test runs and products. I have had success and failures. At the end of 2019, Vanity Dreams truly came to be. The pandemic hitting us in 2020 has not been beneficial to Vanity Dreams’ first official launched. To say this road has been easy would be nothing short of a lie. Quitting my corporate job to move to Houston to fully immerse myself into my own vanity Dreams has far been one of the scariest things but my Vanity Dreams are resilient. With feedback from customers chasing their own dreams, telling me that my clothing line motivates them each day to go out and achieve it. That helps push me to keep growing until everyone knows my brand.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Vanity Dreams was always a concept of achievement and artistry. I love sports, music, to paint, draw, and style of people. I am a creator in every aspect and Vanity Dreams is a result of that. I had a college degree and working a corporate job with little time for the things that I love to do then I discovered the Gym. I have been an athlete all my life. Moving the body is natural and an Art itself. I became immersed in the Gym. Nick Baxter, the owner of Capital City Nutrition, gave me a chance after one workout with my straps. I created the best lifting straps in the world so people can focus on gains and lessen the fatigue on their wrist. Vanity Dreams Lifting straps can now be found in Capital City Nutrition and the Powerhouse Gym in Tallahassee, Florida. This was one of my proudest moments. Vanity Dreams Athletics was born. There were many paths I dabbled in but fashion always stood out and it showed in every lane of my life. I would make my own hats and t-shirts and style them with well-known pieces. The gym was no different. Buying Gym clothes became a new love. I said to myself I want people to remind themselves what their goals are while in the gym. What did I do? Create Vanity Dreams Athletic Wear.
So, people can feel comfortable and stylish while achieving their goals. Step by step Vanity Dreams is becoming a lifestyle. It’s a combination of all things. All my selfish dreams in one to provide inspiration to people to go get whatever it is you desire. Vanity Dreams is a lifestyle brand. It started with gym wear and accessories and now it’s developing into a full clothing brand for every day and ever occasion. The company is known for keeping you accountable, beating all odds, and accomplishing your Vanity Dreams while looking good. What sets Vanity Dreams apart from other companies is its community. The customers are doing the leg work. They are the ones fighting to reach new heights, which helps Vanity Dreams stand out.
Contact Info:
- Website: Thevanitydreams.com
- Email: vanitydreamsldf@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanitydreamsldf/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VanityDreamsLDF
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/d_feat/?hl=en
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