Conversations with the Inspiring Alisha Francis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisha Francis.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Alisha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the beginning, there was a dance floor and I was the b-girl in it. Most of my adult life I’ve been intimately involved with hip hop. I might have written my name on a wall b4, I rap…poorly, I have competed as a b-girl (a pop and lock sort of kind) And my weapon of choice is all and any Dj instrument. Has it not been for this foundation, network, skill development and application it would be difficult for me to be as successful at anything as I am, nor would I have had the courage to decide that I was going to just have my own fashion line that catered to people who enjoy good fitting garments.

Hip hop is a raw and male-dominated environment, so if you aren’t hardy, all that masculine, aggressive competitive energy will direct you instead of you directing it. I think to be successful in general but especially in that, you need self-determination. Djing has taken me across the country and around the world. It has allowed me cool exposure on college radio, in community radio especially in djing regularly on the longest-running hip hop show on the planet, podcast distribution, hosting multiple shows on Denver open media, and my favorite touring both independently, and opportunities touring with the African hip hop caravan and natural hair care expo.

Because I identify with hip hop so much, I make urban clothes. The clothes were originally to fit my lifestyle. I had watched A rebroadcast cast of a show I host on Denver open media and I looked like I just rolled out from under your couch covered in bong water: fat and ugly and ready to dj the show. I wanted to think and better of my self and present better. I guess I could have went on a diet but for me what was going to be the quickest fix for the next show was to up my clothes game. I’m an Uber creative and there is no crafty craft I cannot participate in so I started making things. At the end of that year, I had nine pieces that made me look like I was the most fashion-savvy dj in the room.

Touring with the African hip hop caravan and the natural hair care expo are particularly instrumental of the creation of my fashion line. Africa is a feeling in addition to being a continent and I really want to share this Africa feeling with everyone black women especially because the vibration does something for my ancestral memory. What it is exactly is hard to really put into words besides to say it’s a feeling. That is the reason why I use African fabric accents in my line. Also wearing African cloth has a way of making you very visible in a room.

I’ve been touring with the natural hair care expo for three years and this brings me to my target market in Baltimore Cleveland North Carolina and here in Denver. I’ve met so many women who are round and curly and black or mixed who put on something of mine and immediately look amazing. This line is for them and it makes me feel really awesome that I’m a designer who can offer something for that segment that makes them feel empowered and sexy. That’s not a usual thing for women in America.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey?
Let’s start with advice:
Have friends that support you. I’m not talking about $$ support. But the friends who lift you up and help you to success. I have a group of people around me that when I wanna quit, they toe me off and send me back out there with encouraging words like “there’s no crying in hip hop or fashion.”

Network with all the people you want to work with. Lil fresh Sam always answers questions I have and is very encouraging. Every time I see Jayme Alexander, she always tells me how proud she is of me and points out a detail I’ve added that she noticed. Love from Other designers is dope. Those are just on fashion tips that’s not evening discussing dj networking but it works the same way and even more so DjBig styles is great sounding board for both fashion and music.

Is the road smooth? Not at all. I’m a plus-size Afro-Chicana dj designer with my own agenda. I started out not firing because I was too black for the brown folk and too brown and maybe even white for the black folk and always too fat for everyone and I wanted to do what I wanna do. When I think about fashion, I think about a lot of skinny white models and one black one walking down a white runway looking hungry and hungover in clothes that reflect high fashion but in European ways: flat face flat chest flat ass flat clothing.

What I’m bringing is quite the opposite. It’s curvy it’s sexy, it’s colorful, we don’t walk the runway: we bounce down the runway. It’s a little Banji sure, but not boring. It’s visually and vibrationaly and whenever anyone is different, it’s not an easy walk especially in heals. We are subject to fatphobic side remarks and fashion magazines and outlet looking away, I got rejected from A fashion show recently because they said my line would clash with what they had going on. Let’s not mention finding time between my regular job and dj gigs to sew and design… also selling on Etsy is hard I’m not going to lie.

There’s a lot of no but as long as I find a yes here and there the uphill isn’t so bad. I know that this line has a place and I will persistent because quitters don’t know anything about success and winning.
…. anyways have you ever shopped in the plus-size section? Gross! What they must think of a big girl. There’s clearly room for me I just gotta find the opening.

What should we know about your work? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I have not let go of my DJ adventure. I’m really proud of all of those accomplishments and I know that had I not did any of that I would have not had the skills, confidence and resolve to do the fashion.

The fashion tho is fast becoming my weapon of choice. It’s basically the same thing cut off stuff that ur not going to use, make the seams look/sound seamless, set vibe, add the flashy details and show em What u got. I think the merger of the music and the fashion is what sets me apart. I’m making clothes and then the mix that we walk to. I have a particular point of view and style and it’s executed in a really wearable urban way. It’s intentional and styleized I feel.

I used to make clothes just for plus-sized women because I understand the terrain, but I began to notice that everyone’s clothes don’t fit well or are very flattering so I began it offer tailoring and customs and Tate’s become the things I’m proud of. Folk really love that. I really like the hooded scarfs with pockets and animal ears best. I think it’s the most unique piece I make. I think I’m most proud of that they are afri-eeky…

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
Go out and be social in the networks you want to be in. I like to do community service in those circles and that has been really helpful. I see who has been successful and I connect with that person and ask a lot of questions. I’ll take other designers to lunch, and connect with models to see when the next casting is so I too can be involved meet more and new people.

Pricing:

• Hoods are $100
• Boho skirts are $75
• O scarf with pocket is $25
• Remix jackets are $50-90

Contact Info:

• Website: Royaljellyfashion.com
• Phone: 7204967805
• Email: djalishab303@gmail.com
• Instagram: @djalishab303 @royaljellyfashio
• Facebook: Royal Jelly Fashion

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