We had the good fortune of connecting with Bernard Reed Jr and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bernard, how do you think about risk?
Risk are fun to me! I look at like this, either your gonna win & get what you desired! Or you will still win, even if you don’t “win” because you now have a new insight, approach, & way of tackling something than before. It’s like riding a bike. What kid do you know on their first try rode a bike & never fell? Risks in business are the same way. They come, you adapt & respond accordingly.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my brand Icy Essentials LLC in December of 2019 as a Jewelry company. It was always a dream to start a clothing brand, one day I thought but in this moment I didn’t know when. But with having landed multiple corporate retail jobs, stylist positions, internships, ect. all of which are in the industry in which I love! So it’s like by the time I was almost 10 years into doing what I loved, I finally took that leap of faith to start a business.

From moving around the country, to moving back to LA I expanded my company into custom apparel & also started helping clients start their own custom clothing brand since I had had all the keys & experience to do so! & with some of the quickest turnarounds in LA!

Entrepreneurship definitely isn’t easy! But it’s super rewarding when you see the end product come to life. Whether that’s from a first time styling client, or someone wanting to start their own clothing line! Thankful when you get a referral from a previous client that loved your work & thought process cause ultimately fashion in all aspects is an investment. So why not make it fun throughout the process?

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My best spots! Haha I have a few!

Brunch: Roof On Wiltshire (View), Saddle Ranch (Food & Experience), E.P. & L.P. (Vibes & Food), Cara Cara (Food & Drinks)

Hang Out: Malibu Beach, Manhattan Beach, Shopping on rodeo & the palm spring outlets (We love a good deal!)

Hiking @ Runyon is a must for the view! Been doing it since I interned here! I love nature!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
God first! He gave me the vision before I even realized I had it to be honest. My parents for putting me through college both at THE Ohio State University & Kent State University, staying on me about my grades & the next step. I feel like I always had that extra push of motivation from my parents, they just wanted me to have the best life for real. In terms of books, one of my favorites is Rich Dad Poor Dad. It really taught me the concept of how money should work versus how I was using it before. #ShoppingProblems haha

Website: www.icyessentials.com

Instagram: he_so_la

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