Coming Home to Build

The Real Story Behind the Brands

I'm Retta Tussey, and six months ago I was having a full-blown identity crisis after relaunching my interior design practice while simultaneously building Retta Jane fashion—because apparently I like a challenge. After 9/11 redirected my fashion dreams from NYC back home, I spent years building an award-winning interior design practice. In 2023, I launched Retta Jane fashion, and now I'm scaling both brands simultaneously while wondering if I've completely lost my mind.

This isn't your typical business success story. I don't have it all figured out, but I have grit for days. Here, you'll get the unfiltered truth about building luxury brands from the heartland—the five-figure vendor fraud that nearly broke me, the moments I questioned everything, the small victories that kept me going, and the reality behind those polished Instagram posts.

Join the Journey

Mother of four, latte dependent, and believer that the right time is right now. Whether you're building something yourself, stuck in your own messy middle, or just tired of perfect success stories, this is your backstage pass to watch someone figure it out in real time.

Be Part of the Story

Share your thoughts in the comments, connect with fellow builders and dreamers, and follow along as we prove that you don't need perfect timing or a coastal zip code to create something beautiful.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.

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Building luxury brands from the heartland - Retta Jane fashion + Retta Jane Interiors. Join me for the honest story behind the polished posts.

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Building two luxury brands from St. Louis while figuring it out as I go. Fashion designer, interior designer, mother of four, and believer that the right time is right now. Join me for the honest story behind the polished posts.