I remember the first time I dreamed of Material Opulence being mentioned alongside the best brands in the city. Not because I was chasing clout, but because I wanted the story behind the seams to matter. I wanted a kid scrolling social media or passing a vendor booth to feel seen — to know that luxury could look like them, sound like them, be them.
This week, that dream got a little louder.
We’re officially a finalist for Best Clothing Apparel Line in the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards.
Let that sink in for a second.
But that’s not even the whole story. Last Friday, May 16th, we pitched Material Opulence to Shark Tank at UMKC Bloch School of Management. Our second time — the first was back in 2020, when everything felt so different, so uncertain. Walking into that room again, five years later, with a brand that’s grown, evolved, and found its voice? What an experience.
I read the message from someone special a few times before it felt real that MO is a finalist. Then I made a story video on social media, then stared at my phone screen for several minutes just…processing. Between the Shark Tank experience and now this nomination, it’s like the universe is reminding me that persistence pays off.
From hand-pressing graphics on garments at my dining room table (and blistering my fingers more times than I care to admit)…to showing up tired but determined at every pop-up shop with wrinkled clothes because I forgot to steam them… to now being listed among some of the city’s top brands?
It’s humbling. It’s surreal. But most of all, it’s a reminder.
This thing we’re building? It’s real. It’s working. And it’s just getting started.
The Beauty of the Build
Material Opulence has never been about moving fast. It’s been about moving intentionally.
Brick by brick.
Through the quiet months when my Instagram engagement was basically just my mom and two friends. Through the late nights when I questioned if anyone actually cared about what I was creating. Through the missed calls because I was elbow-deep in fabric samples, and the make-it-work moments when my “office” was wherever I could find Wi-Fi.
And now, through the milestones that still feel a little unreal.
But this moment isn’t just about a nomination. It’s about the movement behind it. Because what we’re building at Material Opulence isn’t just a fashion brand. It’s a platform. A statement. A safe space where style meets story.
It’s about mentoring the next wave.
It’s about being seen — and making damn sure there’s room for others to be seen too.
Welcoming the Next Generation
On June 2nd, we welcome a new team of interns through the Pro X Summer program.
Can I be honest? I’m nervous. The good kind of nervous, but still nervous.
Every year this program reminds me why I do this work, but it also reminds me how far I’ve come. These students come with fresh ideas, curious minds, and untapped creativity that honestly intimidates me sometimes. But they also come looking for guidance — someone to say, “You can do this too.”
To them, I want to say: You already are doing it. Just by showing up, you’re already doing it.
When I was their age, I didn’t have a roadmap. No mentors in fashion who looked like me. No behind-the-scenes access to brand building. Just grit, vision, and a whole lot of trial and error (emphasis on the error). So, to be in a position now where I can help guide young talent? That’s full circle in a way that still makes me emotional. It reminds me that growth doesn’t always look like giant leaps — sometimes, it’s showing up year after year, better than before.
This summer, we’re not just working on a Fall/Winter collection. We’re building confidence. Creating opportunities. Cultivating leaders. And honestly? I’m probably going to learn as much from them as they learn from me.
I couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead.
This Saturday, Come See Us in Real Life
Before the interns start, before the next big blog or product drop, we’ve got something special coming up:
Catch Material Opulence vending at Kinship Café on Saturday, May 24th, from 10 AM — 2 PM.
📍 10725 E US Hwy 24, Independence, MO 64054
If you’ve never been to Kinship, you’re missing out. It’s more than just a coffee spot (though their iced chai is chef’s kiss). It’s a heartbeat for the community. A place where Black-owned businesses don’t just survive — they thrive. A space where purpose meets presence and everyone feels like family.
It’s only right that we show up, show love, and keep growing in spaces that align with our mission.
Come through. Grab a coffee (seriously, get the chai). Check out the new drops. Say what’s up. Tell me your story — I want to hear it. We’re not just here to sell clothes. We’re here to build relationships, share energy, and remind each other why we do this work.
Plus, I need the caffeine. It’s been a week.
This Is What Momentum Looks Like
Shark Tank pitches. Finalist nominations. Internships. Pop-ups. Blogs. It may all seem like a highlight reel from the outside — but trust me, every win is rooted in real, messy, sometimes chaotic work.
Standing in front of that Shark Tank rep last Friday brought back every emotion from 2020 — the nerves, the excitement, the pure adrenaline of sharing your vision with people who’ve seen it all. But this time felt different. More confident. More clear about who we are and where we’re going.
That experience, combined with this nomination, keeps us motivated and inspired to keep going. It’s proof that the work we’re putting in is building something real.
It’s waking up before the sun because that’s the only quiet time to design. It’s visioning concepts after long shifts when my brain feels like mush. It’s listening to feedback that stings a little, reworking the design for the fourth time, and doing it all over again because the vision isn’t clear yet.
It’s about reminding yourself daily that the dream isn’t dead — it’s just waiting on you to keep showing up, even when showing up feels impossible.
If you’re on a journey of your own, and you’re in that in-between space where you’re doing the work but haven’t seen the spotlight yet, this is your reminder:
You’re not behind.
You’re not forgotten.
You’re building momentum — even when it doesn’t feel like it.
You’re laying bricks that matter, even when no one’s watching you lay them.
Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, student, or dreamer — keep going. The city is bigger than we think, and there’s room for all of us to win.
What’s Your “MO”?
To everyone who’s read these blogs, supported our vision, voted in the awards, shared our posts, or just believed in this dream from day one — thank you. This nomination isn’t just for me. It’s for us. It’s proof that when we support each other, we all rise.
Let’s keep building and growing — together.
Let’s make legacy look like something we recognize in the mirror. 🖤
— Renauld Shelton II, Founder of Material Opulence
📍 Catch us at Kinship Cafe — May 24, 10am–2pm
🗳️ Voting is still open for the Kansas City People’s Choice Awards
🎓 Pro X Interns begin June 2nd — follow along for their journey!
#WhatsYourMO #ThatsMyMO #KCPCA #KinshipCafe #MaterialOpulence #BrickByBrick #ProXSummer