Rising Stars: Meet Latiffany Latimer of Saginaw

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latiffany Latimer

Hi Latiffany, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
So, I grew up in Saginaw, Michigan, and I have always been a dreamer, a giver, and an artist. I’m my mom’s biological only child. So, I grew up by myself or with my older cousins, who were at least 15+ years older than me. But I always treated everyone like they were my person. So, I felt responsible for including them in everything and caring about them in any way, and I always wanted to make sure they were accounted for. So when I went to school, I would always talk about my cousins or my aunt and uncle, and my friends would ask me where my parents and my brothers and sisters were. And I was like, well, I have a mom. She was always working, but I didn’t have a dad. So because I had the mind that I could do anything and ask for whatever, I started telling my mom I wanted a dad for Christmas. I was huge on faith and believed that God could do anything. So, I would pray overnight that I would get a dad. I would tell my aunts and uncle that God was going to give me a dad for Christmas. Mind you, this was around pre-k- first grade, so I had not really learned what family was supposed to look like or how they came together. Fast forward a few years. At the age of 8 years old, my mom had a heart attack. And soon, my prayer priority was God healing my mom. And I remember hearing my mom’s friends tell me not to stress my mom out or she could die. You have to learn how to do things, learn what medicine she takes, and clean up and cook on your own. But I didn’t understand what stress was or how it happened. My mom was working 2 to 3 jobs at a time, and I didn’t know what it meant to be stressed, so I had to learn to grow up and be an adult. So eventually, I went from the kid who had dreams of playing instruments and singing and drawing to putting a mirror under my mom’s nose while she slept to make sure she wasn’t dead. About 6 months or so after that, my mom was not driving, so a neighbor drove us around. I always wanted to go to McDonald’s, and I thought that since I had to learn how to fill out the checks and balance checkbooks, surely there was enough money to get a Happy Meal after school. So they took me to McDonald’s and gave me some chase and said go order your own food and bring back the change. I raced into the McDonald’s, and there was a man standing by the door asking for change, and I was like, I have to go get my happy meal. Now, in my mind, I was thinking if there is change, I will give it to the man because I was taught it’s better to give than receive, and I had joy in giving, and then there would not be any change to give back to my mom, so I wouldn’t have to worry about counting anything. I looked out the window while standing in line, and I wanted to make sure my mom wasn’t getting out because I could do this on my own. Well, I saw her coming, so I tried to hurry and order, but the line was moving so slowly. She came in and asked me if I was ok; I was like yep, you can go back to the car now. And then I felt someone touch my hair, and I’m like, Mom, stop. I’m told old for that. And then I felt someone touch my neck, and I’m like, ENOUGH! So it was finally time to order my food, and I got the mighty kids meal because I was basically old enough for full meals, lol. When we got in the car, I kept hearing my mom and the neighbor talk about “her daddy,” and I didn’t know who they were talking about, but I was going to ask God again for a dad for Christmas because basically, I was low key tired of trying not to stress my mom out and all my friends had dad’s, and I was just at home in my room entertaining myself. And by entertaining, I mean I was playing church with my teddy bears, and I was the pastor. I grew up in church; that was all I really knew. Well, I went home and prayed to God that I was a dad! And then later that day, my mom took me over to the neighbors, and they said you’re getting older now, and you need to know you do have a dad. I was so excited and confused at the same time because either A. they were pulling my leg, or B. where was my dad because I had never seen him. Fast forward some weeks, I met him and spent the weekend with him, which was a nightmare. But in all of that, God gave me a dad. As I got older, I started to understand more about life and its traumas and pains. I started to have to help my mom more as new health issues presented themselves. And, of course, as you get older, you meet more people, and I always wanted everyone to be good. I didn’t know how to let people go or understand that some relationships are not forever. So, as time went on, I would come into adulthood and understand that it was ghetto here, and this was not what I thought it was asking for when I would say I couldn’t wait to be grown. Still in many capacities caring for my mom, although she is capable, I started to see what death looked like. My babysitter was a major father figure in my life, like Joseph Poe. He had a terminal illness and passed away, and that crushed me. Because why did he have to die? Why couldn’t he get better? That’s when I really started understanding that life was precious. I understood that it shouldn’t be taken for granted, and so if someone needs something and you have it, give it and help people because you never know when it can be you in the midst of the need. However, something I realized as I grew older in my faith in God was that only God can heal people. I can’t pay for healing, and I can’t give my health away. My clothing line was birthed