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

Hi Reia, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was to help women of all races and body types feel confident and beautiful when wearing  my pieces. Growing up in rural Arkansas fashion was not normally a career people dream of. I think it is important to encourage women to be fearless, bold, and goal driven.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am a Fashion designer and consultant. My brand name is Allure by Reia, based in Atlanta, GA. Although I am based in Atlanta, I serve women worldwide. I have a new  Ebook I wrote to help emerging designers start their brands and navigate the fashion world. Breaking into the fashion world is not easy and is especially hard for  designers of color. I  also recently  launched my second collaboration with the global  brand SHEIN. My fashion career has been very challenging  due to the  lack of resources, and exposure but I have truly learned resiliency and strength. There were so many nights I cried and wanted to give up, but I prayed and continued to pursue my dream. When I had nothing, I had my art and my craft. It took me out of so many dark spaces and now is a career beautifully enough.

The lessons I’ve learned along the way are to remain consistent and that nothing happens over night . My mom always tells me that life is a marathon, not a sprint.

I want the world to know that I have barely scratched the service and I’m  just getting started in the fashion industry. Sky’s the limit when you refuse to give up on your dreams regardless of what others may think.


Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I love to go to the High Museum for Art shows they change the artwork so there is always something amazing to see. My favorite time to visit is for High Frequency Friday’s where jazz and music meets art.

Little Five Points is a very cool scene, especially for entrepreneurs.

I love to try new restaurants I would say I am a foodie . My favorites are Garden Room, Eight Sushi Lounge, Pasha, and Nan Thai.

The Bakery Cowork is also a new cool spot where women can network in an open coworking space.


Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother deserves all the praise I still draw inspiration from her . My love for art   started as a young child and later evolved into fashion . My mother  felt that I had  something special so she entered me into a raffle for a free art class and I was selected. This was my first professional class and to my surprise, my very first art piece won a sculpture contest. After having my first win  I gained the confidence to continue, with my career in art which later grew into a passion for fashion.  I packed everything up and left Little Rock, Arkansas to move to Atlanta at 18 to pursue fashion. Everyone told me what I was doing was a mistake and that I was crazy for leaving home solo. Through the dark times I kept my head down and  moving towards making my dreams a reality. I can proudly say that I have successfully launched three solo collections, an ebook, and a consulting business to help emerging designers but specifically minority designers and two collaborations with a billion dollar global brand . Life is great I am truly blessed.

Website: www.allurebyreia.com

Instagram: allurebyreia

Facebook: allurebyreia

Other: SHEIN Collab: https://us.shein.com/trends/SHEIN-X-Reia-sc-00646277.html

Image Credits
Photos of myself in the purple and sketches of my latest project with Shein.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.