Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobbie Johnson.
Hi Bobbie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been into fashion since the Cheetah Girls era, sketching designs and keeping up with the latest trends through my community. I grew up in Houston’s very own 4th Ward, aka Freedmen’s Town, everyone dressed to impress with the latest Jordans and a matching name-brand set, it was beyond inspirational. My sense of fashion began to shift in middle school when I found Tumblr, I started to wear what I thought was cool instead of sticking with the trends. By junior year in high school, I learned to sew via Youtube and would thrift vintage denim, hand stitch on patches or any prints I could find.
Over the next few years, I recreated looks and sewed custom pieces for clients until I realized I wanted to sell clothes not only made by me but designed by me as well. In 2016 I launched BÉYU, at this time I was making lingerie, swimwear, club clothes, really whatever came to mind with any fabrics I could find. A few years after launching, I made a huge life-altering decision to go vegan and did a lot of research, not just on what I put into my body but also on what I put on my body. In 2019 I rebranded BÉYU to an ethical clothing brand that uses eco-friendly products for longevity and quality. That decision altered my path in ways I would never expect, BÉYU was being sold at stores in Texas, New York, California and even North Carolina. I believe my decision to create a brand that reflects my lifestyle and idea of fashion attracted like-minded people and more opportunities.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first launched BÉYU majority of my time was spent at college and working full time. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was prioritizing the business, my energy was split into too many things and it created a lack of creativity and structure. I had to step out of faith in God and myself so I went part-time at work and focused more on growing BÉYU. Another obstacle I still face today is fear, the fear of not selling or simply being irrelevant because the fashion world is still very much all about trends. I think fear made me miss out on a lot of opportunities and held me captive in the same place for years. Although I still feel fearful sometimes, I no longer allow it to stop me from taking chances or releasing things that I believe are worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about BÉYU?
BÉYU, pronounced [bay-u] is a handmade clothing brand based out of Houston, Texas. She represents the women who are chic but conscious, maintaining a sexy and sustainable lifestyle. Our mission is to join the slow fashion movement by creating garments made through ethical production processes, using nontoxic, eco-friendly and/or repurposed fabrics.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
If I’m being optimistic, I’d say the number of consumers supporting smaller brands and ethical production will grow. Fast fashion is becoming more problematic and thanks to social media it’s being addressed like never before.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.shopbeyu.com
- Instagram: @shopbeyu
