We had the good fortune of connecting with Alicia D. and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alicia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I would say the thought process that came before starting my business was that I wanted to create something of my own. I believe it’s important to be your own boss in a sense and put yourself in control. Although I haven’t reached the point where I can quit my 9-5 and provide for myself solely off my clothing brand I know I’m well on my way and all I have to do is keep my vision clear and I can go as far as I want. I genuinely enjoy every single part of the creative process that goes into running a clothing brand. from designing, to producing my pieces, to taking my own photos. When I’m working on The Bagchaser Club it doesn’t feel like a job. This feels like something I can do for the rest of my life.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I started The Bagchaser Club it was 2020 around the time when COVID began. TBC started off as an Instagram page where I resold thrifted clothing finds. I was flipping clothing and selling them locally to people in my city of Fullerton, CA. Most of my customers were people I knew from high school. The page eventually evolved into a cosmetic page. I started selling lashes and beauty products. At this time I was still just selling in my city and doing local drop offs. Our lashes eventually sold out and I was happy but I knew I wanted to take TBC in a different direction but I just didn’t know where. I was stuck in a creative block for the whole year of 2021. I didn’t know where to start. I remember crying to my sister, cousin, & best friend expressing to them how much I wanted this to work but I was scared of failing. I was stressing. In the beginning of this year 2022 I finally decided that although I wasn’t quite ready I just had to start, and I did. I launched my website in February and dropped my first product. We started shipping pieces out of state to New York, Floridia, Philly, & Texas just to name a few. It was amazing to me that people who didn’t know me personally wanted to buy something I created. It truly makes me so happy. Fast forward to now we are almost at the end of the year and I couldn’t be more glad I started when I did. Having my business has taught me so much and I’ve met so many amazing creatives in the process. I recently got to travel to Miami, Florida for a photoshoot with TY-44 for our TBC x TY-44 ‘No Signal’ Tee collab. That experience was one of my favorites on this journey so far. This is only the beginning and I can’t wait to see what else this journey brings me.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely like to give a shoutout to my sister Carina. Not only because she supports this vision and what I am creating but because she took me in and raised me when she was only 16 years old. Our mother passed away of cancer when I was 7 and she was 16. She took the responsibility of raising me and providing for me even when she could barely provide for herself. Fast forward to present day, she bought me my vinyl cutter machine and enough supplies to begin producing my own clothing pieces. I owe her a lot and one day I’m going to buy her a home and put her in a pink Mercedes. I also would like to give a shout-out to my Dad, my sister Roxy, My cousins Jocelyn and Barlos aka mane, my best friends Angelina and Yadira, and my Niece and nephews Yuvia, Diego, Robbie. Love y’all 4L.
Website: TBCFOREVER.COM
Instagram: BUSINESS PAGE : @THEBAGCHASERCLUB / PERSONAL PAGE: @ALICIATHEBAGCHASER
Other: TIKTOK: @THEBAGCHASERCLUB
Image Credits
Image #2, #3 photographed by @flickzbxty : Instagram.