Today we’d like to introduce you to Tonia Wells.
Tonia was born to Robert and Rosa Wells, in Queens, New York. From a young age her parents instilled in she and her sister, that hard work was an expectation in the Wells family; giving up was not an option. Most of her life, she had her family, who served as a shield of protection from the world. As she became an adult, slowly that changed. She began to encounter her own life experiences–some good, others bad. No matter what the issue, she always found a way to make “it work.” A prime example, is starting her own glamour line.
Created and designed by Tonia Wells, Mocha Tonez is designed to fit the needs of a niche market. As a pear-shaped woman, she experienced challenges in obtaining clothing proportionate to her body shape. Pear-shaped women are smaller in their bust area than in their hip and butt areas, thus the term “pear-shaped.” This makes it difficult to find clothing to adequately fit their shape. In sharing her personal challenge, Tonia discovered that this mainly impacted women of color, African American, Hispanic and Indian women, hence the name Mocha Tonez. The purpose is to provide clothing that eliminates the need to spend additional money on alterations, after purchasing from a retail store.
Great, 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?
Mocha Tonez began from the persistence of my sister, Ketha Walker. I would complain about the extra costs associated with buying clothes and she would say, “Either do something about it or stop complaining.” In March 2014, I obtained my DBA and planned to build Mocha Tonez. Two months later in May, my sister had a stroke, which put those plans on the back burner. She later died in August 2015. My sister was my second mom, cheerleader and best friend. I lost a big part of myself when she died. I never made big decisions without consulting her first, so I had to learn how to function on my own. At 46 years old, I had to grow up and handle my business by myself.
I went into a semi-depression, until a friend at the time asked about Mocha Tonez. He said, “What would your sister want you to do?” Ketha would want me to finish what I started and make her proud of me. So, in 2016, I started on Mocha Tonez, once again. Designing was my grief therapy. It was my way to put all of my energy into a product, in tribute to my sister, and make her proud of me.
Throughout my life, I have endured several challenges. I am a domestic abuse survivor; I lost a son to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and lastly, I lost my only sibling, who was my world. I was able to pick myself up each time and start over, and turn the negatives into positives. I am a Phoenix.
As an entrepreneur, you have to have bounce-back ability; allowing each setback to position you for your come back. You have to learn that every loss is not always bad, but a lesson learned. Just as in our personal lives we encounter challenges, you will also as an entrepreneur. You must have the determination and patience to see yourself through the hard times. People will come in and out of your life for a season or a reason; you have to accept and recognize their purpose and use it for what it is. You have to be ready to walk your journey alone at times and know that your purpose, is YOUR PURPOSE. You must be ready for long nights, no sleep, and no recognition. Your fuel must be knowing that you are good at what you do and that you have something to offer to the world.
Mocha Tonez is my way to tell the fashion world that ALL women need and deserve clothing that fits them. It is my answer to a system that dictates what beauty is. There is beauty in ALL women. It is my tribute to my sister who loved me unconditionally and always had my back no matter what. In each collection, there will be at least one design with roses on it, which is in honor of my mother, Rosa, who is my rock, support and my role model of elegance and sophistication. It is my legacy to leave to my daughter, Brandy, who inspires me to be the best at everything I do. It is my example to my sons of the importance of persistence, diligence and patience.
My first collection, “The Phoenix,” debuted at the Couture for Change Fashion show in Houston, TX, on October 29, 2017.
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
In my professional life, I am a project manager. I lead specific large-scale projects within a company, doing everything from ensuring clarity around the scope of work, to onboarding and educating other individuals essential to the project, to managing the timelines and budgets associated with the undertaking. I work closely with individuals of all ranks and departments, helping coordinate the efficient and accurate flow of information among all project stakeholders. Depending on the industry and company structure, I may either focus on a single project at a time or juggle multiple projects and their respective timelines and responsibilities.
Currently, I work for a state representative in northwest Houston, performing community outreach and developing strategic relationships with community activists, companies and organizations.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
As women, especially Black women, our jobs reach beyond Corporate America and into our personal lives. We are the backbone of the familial unit; the nurturers, caregivers and many instances, sole supporters of our families. We are far more capable than what we give ourselves credit for. In many instances, we raise our children, as single parents, in a system that doesn’t always work for us. Yet oftentimes, we and our children, out perform two parent households. Our value and opportunity is in our resilient attitude to overcome any challenge and/or obstacle in our path. We have the gift to take a piece of junk and turn it into a masterpiece. Possessing the expertise to do more with less is what we live and breathe. It is that very asset that makes us valuable to large companies, as evidenced by the increasing appointments of African-American women to the boards of major corporations. As we continue to obtain higher education, our value increases as does our knowledge and business acumen; thereby, increasing the opportunities to lead large companies or to start, grow and expand our own businesses.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mochatonez.com
- Phone: 832-899-4308
- Email: mochatonez@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mocha_tonez
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/mochatonez
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