Today we’d like to introduce you to Xaysia Lewis.
Xaysia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a thing for fashion and the skills to sketch out my own designs, so starting a clothing line was the best thing to do. August 2017, I was 17 about to start my senior year of high school. I got with my friends and we tried to come up with a name, they didn’t follow through so I decided to pursue it and came up with the name X.HENDRIXX. I’m often asked “what does it mean?” or “where it’s from?”. The “X” stands for my first name and the “Hendrixx” came from a playful nickname which I picked up from being a fan of Future. So I added an extra “x” to Hendrix to make it a little different and I went from there.
I came up with a few different ideas for my brother to design me a logo to get started. My dad gave me about $250 only to start and the rest was up to me. I found a local print shop to make a few shirts and sold them to my family and close friends. With their support, I managed to gain new customers over time.
Has it been a smooth road?
Definitely haven’t been a smooth road. I would say trying to find good quality garments and making sure everything is to my liking could be very hard, such as misunderstandings with oversea vendors. Also making sales, there will be days where you make sales and some days you don’t. Doing everything by myself Is the hardest part, everything is coming out of my pocket and 90% of the work is done by me. There are days I wanted to quit because things weren’t going my way but I’m used to it now and I see it as the life of an entrepreneur trying to build a brand.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I started out doing custom tees, knowing many people like me have sneakers with no shirts to match them. My most popular item is my custom drip design, which made people notice the brand even more. I also sell sandals, custom color joggers and shorts. My goal is to sell more items and reach a larger platform as I grow, so I’m learning and focusing on building. I really didn’t expect my brand to be where it is today and I’m so thankful for all of the support I’ve gained. Being able to create and put together custom color tops/bottoms with my designs, and also having a fast turnaround time are some of the few things that set me apart from others.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think our city is a good place for businesses like mine. I would recommend starting out here if it’s your home town and you have the support. I’m not gonna say it isn’t because I’m doing it but for some people it may be hard. Most people in my city only support the popular, it’s best that you do something different from others to stand out.
Contact Info:
- Website: XHENDRIXX.COM
- Email: xhendrixx17@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xhendrixx_/?hl=en
Image Credit:
IG: @loveminati
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