iaME: SpHOTlight: Posh & Ritzy

Sorry about the delay folks, but as promised here's my interview with the ladies of Posh & Ritzy! Get to know a little about the forces behind the line, the P&R brand, and check out some pics from their debut show. Check it out below.

ME: Tell me about the brand in general and its mission?
P&R:Posh & Ritzy represents La'Tryce and Shontielle. Elegant, high-class, and stylish. Our mission is to educate people on not only the effects that non-organic cotton can have on the environment and the people that wear them, but also to inform surrounding communities about the benefits of recycling and being polite to mother nature. We also have a genuine interest in the youth of our community. We are in the process of establishing Green Street. Green Street will be comprised of youth from area high schools who share the same interest in Eco-awareness, entrepreneurship, and fashion.

ME:So, What do you want the world to know about Posh & Ritzy?
P&R:We want the world to know that Posh & Ritzy is not just your normal organic t-shirt line. When creating this brand we wanted to display a line of t-shirts that you wouldn't just wear because they are organic, but pieces that you would invest in for your wardrobe because they are of good quality, stylish, and versatile.

ME:Outside of the t-shirts being made of 100% Organic cotton, how else will you impact the Eco-friendly movement?
P&R:Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. The toxic pesticides and fertilizers that are used in the production of non-organic cotton can cause cancer as well as circulatory and reproductive issues. We also plan to start campaigns that advocate the importance of recycling and preserving our natural resources.

ME:What do the owners of P&R do in their spare time?
P&R:Shontielle works full time for Whirlpool Corporation as a Sales Development Representative in Phoenix, AZ. She is also currently applying to graduate school with hopes to be accepted into a masters program in either Chicago, IL or New York City, New York. Shontielle enjoys both domestic and international travel.

La'Tryce is currently in cosmetology school. She has been working hard towards obtaining her license so that she can someday open up her own salon. She is also the Marketing Executive for the Lake Michigan Admirals, an ABA team in Benton Harbor, MI.

ME:There was a "Barbie World" theme in the show, what inspired this?
P&R:When creating the brand we wanted to make sure that the women wearing
our t-shirts felt gorgeous! Our designs showcase several different colors and we wanted to dramatically show that our t shirts portray beauty, fun, and excitement.

ME:Where do you see P&R in a year? 5 years?
P&R:In a year we hope to see P&R being sold in department stores worldwide, i.e. Macy's and Dillard's. In 5 years we will have expanded to pieces that represent your entire wardrobe, i.e. jeans, scarves, sweaters, vests, and anything else our consumers would like to see from us. We also hope to open up several boutiques that house not only our brands but others that we have gotten inspiration from.

Thanks ladies for your time, I wish you all the BEST!

For information on purchasing tees email the ladies at poshritzy@gmail.com

To my readers, I hope this interview inspires you as it does me. The entrepreneurial bug is alive and buzzing within the young African-American community and it gives me great joy to be able to showcase such talent. There is one thing that all successful business owners have in common and that is taking a chance. You never know how big an idea and a chance will take you! Check below for pics from the show.