MATTE isn't in any retail stores or shops yet. Why have you decided to keep it exclusive to e-commerce?

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I’ve been learning as I’ve been growing and I’ve had people reach out about carrying MATTE in their stores. I’ve always had questions about it but I’ve also been weary about it. Whenever someone reaches out, I just wish I could go and see their store before I just let them have MATTE so I can check it out. I had goals earlier this year of getting into Nordstrom or Macy’s but I was talking to someone recently who was saying that you can sell over $300,000 at a department store but get no real money for it because they have so many terms. If the clothes don’t sell out in six weeks then it’s like a consignment.

If it doesn’t sell, you have to pay for that. I’ve been playing it cool but of course, if Nordstrom reached out and they wanted to carry I would think about it. I don't know, I think want to hold out and have flagship stores in popular cities. I don’t think I want it to be as many stores as Zara or American Apparel and I don’t know if, Nordstrom's or Barney’s is the right way either. So I’m playing it by ear to see what’s best. What's crazy is that E-Commerce is the biggest thing in the world right now and everyone wants to go to do it and go directly to consumers that way, so I'm doing that.

What are some of challenges that you face in running a one-woman brand? How do you overcome them?

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I face challenges every single day. Me and my assistant just parted ways. It’s just about continuing and thinking about solutions to your problems. I’ve always been an advocate for positive thinking. It takes you a really really long way. Thinking bigger than your problems is the only way to be progressive. I touched on how I had to let go of my previous production company and I had to start with a new one. I lost so much money but it was a time when I was having to start over but MATTE had already become so popular. I had all of these people waiting on pieces. That was a time that I could’ve stopped because I lost my relationship with the person making my clothes and it was like, "I need money and someone to make these clothes." I had to keep going and come up with ideas and I’m happy to say that I overcame that.

They had higher minimums and costs more money and I’m like, “I have to pay all of this money. What am I going to do?” But I take it day by day and just keep going. I set my goals and I push and I’m like, “I might not have the money right now but I will.”

You're motivated because you know MATTE Brand can only get better.

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Yes. I refuse to believe that anything that happens to me is a negative thing. Even when I broke my leg early before moving to LA, I could’ve stopped too. I thought it was the worst thing that could happen to me. I’m like, “This is so negative. I don’t know why this happened to me.”

Then, I moved across the country from New York to LA and it ended up being one of the best things that happened to me. When something happens, it might seem like the worst thing but I understand learning lessons and pushing past them. That’s more valuable than anything you could lose.