Meet Moziah Bridges, the 12-year-old Memphis entrepreneur who turned his love of sewing into a bow-tie business generating around $150,000 in sales while giving back to children in his community

Entrepreneurial ideas can begin with a personal interest and develop into something much larger through creativity, family support, and consistent effort. Moziah Bridges’ story began with his love of bow ties and sewing, eventually developing into a business that generated around $150,000 in sales while also allowing him to support children in his Memphis community.

From a Love of Fashion to a Business Idea

Bridges started his business at the age of 9. He was developing his own company and his business had grown to around $150,000 in sales, and he had five staff members.

His early interest in fashion was apparent from childhood. At four years old, Bridges wore a suit and tie whenever he could and preferred to choose his own clothes.


His interest in bow ties eventually became the foundation for Mo’s Bows. Bridges enjoyed wearing bow ties but was dissatisfied with the choices available for children. He discovered that the available designs were limited in color and was also unhappy that they were clip-ons.

“I like to wear bow ties, because they make me look good and feel good,” Bridges cites on his website. “Designing a colorful bow tie is just part of my vision to make the world a fun and happier place.”

Learning to Sew and Creating Mo’s Bows

Bridges’ grandmother supported his interest and turned it into a practical skill by teaching him how to sew by hand and work in a sewing machine. He started using scraps of material to create bow ties that matched his wish.

Within a few months, he had assembled a collection of over two dozen bow ties. His friends and family responded positively to his creations, encouraging him to increase production.

He began making bow ties from his grandmother’s vintage fabrics with floral and African prints as well as pieces of old taffeta dresses. The variety of materials helped give his products a unique appearance.

Growing Through Customers and Family Support

As interest in Bridges’ bow ties spread through word of mouth, he started accepting orders via Facebook and selling products through his own Etsy store.

The growing demand also brought members of his family into the business. His mother, grandmother, and other relatives supported him with production as the number of orders increased.

The business remained to develop while retaining its handmade character. Each bow tie was still sewn from scratch, although Bridges extended his materials beyond vintage fabrics to include tweeds and ginghams. He also developed a formal collection using satins and silk.

Media Attention and a Mentor

Bridges’ early business success attracted significant media attention. His experiences included an appearance on the television show Shark Tank, along with features in O magazine and Vogue.

His Shark Tank appearance also resulted in a mentoring relationship with Daymond John. When asked about his role models, Bridges stated that he looked up to John, who became his mentor as a result of the appearance.

Also Read:Meet Enos Mills, a teenager who built his own cabin near Colorado’s Longs Peak; decades later, he helped secure the creation of Rocky Mountain National Park in 1915

Giving Back to His Community

Business success was not the only part of Bridges’ story. He also became involved in philanthropy and used his success to support children in his hometown of Memphis.

During the summer described in the account, Bridges donated $1,600 to help send 10 children from Memphis to Glenview Summer Camp.

His charitable effort became another part of his young business story, connecting entrepreneurship with giving back to his community.

His journey combined several priorities: building a business, developing his interest in fashion, continuing his education, supporting his community, and setting goals for the future.

Source: TIME

FAQs:

1. Who is Moziah Bridges?

Moziah Bridges is a young entrepreneur known for his handmade bow-tie business, Mo’s Bows. He began developing the business when he was 9 years old.

2. What is Mo’s Bows?

Mo’s Bows is Bridges’ bow-tie business. It began with handmade designs and later expanded into different fabrics and collections.