Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all rule for starting your own business. While some entrepreneurs have successfully walked away from their jobs on a whim, there are others who have juggled full time jobs until they could make a reasonable salary from their business. If the idea of taking the leap from employee to entrepreneur keeps you awake at night, meet Malacia Anderson, Fashion Designer and Owner of Li’s Li’s Creations. By day she’s an International Customer Accounts Manager for a world renowned bridal company. But during nights and weekend she’s designing and sewing dresses, “made to measurement†by hand using beautiful bold African prints and colors.
[Related: Bridesmaid for Hire: Monetize Your Place at the Alter]
Currently, Anderson is on a mission  of becoming a full-time entrepreneur within the next 36 months. Black Enterprise caught up with her to learn some  tips for dealing with client demands, and the inspiration behind her best selling designs –The Hodari collection which means to have courage in Swahili.
Tell us a bit about your background.
I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with an Associate’s degree in Fashion Buying and Merchandising and Temple University with a BA in Business Administration.
I’ve been sewing since I was 10-years-old. I learned how to sew through 4-H Services in my local town of Roosevelt, NY. In honing my sewing skills I competed and won the opportunity to show my work at NY State Fair in 1983. I took an interest in designing during my last year of high school. My art teacher, Mr. Hunt, assisted me in getting into F.I.T. I also took 1-½ years of Fashion Design.
Learning to sew through 4-H has been my only formal training in sewing. It provided the strong foundation needed. I have also taken classes in pattern making to further enhance my skills in providing proper garment construction.
I have always loved dresses. Since the time I learned how to sew making skirts and dresses has been my favorite thing to do. Through the years as a seamstress, I have done weddings, prom gowns, men’s ties, vests and the like. When deciding to start selling my handmade items on Etsy and seeing what others were offering, I felt doing dresses would allow me to express my love for them as well as set me apart from others.
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Your dresses have a unique fit and flare with eye-catching colors and bold prints. How do you find creative inspiration?
I get a lot of my creative inspiration from retro styles of the 50’s and 60’s. That is my favorite era of fashion because the feminine aesthetic of the clothing was impeccable. It is my desire to bring that look back to the forefront for women. I firmly believe that our clothing and what we wear directly affects how we are received. My goal for Li Li’s Creations is to continually provide clothing that is classic, elegant and timeless, adding a cultural dimension to each piece.
What do you love about African prints?
I chose to work with African prints because they have always stood out to me as unique and special. I am a culturally strong person and finding ways to express it through African prints was a natural symmetry for me. I consciously choose colors and prints that are eclectic not completely traditional. I think this aesthetic is brought to life even more when combined with retro lines.
Why did you choose Etsy as a platform to market and grow your business vs. your own website?
I chose Etsy as a platform to market and grow my business because it provided support that I felt was needed for someone just starting out. Etsy is known for its handmade sellers, it is trusted to provide quality shops, along with providing the necessary support needed to be successful. It is a great platform for someone who wants to sell their handmade items because it eliminates a lot of the guess work needed in starting your own website.
How do you manage your full time job with the demands of Li Li’s Creations?
There are a few parameters that I have in place to help me manage the demands of both my full-time job and my part-time business. The first being customizing my delivery time frames. I Â also dedicate weekends and evenings for production. Third, when required whether it is preparing product for an event or order demands I will also utilize the vacation hours to aid in meeting the demands of my Etsy shop.
What are your top 3 lessons learned in business?
- Proper presentation of my work has increased my sales through professional imagery.
- Constantly staying engaged with my followers has allowed them the ability not only get to know me but by creating hash tag’s such as #LILIGIRL has built a social media family of ladies that represent my brand in the most exceptional ways. When used correctly social media can grow your business.
- Staying the course is the greatest tool to have when building a business. Having the drive and focus has greatly assisted me in continuing to evolve and grow my business in spite of whatever challenges may come.
What are your top 3 accomplishments?
- I opened my Etsy shop as a birthday present to myself on 8/6/13. The increase of my monthly order went from an average 10 orders per month to 19+ orders a month
- Gained the acknowledgement and attention of R&B Artist Chrisette Michele.
- Published in magazines such as Dream Teen Magazine as well as being recognized on various blogs such as ALLTHINGSANKARA.
Visit Li Li’s Creations and follow Malacia N. Anderson on Instagram.