Today we’d like to introduce you to Willa Burke.
Hi Willa, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My passion for fashion design began at a young age and eventually led me to pursue a degree in the field. From there, I built a career, including running a successful business creating soft mannequins for major retailers such as JCPenney. Later, I transitioned into education, earning my certification in Family and Consumer Sciences, where I taught Fashion Design, Child Development, and Culinary Arts.
The idea for the Pocket Pennant was inspired while attending my students’ football games. After noticing players wearing towels tucked into their waistbands, I began envisioning a customizable accessory that could allow individuals to showcase team pride, organizational affiliations, or personal interests in a creative and meaningful way. To make each design feel truly personal, I developed a concept that incorporates three custom colors chosen to reflect each individual’s vision.
After extensive research, testing, and prototyping, the design has evolved into the product it is today. To support production while maintaining quality craftsmanship, I invested in advanced cutting technology and CNC equipment. This has made it possible to scale production efficiently while still preserving the personal attention to detail and small-business values that are central to the brand.
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?
I wanted to share some insight into the development process of our pennants and the obstacles we’ve overcome to reach our current quality standards.
Developing this product involved a great deal of trial and error. Initially, I was committed to using 100% cotton, but the fabric presented several challenges. It frayed excessively during cutting, and even after experimenting with techniques like soaking the fabric in glue, the results did not meet my vision. I also explored reinforcing the cotton with fusible interfacing; while this improved durability, it made the process far too labor-intensive for production.
Eventually, we discovered a new material that proved to be the ideal solution. This fabric offers bold, fade-resistant color, cuts cleanly without fraying, and is easy to maintain. This discovery was a true turning point for the brand’s functionality.
Another unique challenge has been the nature of our collaboration. I work closely with my daughter, who lives a significant distance away. While the distance can make communication and coordination complex, we remain deeply committed to building this brand together through shared passion and persistence.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the founder of Vexi Fashion Co., and as someone with dyslexia, I’ve always expressed myself most naturally through hands-on design and sewing. Creativity has always been my strongest form of communication.
Fashion design is only one part of my creative process. I’ve also spent years developing my skills in digital design and visual storytelling, dedicating countless hours to refining every detail so each piece feels intentional, meaningful, and impactful.
One of my proudest achievements is our patent-pending pennants. They were created to give people a unique way to express their identity and tell their story without saying a word. We offer a wide variety of color selections as well as the ability to customize pennants with customer-selected designs, with the addition of charms to further the expression of our community members.
There is currently nothing else like them on the market, and I’m incredibly grateful to be building something so personal while doing what I love while also providing a chance for community involvement.
What matters most to you?
When sourcing products, quality and affordability are equally important to me. It’s also a core value of ours that every item is proudly made in the USA.
Beyond the products themselves, building a strong sense of community is at the heart of what we do. That’s why we offer customization options for our pennants, allowing people to showcase what they’re passionate about and express what matters most to them.
Pricing:
- Blank Pennants: 10-unit minimum at $6.50 per unit
- Custom DTF Pennants: 20-unit minimum at $13.50 per unit
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vexifashionco.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vexifashionco/
