Ericca Garrison ducks into a restaurant in Historic Downtown Plant City just before the rain clouds move in. Not that it would matter to the bubbly blonde. She’s not scared of a little water. One of her biggest passions is being on or in the ocean.
In fact, it was this passion that got her to start her own business — Ego Girl Outfitters.
FROM FISHING TO FASHION
At a scuba-diving tournament with friends and family one year, Garrison and her posse noticed there weren’t really many clothing options for women at the different vendor tents. Ironically, it was the men — her husband and brother-in-law — who gave Garrison the idea to start her own line.
She had all of the tools. Garrison was an accomplished artist and graphic designer. Like Guy Harvey, Garrison decided to make more feminine fish designs to put on women’s T-shirts, tank tops, dresses and more.
“It’s more of an expression of your interest,” Garrison says. “Just because I go out on the boat, I don’t need to feel all dumpy.”
Garrison’s stippling technique has the fins of fish swirling along bright colored fabrics. Over time, she’s been asked to expand from just fish to other animals and even camouflage.
In just two years, Garrison has grown her business beyond her wildest dreams. Now, she has entered into a distribution agreement with Amazon. Her living room is filled with huge rolling bins, all stacked high with orders. There are 52 different items. Amazon ordered thousands for the initial start.
“I’m so tired; I never have time for anything,” Garrison says. “I just keep printing and drawing, printing and drawing.”
Garrison credits Plant City for her success.
“Our town is just so supportive,” Garrison said. “All the little shops around here, I probably would have floundered without them.”
DO-GOOD DESIGN
In addition to her clothing line, Garrison has accomplished many other things in the world of academics. She pursued her master’s degree in fine arts and graduated to be a role model for her daughter, Launa, 9.
“I really wanted my daughter to not settle,” Garrison says. “One day, I want her to want something more. I want to inspire her to do more, too, or at least believe she can.”
Now, Garrison teaches graphic design part-time at the University of Tampa. She also teaches online classes for Sam Houston State University, California Baptist University and Southern New Hampshire University.
And if there’s one thing she hopes her students will take with them, it is to do good design.
“For humanity,” Garrison says. “Not just aesthetically pleasing.”
She encourages her students to volunteer 10% of their time or do work for non-profits that don’t have an advertising or marketing budget. She volunteers her time, too.
And, she barely has any slots left open in her busy schedule.
ART AT HOME
When Garrison does have a spare second in between grading art portfolios and designing and packaging her own sales, she spends it with her family.
Garrison is married to chiropractor B.J. Garrison. He has a son, Austin, about Launa’s age. She makes sure she spends one uninterrupted hour with her kids every day. And, if she keeps her tight schedule up and running through the week, the weekends are reserved for play. That means more boating.
Garrison reflects back on her own childhood. She always had been jealous of her twin sister’s drawing abilities. But one fifth-grade day, she got the assignment to create a large book cover. After illustrating it, she realized she could draw, too.
“After that, it was sketchbook after sketchbook,” Garrison says.
THE ROAD TO SUCCESS
What was your first job?
I started at Winn Dixie as a bag girl at 14, I ended up working there for 3 years and progressed to assistant office management.
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An artist! At age 12, I mailed my sketches of Tippy the turtle and Cubby the bear to the Art Instructions School but was rejected for being a minor.
What’s the best advice you have for being successful?
Success is never easy. I tell my kids and students: everyone has skills that they are “good” at. However, you must decide what you are truly passionate about, because achieving your dreams takes extremely hard work, extensive amounts of time, and endless devotion (if possible, a solid support system really goes a long way too). Taking calculated risks and devoting yourself to a goal greater than yourself comes with many learning curves and small failures. However if you keep picking yourself back up and learning from those, you will eventually get there. It may take year or it may take a lifetime, but you must never give up.
Albert Einstein really said it best: “Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible.”
Who is your role model?
There are so many positive influences in my life, those who are driven, goal oriented, and passionate about what they do. But if I really narrowed it down, I would have to say my Grams. She has consistently been there for me in life, she is the one I turn to first when I need to talk things through, and she is the one whose faith in me is so strong I feel I can never let her down.
What’s the hardest life lesson you’ve learned?
Don’t let others negatively influence your dreams, you have one life to live and when the day is done, you are the one that must find inner peace and fulfillment.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
I swear my tagline should be, from the old cartoon “Wonder Twin powers…activate”, my sister and I always say that. I would love to grant everyone (who wanted one) a twin, because it’s a bond closer than friendship can ever achieve.
What’s the No. 1 played song on your iPod?
“Green Eyes” by Coldplay
If you were reincarnated as an animal, what animal would it be?
A honey badger, of course, because “honey badger don’t care” — and I would love to be fearless.
What’s your least favorite food?
Banana-flavored Runts candy. Eww!
Where would you go in a time machine?
Straight back to the Roaring 20s, when artistic endeavors and cultural expression flourished. I would definitely sport the chopped hair, swing dance, and break from traditions that the era epitomized.