Today we’d like to introduce you to Dominique Devereaux Bedford-Samuel.
Hi Dominique, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, and received both my Bachelor’s (2009) and Master’s degrees (2016) in Fashion & Business.
While it sounds cliche, I have always had a passion for fashion, however, my parents felt I needed to have a degree that could “make some real money”. Originally, I began my Freshman year of college studying psychology and taking a few fashion courses without my parents knowing.
However, by my Sophomore year, I decided to change my major as well as transfer schools to a program I could identify with.
Instead of taking the traditional route of design, I decided to major in Merchandising, also known as the business of Fashion. It was with this mindset that I aimed to convince my straight-laced parents that I could create a lucrative and sustainable career in the industry. If only I could get them to see beyond the aspect of the creative arts and take note of how determined I was to carve out my path within this $750 billion dollar avenue.
With a background of experience in almost every facet of the industry from interning in TV and film to working retail, producing runway shows, and even working in wholesale and brand management, I tasked myself with learning all I could about each integral part so that I would have all the tools necessary when it came time to build my own brand.
In late 2018, after blogging the details of my journey as well as being on the endless job search for over two years with no end in sight, I took the leap of faith to create my own design and styling brand- Devereaux/House of Devereaux and I haven’t looked back.
This has enabled me to take both my passions for psychology and fashion and fuse the two into creating power looks that promote confidence and self-love.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road has definitely not been easy but it has certainly been worth it.
It’s one thing to operate a business in the States but quite another to attempt to operate internationally in both the States and overseas. The level of registration and business logistics combined with the learning curve and different time zones can be overwhelming but I am becoming more abreast year by year.
When I first began, I knew I wanted to specialize in beautiful jackets and while tapping into a niche market allows you to carve out your position in the marketplace, you can also run the risk of being boxed into a set category.
But, it’s up to you not only to differentiate yourself but also to learn from your mistakes and celebrate your successes whether big or small. Another challenge with being a small business is competing against bigger brands with a stronger presence and wider reach.
However, one of my favorite quotes is from the talented and late Virgil Abloh, “for me design is about whatever I find worthy to tell a story about”. And what that means to me is that there is strength and value in my point of view, my aesthetic, and my level of creativity. These are the things my competitors do not possess.
The moment I recognized that I have all the power to make my designs sustainable within the industry as well as the knowledge base and highly creative mind to make incredible things with a memorable presence, the road got a lot easier.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a designer/stylist.
I am incredibly passionate about my creative work with custom-made power suiting and separates. The House of Devereaux was created with strong women (and men) in mind and my muses include iconic movie and music mavens like Diahann Carroll- the original “Dominique Deveraux”, Josephine Baker, and Grace Kelly as well as those who I know personally like my grandmother and eldest sister.
With our house philosophy of Harry Winston’s “people will stare, make it worth their while” at the forefront, our power suiting is made from premium fabrics with luxury trims and elaborate details. We are not afraid of color, so when you create customs with us, our designs will feature bright tones, metallic textures, and cool finishings.
And yes we do black, but not your basic black- so expect it to be turned up a notch. What truly makes us so unique is that each piece is lined or accented with our signature leopard print lining made of Italian silk which aligns with our house motto of “it’s all in the details”.
In addition to our custom design services, we also offer a variety of styling services from closet re-organization, capsule wardrobe creation, virtual/personal styling, and collaboration on special projects such as professional/personal branding photo shoots.
We are so proud of our best-selling pieces like the “Dominique” and the “Brigitte”, both award-winning at the Rolex and HSBC Championship Best Dressed competition, our private pop-ups held in the most luxurious destinations as well as our extensive client list that consists of women and men from different walks of life.
We have been fortunate to design/style for everyone from your ever-important stay-at-home moms to creative artists, important dignitaries, and even Forbes 30 under 30 list recipients. This proves that we are not only approachable but authentic in recognizing the power in people regardless of their professional background.
The women and men we dress wear many hats but what we love most is that they wear Devereaux. Additionally, we have been recognized by Cosmopolitan Magazine as a brand to watch and our work has been shot all over the world in places from Dubai to Paris proving the power of our international reach.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My advice for anyone who is serious about stepping into entrepreneurship is to be clear about where and who you currently are and where you want to go.
Create a clear vision and mission for yourself as well as a business plan, which doesn’t have to be perfect because it will evolve as your business grows. A business plan will help set the foundation of who you are now in the business sense and what you want your business to be in 6 months, 12 months, 3 years, etc.
Second, give yourself grace. You will not have all the answers nor will you get everything right and that is okay. So give yourself the grace to grow, learn and have patience with the process but most importantly, patience with yourself. Make mistakes just not expensive ones you cannot bounce back from.
Third, ask for help. Do not be afraid to ask others for help but also be aware of when that help could become a hindrance to the relationship. There is a big difference between asking people for help and misusing them. Everyone is meant to be used, if not then you’re useless. It’s when you begin to misuse people that problems arise.
Next – always be open to learning. You don’t know it all. No one does. So take advantage of all the free (and even paid) knowledge that is out there, just make sure who you are learning and seeking advice from is reputable. You can never know enough, especially in an industry that is ever-changing. And all industries no matter what they are will be ever-changing.
Surround yourself with like-minded people. They don’t have to necessarily be entrepreneurs because this journey isn’t for everyone, but they at a minimum need to be supportive in small positive ways as well as an understanding of your goals and desires and the time it takes to develop a brand. Your availability will shift and they will need to grasp that and understand that it’s not personal- it’s business (literally).
No one will love, respect, or understand your brand more than you. So drop the expectation of others to be as completely invested as you are- especially emotionally. Heck, drop the expectations of others overall. This is your calling, not theirs.
Lastly – invest in your brand. Create a realistic marketing budget and do not think that you can run a sustainable business via social media. If all the social sites crashed today where does that leave you?
Always have a plan B, a website – even if it’s just a landing page and a professional email account and number (Google numbers for business are free) where people can find you. Google offers so many tools that can help you retain lost information and organize your business efficiently and effectively.
Pricing:
- Custom Design begins at approximately $400
- Styling Services begin at $200 per hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.houseofdevereaux.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseofdevereaux
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/devereauxllc
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/housedevereaux
Image Credits
@marcoscovosphotography, @monique.spearman, @maismatte, @dialight.production, and @jramsterdam
