Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Overstreet.
Hi Nicholas, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story has a very humble beginning. I was born in Akron, Ohio, the eldest of a family of 9 children. My parents, respectively, worked as a school secretary and a corrections officer. Growing up with very little, outside of love and constant companionship, I, like many children of humble means, developed a desire for nice things. My parents could not afford to spend their hard-earned money on things that weren’t absolutely necessary. We shopped at thrift stores before that was a fashionable convention. All of my brothers received my hand-me-downs. And all of that was okay.
However, by the time I got to high-school, I started to feel a little ashamed by my lack of access to some of the clothing and shoes that my peers would come to school with. I began to observe and obsess over branding and style and what made some of these brands so popular and desired. Between schooling and sports, I began working a part-time job to save money for the things I wanted.
While I had no inclination that I’d one day start a brand and become a designer/maker as a career, looking back, I now realize that my trajectory in high-school built the foundation on which I continue to build on today. In my desire to both fit in, and stand out, I would get creative with my clothing. I remember buying my first pair of white Air Force One’s and once they were a little worn in and a lot less white, I began painting designs on them. After discovering I had a skill in customizing shoes, I eventually learned to sew and embroider my clothing. My designs began to get recognition and praise. Throughout the remainder of high-school, I developed a side hustle in customizing clothing and shoes for others.
Despite my new affinity for design, I did not consider that to be a viable career path. After high-school, I moved away to Indiana for college and studied Psychology and eventually moved to South Carolina to pursue further education in the field. I was on my way to becoming a research Psychologist, working with underprivileged youth.
During these times, I still found joy in fashion. I would attend all of the fashion events, including Charleston Fashion Week, as a fashionable guest and admirer of all of the talented designers that were building successful brands. But I still had no intention on actively pursuing the industry. That is until I had a lightbulb moment with what would become the flagship design of my brand: Oyster Shell Bow Ties.
The lightbulb moment came at a time when unconventional bow ties made of pheasant feathers, wood, and ceramics were becoming popular. While enjoying delicious Low Country oysters at an oyster roast a roommate and I were hosting, I picked up a couple of the spent oyster shells and put them together, thinking, “these would make a fun bow tie!”
After a year or so with that lightbulb still lit inside of me, and after becoming burnt out in pursuit of academia, I revisited my roots in design and creativity and went on to develop the first Oyster Bow Tie prototype. I ended up wearing that prototype to Charleston Fashion Week in 2017 and it was received better than I could have dreamed of. I knew I had something special. Shortly after CFW is when Boysterous was born.
What began as an unconventional idea of making bow ties of oyster shells has grown into a brand and collection of products that I never really saw coming. I opened my flagship brick + mortar in 2022 in a beautiful Broad Street Brownstone and have not looked back. While our flagship product will always be our Oyster Bow Ties, the majority of my work, today, involves fine and exotic custom leather accessories. Everything I make is a one-of-a-kind work of art, that is fashionable, functional and, well, as Boysterous as it gets.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As most of us know and have experienced, there are rarely any smooth roads on the paths we are taken. Being an artist and small business owner is not for the meek. Business is hard. Rent is expensive. And there have been times that I’ve questioned my career choices. But in the end, I could not imagine my life without Boysterous. There is no freedom quite like working for yourself and being able to make a vision come to life with your own hands.
My biggest struggles today mostly revolve around production and sustained growth. As my business continues to grow with custom commissions and consistent clients, I am finding an encumbrance in balancing the commissions and keeping inventory on-hand. While this is not necessarily a bad problem to have, I believe that it’s about time to bring on an apprentice to help with production, while I continue to grow the brand and introduce Boysterous to the people who appreciate unique handmade fine leather accessories.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As the maker. and designer behind Boysterous. I wear a lot of hats. But my favorite hat is, of course, is being the maker of really nice things. As mentioned before, our flagship design is the Oyster Shell Bow Tie. But I would say my specialty has become bags and purses. There’s just something so satisfying about designing a bag that someone is proud to carry and show off.
Again, I do a lot of custom work. So often, the bags I design serve a purpose more than just looking great. I love function. I feel as though my clients are so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with me to make a bag/product for them that functions exactly as they desire.
I believe that’s what sets me apart from many other brands: I have the capacity to make something specifically for you. There aren’t many accessory brands that can serve their clients like I can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’m a believer that we, for the most part, create our own luck. I’m all in on Boysterous, and with that being the case, there can’t be any bad luck involved. Everything is as it should be, and if not, I will make sure that it becomes so.
And I guess I could count myself lucky for the people I have in my corner. My wonderful partner, Giovanna, is the most supportive person in the world and I am grateful to share in my success with her. As cliche as it sounds, I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. And I’ve also got an incredible circle of family and friends that are the bedrock of my foundation. Like with Giovanna, I would not be where I am today without them. I’d say that luck has favored me with my loved ones.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.boysterous.co
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/boysterous.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boysterouscouture/
