Life & Work with Donisha Brewley

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donisha Brewley. 

Hi Donisha, 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 backstories with our readers.
Irreplicable Brand started after I wanted to create a gift for a loved one that wasn’t as cut and dry as a card and something that was store-bought. I knew I was talented and good with my hands and had created a custom-painted jacket that showed their personality and just represented their roots and background. I had so much fun doing it that I began making projects with thrifted items and denim just to play around with and actually make something that was my own and something that I knew I wouldn’t see on somebody else. The purpose of the brand, including its name, is to make simple things meaningful and also to create something that could never be exactly replicated like the original. The premise of being unique and different than what you see everywhere was the vision and goal of the brand. Nothing we make from season to season is meant to be made twice. I had a lot of support from some of my best friends and a few of my sorority sisters at the beginning, and slowly over time, I developed relationships with repeat customers that continue to spread my name and ahead positive light on my abilities and the way that I go about taking care of them and their orders. I also want to cater to styling tips for the person that I use to be when I had no sense of style or fashion that was my own. I plan on releasing a series of books related to styling for beginners that will be easy to read. These will be found in my linktree! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One the hardest parts of starting anything is remaining consistent, especially when your cheerleaders aren’t always cheering. The greatest lesson I’ve learned is that when the stands are quiet, it’s important to be your biggest cheerleader. No one else can want this more for me than I can want it for myself which is something that I have to keep preaching to myself with everything in my life. Being ill-equipt at the very beginning was also a struggle for me as well. I actually started this business with transfer paper from Michaels, a typical household hand iron, and a dream. I believe this pushed me to invest in buying better quality products to provide better services to people so that they’d continue to come back for the Irreplicable Experience. Sometimes I also struggle with creativity just as a writer does with writers’ block, but once the ideas start flowing and I’m able to lock in, there’s absolutely no stopping me. 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
For full-time work, I work for a medical staffing agency doing Human Resources Onboarding and Credentialing. Although this wasn’t the route, I anticipated taking while in undergrad, it’s something I’ve grown to love and want to elevate in. I’m most proud of the fact that the majority of the things I have or have achieved I obtained on my own with very minimal help. I moved to Orlando and started a new life on my own at 17, and by 19, I was living alone and paying most of my bills on my own, besides my car note and insurance. I feel like my work ethic and the vibe that I bring sets me apart from the rest. I also feel everyone’s got a look when it comes to fashion, and I feel like mine is pretty unique yet still relatable. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
My biggest cheerleaders and advocates would be my best friends Kasi, Daija, and Miyah, my mom, as well as all 8 of my line sisters in every endeavor. I also have to mention the ongoing support of my sorority sisters and dance troupe, Rekonstruktion Orlando. Kasi was my first paying customer, and I made her such a dope Bubbles the Powerpuff girl Jacket from scratch with no stencil or anything on the floor of my living room. Before anyone else knew, she believed in me the most and continued to push me to do more and be better with each and every project. My friends also challenged me to do things that I didn’t think I would do with my business-like mass-producing stoles, doing Greek apparel, hats, wine glasses, and so much more. The way they challenged my abilities instilled a fire in me to want to do a lot more than what I set out to do with IB in the very beginning, and I’m so grateful to them for it because it’s what still keeps me going. 

Contact Info:

• Website: irreplicablebrand.com
• Instagram: @irreplicablebrand

Image Credits
Zakaria White Photography