Meet Dedra Hemphill: Boutique Owner | Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dedra Hemphill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dedra, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
One of my favorite quotes is “Buy the ticket, take the ride” from Hunter S. Thompson. This quote accurately describes the final thought I have before deciding to pursue something significant or life altering that scares me, and as I look back over the years, it seems I’ve unofficially adopted the quote as my life’s motto. At the end of the day, the choices are simple: I can either get bogged down by all the ‘what ifs’ and obstacles that are sure to come; or I can live fully, pursuing the things that I’m most passionate about. Whether the situation works out the way I planned isn’t really the point. It’s everything gained from the experience that counts. That’s the win. Besides, I don’t think anything noteworthy ever got done with the mindset of “buy the ticket, but only take the ride if it’s perfectly smooth.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The journey to Good Thread Society has been a lesson in redefining what success truly means to me, and because of the experience I’ve had in opening and closing my first boutique (Pecola, in Inman Park), I feel much more comfortable in this space the 2nd time around. That’s why my story can’t fully be told without at least mentioning Pecola (affectionately named after my late great-grandmother). I took significant risks with that boutique, creating a hybrid model of fashion, art, and music that boasted a small art gallery, sustainable fashion, and live music performances. The talent I encountered, the knowledge I gained, and the relationships I forged during that time gave me the tools (and eventually the confidence) needed to launch Good Thread Society. That doesn’t mean the journey to get here was so much easier the second time around. Closing a store that I built from the ground up felt like a gut punch to say the least, but I knew it was the beginning of something special, not the end. At first it felt like a devastating failure, but I slowly changed my mindset to look at it as a success that put me on a greater path to where I belong. As a result, I’ve spent the last five years becoming a student again–working as a stylist, interning as a fashion show assistant, hosting my own fashion podcast called Naked Lunch, and producing a sustainable fashion show with Dream Warriors Foundation. I put in the work, and all of these experiences allowed me to immerse myself in a community of creators who understood where I had been and where I could go. The point is that I humbled myself, asked questions, and LISTENED to the answers. That was the only way to move forward. Now I’m running Good Thread Society and I love that it is a living testament to all that I’ve learned–not just about fashion, but about myself and what’s personal to me. It’s about being raised in a small mountain town by a mother who is a highly respected seamstress and style maven, and who gave me an unofficial education in textiles and design. It’s about having the courage to try again, even going as far as building the confidence to take on the role of designer for my own private label. Sustainable fashion has had a long suffering reputation of being uninspiring and bland. Good Thread Society challenges that notion by infusing vibrant, playful hues into our small batch collections while still maintaining an aesthetic of minimalism and clean lines. My ultimate mission with Good Thread Society is to uplift small women-owned brands, encourage conscious consumerism through transparency and education regarding the impact of textile waste on the environment, and create my own vision of what the future of sustainable fashion could be–clean, stylish, and fun.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Wow, it’s so tough to narrow down all the great places in Atlanta! The food, art, and culture here are top notch so you really can’t go wrong regardless of which hood you’re visiting. My list admittedly has a bit of bias as I’ve spent the majority of my 13 years here in O4W and East Atlanta. But here goes… Day 1 – I’d start with East Atlanta Village for a little bit of everything, including dinner at Argosy and a live show at The Earl or 529. Also great for people watching and obligatory mural photos. Day 2 – Breakfast at Thumbs Up diner, tour the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr., and take a selfie on the Jackson Street Bridge. Followed later by a low key dinner at Ziba’s, a quaint little spot in Grant Park that features live music and enough space to dance–that is, if you can move after the generous portions. Day 3 – Let’s be all artsy and go museum hopping! Whitespace Gallery, High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center are all amazing and enough to fill up the day. It only makes sense to end an artsy day with dinner at Cafe Alsace in Decatur, where you feel like you’ve been transported to Paris. The owner, the food and the service–all 5 star quality. Day 4 – It’s always nice to get outside the city for a moment and hop on I-20 to Sweetwater Creek State Park. We can take an easy hike or take a path less traveled, but any path you choose is the scenic route at this gorgeous park. Then we’ll take in some of the local night life at Buteco, another Grant Park gem specializing in Brazilian street food and drinks. I love places like this that feel authentic and offer more than just good food and drinks. It’s the whole vibe that makes Buteco special. Day 5 – Well, you can’t just come to Atlanta and not go to Little 5 Points. We could eat brunch nearby at Gato in Candler Park, then spend the afternoon casually shopping for vinyl at Criminal Records or vintage shopping at Clothing Warehouse or buying local art on the street. Whatever you’re into, there’s probably someone selling it in L5P. Day 6 – When it’s time to take it easy and bask in nature, a leisurely stroll and picnic in the beautiful and rare gem of a park called Hahn Woods is perfect. Of course you’ll need food so my vote is for takeout from Community Q, serving up what is easily some of the best bbq in the city. Day 7 – Let’s end this itinerary with my favorite tourist traps: Shopping at Ponce City Market followed by a walk on the Beltline for some top rated people watching. And then we cap it off with a night to remember. I mean, can you even say you’ve been to Atlanta if you haven’t been to Clermont Lounge? If you know, you know. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many factors and players that figure into my personal success, but especially in this past year, my partner and our 2-year old daughter deserve so much credit. They are a constant reminder of what’s important in life, and in the midst of a pandemic when it’s so easy to feel off kilter, they bring me back to center and ground me. Not to mention the energy and enthusiasm needed to be a mom naturally spills over into other facets of my life, uplifting me and propelling me forward. I’m equally grateful to have a partner who is a musician, and therefore has a complete understanding of both the gratification and frustrations of creativity. He and I are constantly bouncing ideas off of each other, and having that level of support has been priceless. We are just so heavily invested in each other’s success, and that feels good to know someone has your back and wants to see you do well. Creating Good Thread Society has been fulfilling in so many ways already, and I know I would not be where I am right now–in this fearless, empowered state of mind–without the love and support of my small but mighty family unit.

Website: www.goodthreadsociety.com

Instagram: @goodthreadsociety

Facebook: @goodthreadsociety

Image Credits
Patricia Villafane