out of a passion and a dream to do great things. But I didn’t want to just make and sell clothes just to say I own a clothing brand. I wanted it to have a purpose. I prayed, and that was when my faith in God and my belief in his scripture came together, and designs started to be birthed out. Millionaire Wear was created to be a luxury Christian-based clothing brand. But it’s more than just words and logos on a shirt. My first collection came before the design of my signature pieces. But I wanted it to make sense to people, so I started the brand and got to work with drop shipping, and it flopped so hard. The pieces would come in bad quality, and then the process was all messed up, and then people were not getting what they wanted, and it was a mess!!!! So I shut it all down, and I’m like, God, show me what to do because this business is not about me, and it’s bigger than clothes. And he took me back to my first collection. It was ironically at a time when a member at my church, who I call my aunt, started battling this sickness, and I would pray like God if you can answer my other prayers, then I know you can answer this one. And I would pray the scripture, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭5‬ ‭(KJV‬). So, birth from that was the Samona collection. Which is named and inspired by my aunt. The design on the front is a stamp that says healed, and then the back portion has 39 scars, which represent the stripes that Jesus took on the cross. This collection has a limited number of designs that have been inspired by scriptures that speak to healing. It’s not just a healing of sickness but to encourage and speak healing to the mind from past traumas and all areas that require healing. But to take it a step further, I want my collections to pout back into people. The new collection will launch in January 2025, and my goal is not only to build a brand of Cristian luxury clothing but also to pour into people so proceeds of each collection will go to help someone dealing with healing. In this first collection, all proceeds will go to my aunt to help her continue her journey to healing. To make the journey to healing easier. I also want to make a statement in a fashion that everything doesn’t have to be edgy to be trendy and of quality. There are not many Christian fashion brands that appeal to casual wear and traditional church attire. Something that isn’t going to tear or stretch, easy quality like the top designers create, but with purpose and at a price that matches the quality. I want my brand to allow me to give and care for people that need it. As well as to help encourage them on their journey and spread the love of Jesus and his word.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth process, but it has definitely been a learning process. This is my first time in fashion and designing, so learning what’s good and not doing so much research, trying to test products and supplies, and finding the right products to print have all been tedious. The biggest thing is being in Saginaw. There are not many people in the fashion industry here, and oftentimes, the people you look up to, like lousy vitiation and Ralph Lauren, are not the people you can email and get a response. I make many trips to malls like Sorest, and when I go out of town, I look for luxury malls with big-name stores, read their takes, and take notes on how they do things. I always go in the stores feeling shirt material to see what feels good and what feels like a 2.99 plan shirt.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
So, currently, I am in school full-time and working as a photographer. I have a photography business; many know me as Tiff The Photographer. But I do a lot in the community. I work with the Saginaw Township PD, and I’m also A police reserve for the city of Saginaw. But most people know me as the photographer. I started taking pictures in church and fell in love. Then, I started paying attention to sports from a different viewpoint and said I wanted to try shooting sports. One day, I will be a famous photographer and work for a major sports team like the Detroit Lions. So now I am working with a local high school as a sports photographer, and it has been a joy. Not just because I’m doing something I once dreamed of but also because I can impact the lives of these young athletes and encourage them to strive to do the best they can and be the best they can be. I love it, and I love working with them.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
One of the most significant risks I took was leaving my job to go back to school. It was a step of faith because I made great money, but the job was taking a toll on my health. And I was encountering that stress that I never knew about when I was that 8-year-old kid. It has not been an easy journey, but it has been great watching God provide where I thought I would lack. I keep my faith in him and tithe, stay faithful in church and serving, and ensure that I’m being wise, not just with my finances but also with managing my health. This change has encouraged me to focus on getting healthier and physically active. And it has also helped my mental health, going from a stressful job to feeling the rewards of helping others and smiling and laughing more. But again, it has helped me in school, but it follows my current educational track.

Pricing:

• $40 Per 100% cotton heavy weight Tee

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/millionairewearco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14V3jaViYL/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Other: https://linktr.ee/MillionaireWearCo