Life & Work with Vincent Williams of Byhalia, Mississippi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vincent Williams

Hi Vincent, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up, I’ve always been into fashion. I was always the kid who dressed weird and different from everyone else.

I can remember being in my grandparents kitchen , as a child, drawing and sketching dresses. As I got older, I began to watch shows like Project Runway and ” Say Yes to the Dress ” , and this is where I discovered exactly what I wanted to do in life. I held on to that dream for years before actually acting on it. After Graduating high school, I attended Southwest TN Community College. I honestly did not know what I wanted to major in. To be honest, I just picked a major and went school to make my parents proud. During my first two semesters there as a Physical Therapy student, I discovered my real passion in life which was fashion. I know it sounds crazy being that the two are complete opposites of each other, but fashion design has always been what I really wanted to do.

During my second semester at Southwest, I discovered that University of Memphis had a Fashion
Merchandising degree, so I decided to transfer and give it try. After transferring to University of Memphis, I knew that I was where I belonged. I loved being there and was excited to finally learn about the business of fashion. I was able to meet
more people like me who were fashion lovers and even met some young fashion designers. This
fueled my desire to fulfill the dream that I always sat aside.

In 2015 after my 2nd semester at UofM, I bought a sewing machine and taught myself how to sew. This is when I began to dream again. Once I really got acquainted with the sewing machine, I began to make my dreams my reality. I started out making Prom Dresses for local girls and even made my brother’s prom suit. With the increase of Prom clientele came Bridal clients. Bridal is where I REALLY wanted to be and where I’ve made my biggest statement in my career. Over the past 10 years, I have been afforded the opportunity to design for prom clients and brides all across the U.S. and will be releasing my first bridal collection soon!

I also re-enrolled in University of Memphis where I am currently pursuing my degree in Fashion Design.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No it hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the main challenges I’ve faced was staying motivated and holding on to my dream. Like most entrepreneurs, I had to learn that you can’t make everyone happy when doing business. As business owners, we always want to make sure that our customers are one hundred percent happy and we sometimes neglect our feelings. I definitely had to learn to stand up for myself and learn to say no to things that didn’t align with my vision for my business. It becomes discouraging sometimes but when you’re chasing your dreams, you have to keep pushing and remember that you are in control.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a custom Bridal and Formal wear designer. I specialize in bespoke wedding gowns that give my brides the perfect fit for their bodies and personalities on their wedding day. I am most proud of my growth in my work since I started. I’ve always been big on details when it comes to my gowns. I love that my brides show me their vision but still trust me enough to freely create looks for their big day. I think what sets me apart from others would be the way I actually care for my clients. Especially my brides. I feel like if you give me the chance to be a part of something so special, then we are family. If I make it to their weddings, then I’m there to be of service however I can to make sure everything is as close to perfect as possible.

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love Nashville , its been on my mind for years to move to Nashville or have a bridal showroom there in the future.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vince.deee
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Vincent-D-Williams/100012188672887/