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Events and BoutiquesTips and Trends | July 31, 2020
At Maggie Sottero, we promote the happiest of occasions, but we can’t celebrate fully until everyone has an equal ground to do so. As such, we’ve invited our gorgeous and talented partner, Liris Crosse, to share some words of wisdom with us on how we can promote change and diversity in the bridal industry. Keep reading to see Liris’ history with Maggie, how she hopes to enact change as a public figure, and how to create a space that welcomes and celebrates diverse brides.
A Wonderful Partnership with Maggie Sottero
It has literally been a Cinderella story working with Maggie Sottero. But instead of the glass slipper, it’s been the wedding dress! Over the last three years, our partnership has felt like destiny because it is such a perfect fit brand-wise for the both of us.
And the timing of us meeting was impeccable! Since we started working together, I’ve truly adopted the Maggie team as a surrogate family, and we’ve helped push each other to new limits.
My Experience During Quarantine
When the lock down began, I admit it was a major shift because everything came to a screeching halt. I travel so much for work so I’m usually super busy. But truthfully, it gave me time to rest my body, mind, and spirit as the past three years have been a whirlwind business-wise as well as in my personal life. I’ve made amazing strides in my career, but my dad also passed away, who was my biggest fan.
I’m thankful I had more time to grieve, rest, and then get back to create the new vision of what I want going forward. COVID-19 makes you appreciate time, safety, community, and health. Thanks to quarantine, I’ve cherished my time with my family more, have done more outreach in the mental health space, and started new streams of income. I’ve also been able to clear out things that didn’t physically or mentally serve me, from old clothes to certain friends. And overall, I’ve worked on building an even better me!
How to Stay Emotionally Healthy and Motivated During Difficult Times
It’s important to set the tempo and mood for your life.
I’m a big music lover, but I’m careful about what I take in because I know how much
it can affect me. It’s been imperative for me to listen to music that soothes
me or brings me joy, especially with all the grim reports that are coming out.
To help me feel better, I like to put my fav playlist on and dance in my apartment like no one is watching! I also love to listen to gospel or great love songs that give me hope. I also enjoy watching different spiritual leaders who are speaking life into the world.
For a time, I didn’t even check press conferences or the news because I was protecting my happy peace. I live between a police station, fire station, and hospital so I had to create a safe place amidst all the sirens.
My biggest advice to those of us who have been feeling anxious and down is to block out the noise and remember you have a choice of what to include in your daily programming. So, choose wisely! And don’t forget to allow yourself to feel whatever it is you need to feel at a given moment. Leaving emotions bottled up is not healthy.
So cry it out, scream it out, talk it out, then move forward. Don’t get stuck in your negative emotions. Instead, acknowledge them, feel them, and move forward. We’re going through unique and difficult times, so be kind to yourself!
How the Fashion and Bridal Industries Can Do Better to Amplify Black Artists’ Voices
The fashion and bridal industries can amplify black beauty by showing the diverse and beautiful women in their media. To do this, they can book more black models and feature their natural hair and features more. Black women have so much beauty—from their skin to their hair to their lips and to their hips! We should also keep in mind that black women don’t come in just one shape and size.
We need more diversity in the bridal industry, and we need to color the world with that diversity! I recently wrote a book called, Make the World Your Runway. In it, I mention that the way we color the world is by showing up on the runway of life.
Another way that the fashion and bridal industries can
give more of a voice to black artists is to show them in ads, give them
exposure on social media, share their stories, and book black vendors (e.g.,
black photographers, creative directors, models, makeup artists, hair stylists,
florists, etc.). Vendors are artists and giving them a chance to showcase their
voice through their art is so powerful!
Leveling the Playing Field for Black Models and Vendors
It’s been so beautiful to see the U.S. come together
over racial issues and to see non-black people have “aha” moments. We need more
of that kind of self-reflection to make corrections in a culture that many have
accepted as the regular way of life.
We as black artists simply ask to “level the playing
field” in a country that claims, “Liberty and justice for all.” That is what what
mean when we say, “Black Lives Matter.” We want our lives and unique voices to
matter just as much as everyone else’s, and that includes having diversity in
the bridal industry. Being able to have the same equality as others is why
black lives matter to me.
Supporting Black-Owned Bridal Boutiques
Another way to support black lives and diversity in the bridal industry is to support black-owned businesses. Check out these amazing black-owned boutiques below that partner with Maggie Sottero:
Organizations that Support Diversity in the Bridal Industry and Fashion World
I currently support a few different initiatives and organizations to help enact change in the fashion world. I support Models for Change Now, a collective led by black models that pushes to dismantle systemic racism within the fashion industry by providing more diversity.
I also work with The Curvy Collective Inc. to promote more diversity in the bridal industry. I am educating my followers by sharing their stories (#MyBlackModelLife) and posting my own truth on my social media (#LifeOfAWorkingModel). These conversations made behind the scenes are going be the catalyst for real change in the fashion and bridal industries.
Using Your Voice to Enact Change
I personally use my social media platform as well as my voice to spread awareness about future policies that will help change and solve current issues. I also hope to give a voice to others through inspiration, motivation, and supporting good policies.
We all need to help create policies that will advocate real change! Every voice counts, so my advice to those reading this is to see what you can do to spread social awareness and positive change in your community!
How to Support Change in Your Community
It’s a new day, and we are stronger than ever. Our communities, levels of empathy, and personal accountability are shifting for the better. But we are only stronger together. To be part of the change in your local community, you can support charities like Until Freedom, buy from black businesses, read books on systemic racism, meet more black friends (my personal favorite!), and have more conversations with people who don’t look like you. The list goes on and on. Just do your part to make the world a better place for everyone.
And for some additional viewing pleasure, check out these IG’s that showcase black brides and weddings! @worldbridemagazine @munaluchibride @blackbride1998 @bcollectivemag @southernnoirweddings @sugarweddings @weddingdigestnaija @bellanaijaweddings @ahoufebridal @weddingsonpoint @thecoordinatedbride @perfete
A Huge Thank You to Liris Crosse
We’d like to thank Liris for sharing her beliefs and advice with us. She is truly part of the Maggie Family! And at Maggie Sottero, we stand for Love, and Love for EVERYONE. Maggie would not be where it is today without the diversity of our employees, retailers, partners, and brides. We support the Black Community and are proud to be inclusive of ALL. And we are ready to create change with you. Stay safe. Stay strong. Stay powerful.
Special thanks to photographer Lydia Hudgens
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