Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimico Atkins.
Hi Kimico, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Kolored On Purpose is a Christian lifestyle brand dedicated to making Black Christian Women feel included, embraced, and empowered through products reflective of themselves and their God-given identity. Whether she’s attending a social event, casual outing, team-building function, running an errand, or at the gym, we provide options that equip her to look good and feel confident while wearing her faith, unashamedly.
We believe using clothing as an expression of our faith encourages us to make a bold and visible statement to others about who we are and whose we are. Faith is woven into our DNA; it is the very component that is fundamental to our (personal) relationship with God (inward) which allows us to have a conversation with others when they inquire about our attire (outward).
Kolored On Purpose seeks to cultivate three crucial tenets:
• Wear clothing with a purpose – we want our messages to impact the fashion industry on purpose, it is intentional.
• Wear clothing that speaks – we want our clothing to spark a conversation during your interaction with others.
• Wear clothing as a message – we want our clothing to represent who you are individually and collectively, one faith one God.
As a clothing ministry, we minister to others by wearing our faith outside the walls of the church, the physical building. We are that (physical) building and as we travel through our everyday lives, we are Re-presenting God. Our clothing makes an impression on those we encounter by reaffirming the good news – a message of hope, love, and faith to draw others to Christ. We seek to view others through the love lens of God for we are all created in His image.
Our vision is to create a brand that normalizes people of faith in their everyday lifestyle, so others can visualize what that looks like aside from religiosity. For we walk by faith and not by sight, we live by faith, and we wear it. We are the church, and we embody the physical church which does not mean being legalistic. It means being relevant and relatable. Jesus has equipped us all for evangelism, not just from the pulpit; for me, it is clothing as a ministry. Clothing, like music, is an integral part of your identity and culture. As a Christian, your faith is your identity, so I decided to wear it.
My purpose in life as a nurturer is to help others along their faith journey. Using apparel enables me to do the work I was purposed to do. I get the creative opportunity to express and remind others that we all have a purpose, which is usually connected to our passion.
I am passionate about telling my story to others, moreover, Black Christian women ages 30-45, who may be single moms. I call her Kymberlee. These women are usually in leadership, ministry, mid-level corporate America, and serving in some sort of capacity. She has come into a season where she desires more from knowing her identity, purpose, and reigniting her relationship with God and not Religion.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road but it has been a learning and life experience. I know that as I continue to evolve as a person so will the brand. If I had to name some of the challenges it would be as Black woman, minority business owner, (1) access to capital is a number one challenge; and while it is a hurdle it has not stopped me as I have funded KOP with my savings initially and then with my personal income. The second challenge would be (2) access to goods and services in digestible affordable MOQs. As an ecommerce home based business, it is unlikely that I want to store or retain a lot of inventory; manufacturers – especially for customized designs and logo imprint for brand image, etc. – do not make it easy to buy in lower MOQs. Third would be logistics. (3) It can be difficult and a challenge for emerging business owners like myself who want to reduce their carbon footprint on the earth and move towards a more greener sustainable product even in apparel to do so because domestically it is hard to find sources with the same goal rather than going with what is the least inexpensive. It matters to ME how we are continuously improving our products, what we use, how they are packaged and so forth, needless to say, we look to partner with others who have the same constitution. Last but not least, access to mentorship, programs, skill development opportunities from people who look like ME – black and Christian woman led business. You can have an amazing idea for a service or product but if you do not have access to business mentor, coach, guide, advisor or other business related services it would be rather difficult to get that business idea service or product scaled for growth.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Trust the process! My foundational scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 Stay connected to others that do not think like you. You need to be in a room full of people where you can soak up knowledge, gain skill set, develop personal and business acumen. I stay connected to several entrepreneurial affiliations such as MORTAR (Allen Woods), TSP – Traffic, Sales and Profit (Lamar Tyler), and Black Directory (Brian Morse). These programs, entrepreneurial incubators, thinktanks, cohorts, and networking business industry groups give me insight to how others started, are doing business, growing, share struggles and triumphs, business wisdom and gems, and strategically align me and my company to other purposeful business connections.
Contact Info:
- Email: Kimico@koloredonpurpose.com
- Website: https://www.koloredonpurpose.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koloredpurpose/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoloredOnPurpose/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KoloredPurpose
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVt0ecfEnRdOn3zlGF7-Gpw
- Other: https://www.getkoloredonpurpose.com
