Meet Mary Johnson | Founder of O’Caiden

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

Hi Mary, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Since I was a little girl, I have always had a passion to create art in some form as an expression of myself. Although I was not that good at drawing… I have always enjoyed writing, film, and music, and I am inspired by cultural expressions.

In 2017, I was pregnant with my third child. It was at that moment while carrying my bundle of joy that I was moved to create a clothing brand that would reflect the sights and sounds of the African culture. My children’s grandfather was from Ghana, and the food, music, and art were something that I wanted to share with everyone, using fashion as the vehicle to create unique designs with colors that could spark conversations and bonds not only between mothers and their babies but with each other. With that in mind, I was on a mission to create a luxurious, quality, and stylish brand because uncomfortable fabrics and muted colors have oversaturated the baby clothing industry. I started working on my brand by researching fabric blends, the weight of the fabric, threading, and all the small details that I knew from experience as a mom, made babies happy.

In June 2018, I gave birth to my third child, a beautiful baby boy Caiden who is the inspiration behind the brand O’Caiden. I spent many hours teaching myself how to sew just enough to create what is now being cut and sewn at a manufacturer in the USA.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I graduated with my undergraduate degree in Organizational Leadership and Management and obtained my Masters Degree in Project Management. I have worked in the insurance industry for 11 years. I currently manage a team of 12 direct reports at a Commercial Insurance Company. I continue to balance a professional career while I build my dream.

What sets me apart from others is my tenacity. I am a doer and believe in doing my best in everything I do. It has been a challenge to get where I am today but I did not look back and allow obstacles to discourage me from moving forward. I don’t like to make excuses so I use challenges as a learning tool to improve. I continue to set new goals for myself daily and learn from obstacles or mistakes so that I can encourage others. I still have so much I would like to accomplish. Researching and learning new things each day is critical to continue my growth and expand my knowledge to grow my brand.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

While building O’Caiden, I balanced being a wife, completing my master’s degree, working a full-time job as a manager, and homeschooling my children. For all that know me and those of you that will get to know me, I am determined and dedicated in all that I do. It was necessary for me to begin building this dream financially by myself to prove I could do it and to prove to mothers and women who have a dream, that you can make it a reality.

My mission is for O’Caiden to serve as a conversation starter to bring us all together. As an African American Mom, I saw the need to create clothing that allows all races and ethnicities to feel safe wearing, and although O’Caiden clothing may represent a culture someone does not originate from, we all can take pride because we are representing a culture we support. If I can do my part, sharing my interpretation of cultural appreciation through fashion to bring us together, then I am one step closer to my goal.

I am so honored to have each one of you grow with my brand, making O’Caiden a go-to brand that stands for love, luxury, style, and comfort.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Wow, I have so many favorite places in the city! We would start our morning with a jog on The Big Creek Greenway in Alpharetta, Ga or hike Sawnee Mountain in Cumming, Ga to take in the beautiful scenery and catch up on life! We would grab a cup of coffee or latte from Valor Coffee in Alpharetta, Ga. The morning would not be complete without an amazing brunch from Breakfast at Barney’s in Atlanta,Ga, If we wanted to avoid the lines at Breakfast at Barney’s, another great option in North Georgia is Nido Cafe. You can’t have a girls outing without shopping and a spa. I love outdoor shopping centers such as the Avalon in Alpharetta, Ga or Halcyon in Cumming, Ga. After shopping, we would go to my favorite spa, The Woodhouse Spa at the Avalon in Alpharetta, Ga. Ponce City Market would be a must. that week for more shopping and lunch at one of the many restaurants in the food hall. We would then venture out to the beltline and rent the Bird Scooters. One of the nights we would have dinner at The Select in Sandy Springs or Roc South Cuisine in Atlanta. Before the trip ended we would attend a candle making class at Bear and Honey Candle in Little Five Points and of course more shopping. I like to support the small businesses and artisan shops and there are plenty of them in Little Five Points! One of the days we would have a ladies overnight slumber at The Whitley Hotel in Atlanta or rent a condo or cabin in Blue Ridge. I am big on staycations and touring my own city when I may not have time to travel far. There are so many great things to do in the city. A week would not be long enough but we would definitely have a great time!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My Mom and Dad instilled so many values in me and always encouraged me to set the bar high and shoot for the stars. I know they would be proud of my accomplishments if they were still here!

My husband has been my number one supporter! Building a business can present many challenges. You go through many emotions. There were times I would feel excited, passionate, overwhelmed, anxious, and discouraged within the same day. My husband has been my sound board when I want to vent or bounce ideas, He is also the talented Web Developer that worked many sleepless nights to build the website I desired for my brand. My husband is truly the Jack of all trades and I am grateful for our amazing partnership! We work so well as a team. I would also thank my friends, family and my children that encouraged me and cheered me on through the process of building my brand.

Website: https://ocaiden.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocaidenbabycompany/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocaidenbabycompany/