Meet Teryn Simmons | Creator & CEO of Top Twelve Clothing Brand

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

Hi Teryn, what do you attribute your success to?
Staying consistent and not giving up when the going got tough has gotten me so far! Just like with anything, the more consistently you do something, the easier it becomes, and the more momentum you build up. They were plenty times when I just wanted to thrown in the towel and quit. More doors were closing than opening and I couldn’t seem to get ahead. I was and still am receiving more No’s than Yes’s but, I didn’t and won’t let that deter me from my ultimate goal and that’s creating a successful, urban clothing brand. A legacy that will live on long after I’m gone. Something I can leave behind for my children and my children’s children that will inspire future generations.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Top Twelve Clothing is a clothing brand created and run by a black woman. It’s a lifestyle brand that offers quality, custom clothing that we like to call “STATEMENT APPAREL.” When you walk in a room wearing a piece from one of our collections, you WILL make an impression! With its edgy style, custom art designs, and socially conscious subject matters, Top Twelve Clothing is clothing “By the Culture for the Culture”. We not only set out to be one of the hottest urban apparel brands in the game, we also want to promote self expression, confidence and love as well. Our goal is to uplift and inspire people through fashion. This is what sets Top Twelve Clothing apart from others. We create apparel that is worn by individuals who consciously and unapologetically live above negative influence and are driven by ambition, love and originality. We are so excited to spread this message and to see the brand continue to grow.

As far as challenges I’ve overcome and lessons I’ve learned during this journey, I would say that I’ve learned the importance of staying true to myself, remembering why I started in the first place and most importantly staying true to the brand. Since our origins back in 2016, there has been an huge emergence of clothing brands that have saturated the market. This can make it a little more difficult to stay original and continue to give your consumers something innovative and new. The road definitely hasn’t been easy but, nothing worth having ever is. With being a business owner, there will be many challenges that will present themselves on a daily basis. The key is knowing that solving those challenges all start with your perception and thought process . Half the issues we think we have, we create in our heads. You have to understand and accept that with starting anything new, like a business, there will be a lot of trial and error and learning as you go. You cannot take anything personally and know that what you may deem as a failure may be a blessing in disguise…a lesson to be learned..an adjustment that has to be made…All of which are ultimately just small setbacks for major comebacks.

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.
One of the things I love most about the city of Atlanta is the scenery ! Atlanta is such a beautiful city! There are so many different hidden gems in Atlanta with views and great vibes ! We can start off by stopping by the Old 4th Ward. Maybe walk the beltline and admire some of the beautiful street art. We can then head over to Krog Street and the Krog Street Market for Richard’s Southern Fried Chicken or swing by 6 Feet Under in Midtown for some great seafood on their beautiful rooftop. The next day, we catch a ride on the Sky View Ferris Wheel downtown for a 360 degree view of the entire city! Next, we can spend some time on The Roof at Ponce City Market, play miniature golf, carnival games and enjoy the other rides they have to offer. That night, we could hit up Beat the Bomb Atlanta for fun ,virtual team games and escape rooms. Always a great time! Afterwards, we can grab some drinks from The Wet Bar and hangout poolside at the W Hotel Downtown. Last but not least, we have got to grab some ice cream and shakes from Cereal and Cream. Soooo good! Then we can head to Piedmont Park for a walk or an intimate picnic. Finally to end the trip, due to all of the great food we’ve eaten, we can get some cardio in by taking a hike up Stone Mountain and enjoying more awesome views of entire city once we’ve reached the top!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes, there are actually two individuals I would like to acknowledge and recognize. First, being Fashion designer and Lifestyle Architect Misa Hylton. Misa got her start back in the early 90’s creating iconic styles and looks for some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars such as Mary J. Blige, Jodeci , Missy Elliott, Faith Evans, Sean Combs, Kimora Lee Simmons and Beyonce`. She is the master mind behind the jaw dropping purple pastie-and-pantsuit ensemble immortalized by Lil’ Kim at MTV’s 1999 VMAs. Her talents shine on and off the run way. In 2012, she opened the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy (MHFA). She uses her light and influence to help groom the next generation of creatives interested in pursuing a career in fashion. She even offers fashion programs to youth ages 8- 16 years old . The vision is to develop an institution which supports creativity, free thinking, and the importance of a solid education. Her Academy offers specialized courses in fashion and also Fashion All-Star Mentoring Programs. She has been and continues to be a HUGE inspiration to me.

Most importantly, I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my late grandmother, Mrs. Mattie Jessie. She was the Matriarch of our family who instilled a strong foundation and work ethic in us that I know ,for sure, each and every one of her children and grandchildren carry with them every day. Principals that have contributed to each one of our individual success stories. Unfortunately, she is no longer with us but, she continues to be my ” WHY ” and biggest inspiration to keep striving for greatness.

Website: www.toptwelveclothing.com

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/top12clothing

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