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

Hi Demetria, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have always been a creative person and always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Making shirts actually happened on accident. A friend had asked me to pick up some materials for a project she was working on. While at the store I was talking to the attendant there and she actually told me that the equipment I currently had to make invitations with my other business Fresh Focus, could actually be used for making shirts. I went home and embarked on a journey of self education to make shirts. In the beginning the goal was to sell shirts to purchase a bigger printer for my printing business. However, the favor of God took over and that was all she wrote for that printer. Now the focal point has been custom apparel and it all started from doing a favor for that friend!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My love for creativity began in high school (Hume Fogg Magnet High School in Nashville, TN) where I was part of the Yearbook Committee. That introduction into creating and learning design techniques sparked a love that has never diminished. I never knew that others enjoyed my creations as much and were willing to pay me for my work until I was getting prepared for my wedding and used that design knowledge to create everything from my invitations to programs and favors.

It has been a LONG 20+ years since then and I have learned a lot about this business. It was NEVER EASY. There were times when there were no jobs, there were times when there were too many jobs, there were times when there were jobs that almost made me want to quit. Through it all I survived only by prayer. Praying that my confidence remained no matter what and knowing deep down that God didn’t give me this vision or this entrepreneurial spirit only to let me fall. Philippians 4:13 was always a scripture that kept me going. So simple but it says so much. I can do ALL things through CHRIST that strengthens me and that is what no matter what CHRIST will always stay the head of my life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
So I am a HUGE documentary fan and I love learning about the history of notable people. So being here in Birmingham, AL I would say we would make a stop at several musuems, including the Civil Rights Museum, the Negro Baseball Museum, 16th St Baptist Church among other spots. I think it is vitally important that we not only know about our history but that we embrace it as well because that is what will make us who we are in the future.

I am also a big kid at heart so Definitely we hitting some bowling alleys, Dave and Busters and choosing some good eateries! You can’t play all day without getting your belly full too!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I will have to say that my Pastor Michael McClure, Jr. has encouraged me, supported me, prayed for me and pushed me like no other. It was around 2012 when he told me that the name that I had for my business at the time (Demi’s Designs) was too vague. He told me he saw my business bigger than just one person and that I needed to rebrand. It was at that moment that I stopped thinking small and stepped out on faith. I began to believe that my business would be able to support all my needs. From there I haven’t stopped running and he hasn’t stopped pushing me to greater!

Website: www.restoration-tees.com

Instagram: @restoration.tees

Facebook: Restoration Tees

Image Credits
D. Jerome Smedley

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