We were lucky to catch up with Jonnie Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jonnie , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I keep my creativity alive buy finding inspiration throughout my life. That could come from the music I listen to and get lost in. The people around me.. my friends who do cool shit or spark a conversation that makes me think. My family and kids that make me think forward and for the future. Movies and photos I come across or a book I might have read. My childhood memories and the nostalgic moments that’s take me back to an imaginative place. All these things are and what play a role into keeping my creativity alive.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am Jonnie Williams. Creator of Graciously Noticed, a streetwear and lifestyle brand. But most importantly a way of life. Gracious is a reflection of who we are and what we represent as people. The impact we want to leave on peoples lives is quality of life. Starting through fashion. What you put on your body before you step out of the house into the world. We want people to feel confident, comfortable, and be Graciously Noticed. We have now opened a flagship appointment location in our hometown of St. Louis,Mo in University City. You can come there and feel at home, like family and take your time shopping around or checking out the curated art and vintage furniture. We also do special events such as the annual Noticed Arts Expo, which provide s a platform for local artist, musicians, poets, vendors and entrepreneurs to showcase their work and talents.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Hmm.. it’s two for me … THINK and DO. What’s I’ve found is when I have an idea .. or creative vision … I start to act upon it. I do it. Even if I don’t have any idea of what I’m doing like doing a website, or learning how to screen print etc… I learn through it all.. and I get better and better the more I keep DOING. Where most people fail is just not Starting … so don’t hold yourself back.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
It’s funny because I’ve been feeling overwhelmed as of lately… and what has helped me is just sitting, or writing things down.. even meditating. These are somethings that have helped me out.
Contact Info:
- Website: GraciouslyNoticed.com
- Instagram: GraciouslyNoticed
- Other: instagram.com/jonniethegracious
Image Credits
Photos by Brandon Riegerix Jaidah (Sm8llfry) Nathizzle
