Influential Woman · Fashion Design and Creative Marketing
Jortae Avee Charles
Chief Executive Officer, PilotsAgency
Philadelphia, PA
Her Story
About Jortae
I've been sewing since I was young because my great-grandmother taught me. I transferred to 3 different colleges and was impacted when the Art Institute Philadelphia shut down. I decided to go full-time with my brand at that point while working AmeriCorps. Within 5-6 years I built my brand, secured a successful 3-year collaboration with Shein, ranked top 10-20 for Best Women Cohorts and received local press from Fox and NBC. I enrolled back at Parsons earning my marketing certification and recently my BS in business. I accomplished New York Fashion Week with Flying Solo transitioning to contemporary luxury sustainable practices as a Black-owned brand. Now I've launched Pilot's Agency as a creative marketing agency.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jortae
01What do you attribute your success to?
My great-grandmother who taught me to sew and migrated from North Carolina to Philly. I come from four generations of seamstresses and a strong Christian background. I attribute it to legacy and paying homage to the women before me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Secure the contracts first, worry about the followers later. This came from an investor for Tommy Hilfiger during a Shein event in LA.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Know your place and know what you want. Do research, know the type of designer you are, know your industry, and research the ones before you because they are the blueprint. Follow the models they follow and understand the verbiage used in your industry.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Tariffs are impacting costs especially for sustainable models making materials and fabrics more expensive. Challenges with capital and funding as minorities only receive 0.48% in a trillion dollar industry. Oversaturated market makes it hard to find your voice and receive needed funding.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Prayer and my relationship with God help me balance everything. I come from a very Christian background.
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