Lameka Weeks Designs Height Goddess Fashions for Tall Women

Lameka Weeks founded Height Goddess because, simply put, she was sick of settling. For years—decades even—clothing brands and manufacturers have largely ignored the plight of the tall woman. Sure, petites and plus size have dedicated sections and even full stores aplenty, but tall women have had to settle for clothes that don’t fit and don’t flatter for far too long. Height Goddess is a contemporary line for women measuring 5’9” & taller. In 2007, with no formal fashion training,  
Weeks sought out to find experienced industry professionals to assist her  in developing premium denim for tall women. For over two years,  she continuously worked to ensure each style embodied the confidence and beauty of a tall, fashion- forward woman who is innovative and timeless. All of Height Goddess’ garments are designed in house and proportioned for women 5’9″ & taller. Week’s garments are also made in the USA. After a few seasons the collection has grown to include dresses for tall women, tall pants for women and tops for tall women.
Through fashion, Weeks hopes to inspire women to love their height, embrace their uniqueness and spread the same confidence to others.
How did you launch your career and get to where you are today?
I knew at an early age I wanted to do something related to fashion catering to tall women. Initially, I thought to open a boutique but after researching for vendors who produced clothing for tall women there were very few and those that did were very outdated.  I realized I would have to create my own brand. HEIGHT GODDESS is a contemporary clothing line designed specifically for the tall, fashion-forward woman.
What have you had to sacrifice along the way, if anything?
Because I’m building my business while working full-time my time is very limited and planning it a must. In the past I have been known to wake-up and decide I want to take a trip and within hours I’d be on a plane or in the car, not so much anymore.  It takes a lot to run this business and I’ve had to make a lot of sacrifices but it’s been a great journey thus far.
How do you define success?
I created HEIGHT GODDESS because I had a need and knew I couldn’t be the only tall woman struggling to find clothes that fit and were stylish. Knowing nothing about manufacturing and the process to get a garment from concept to market, I decided my passion was to help tall women feel more confident in their clothes. This has allowed me to share my experiences with people who desire to solve a problem but have no idea of how to get it done. I define success by sharing what I’ve learned with others in hopes that it will help them accomplish their dreams.
How do you balance work and life?
I’m still figuring this out. I do my best to reserve Saturday evenings and Sundays for friends and family.  Plus I’ve realized I’m no fun if it’s all work and no play. I’m in awe of women business owners who are married and have kids. I’m always asking them how do you get it all done and still look and feel fabulous. Luckily a good friend told me “You’re trying to get it all done, it’s not a race to see how quickly you can get things done”.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
We were selected to participate in The Workshop at Macy’s 2013 vendor development.  We’re a small staff of two but The Workshop at Macy’s challenged us to examine our business on an elevated level.  It’s four and a half days of intensive training, we left the program armed with a toolbox and a plan to have HEIGHT GODDESS sold in major retailers. Currently, HG is sold primarily online it’s our goal to have HG in a major retailer in 2014.
Who is your role model or mentor?
I have many mentors; most are people I’ve never met.
What advice do you give your fellow entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid the fail, it will be very challenging just embrace the journey.  Be clear about the problem you’re solving and know you can’t be everything to everyone.
To learn more about Height Goddess, visit: www.heightgoddess.com.
article by Yesha Callahan via clutchmagonline.com