We had the good fortune of connecting with Mac Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mac, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process behind starting my business was to break away from other designer brands and create my own designer brand, that others and myself would feel proud to display on our bodies. Once the brand was established and stable create/build generational wealth, employ and educate others, give back to my community, and have different branches of my brand [Young Fresh Clothing] that can greatly impact the world around me.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What set’s Young Fresh Clothing apart from others is how our brand makes the people wearing our products feel. Everyone who owns a Young Fresh Clothing product is a Queen or King of the Young Fresh Royal Family! Young Fresh Clothing is a Brand that brings out the inner Queen/King[Inner Greatness] within all individuals. At the moment I am most excited about the continuing upward growth & expansion of Young Fresh, we are always making efforts & plans to become Greater. We are where we are today by staying humble, being consistent, keeping/having faith in God at all times, being resilient, and by making creative and strategic moves. This road of being a brand is definitely not as easy as it looks. There will be many learning curves along the road. To make it in life or any business you have to be able to adjust quickly, think/plan ahead, know who to hire & who not to hire, network, & Continue to Level Up in all aspects.
Some lessons I have learned along the way are: knowing the difference between being patient and waiting too long, don’t down the next person’s business, stay in your lane, and proper networking & certain relationships will get you into certain doors that a college degree will not.
When it’s all said and done I want the world to know that Young Fresh Clothing & myself made a positive impact on the entire world, we built up peoples confidence, showed people different avenues of how to be greatly successful, and most importantly never ever give up on your dreams/goals, and let know one tell you what you can’t do, and the world will know Young Fresh Clothing did it legendary.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the most fun, interesting, and exciting places or things to check out in the 501 or Little Rock Area would be Kools BBQ, Mrs. B’s Food Express, Downtown Little Rock River Market during the day and night you can shop, check out bars/restaurants. Nice brunch at Red Door, hiking or bike riding along the river trails, walking the Big Dam Bridge, Two Rivers Bridge, or Emerald Park. Go to the open mic night at the House of Art in the Argenta area of North Little Rock, go to a lake and fish. Arkansas is the known as the “Natural State” we do alot of fishing, and hunting here, in the Hot Springs area you could rent a boat and a home have a great mini vacay. One of my new favorite things to enjoy is Sessions R n B.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost God definitely deserves recognition and credit in my story, I often times say this is God’s work and I am the vessel delivering the messages. I have to give credit and recognition to my parents, grandparents, family, college professors, football coaches, any and everyone who supports Young Fresh Clothing. The Mis-Education of the Negro by Dr. Carter G. Woodson definitely changed my mindset on life. Shot out to anyone who has ever gave me any encouraging words, ideas, lent a helping hand, uplifted me, doubted me, or celebrated me .

Website: youngfreshclothing.bigcartel.com

Instagram: @yngfreshcc

Twitter: @yngfreshcc

Facebook: Young Fresh Clothing Company

Other: My pictures that are featured in this article were done by @photographysby.t

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Tierra McCleary @photographysby.t

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutDFW is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.