We had the good fortune of connecting with Anya Gibson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anya, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I truly believe that Three of Swords’ success is due to the encouragement and love that I receive from my supporters. My success doesn’t, and has never, come from how much I sell or how many features I get. When I come across strangers recommending Three of Swords to their friends, shouting out my brand on social media, or messaging me with declarations of love for their new Three of Swords pieces and how much they connect with my brand’s purpose, that’s how I can tell that I’m reaching the level of success that makes this all worth it.

How will I know when I’ve finally made it? When my supporters can walk into a Three of Swords shop and share their stories with me in person.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets Three of Swords apart from other goth/alternative clothing brands is that I have and will always emphasize the sheer strength and radiance of other goth/alternative people of color. My social media pages do not feature models of color for clicks or likes. My blog posts do not feature creatives of color for clicks or likes. There is still a lot of work to be done and I am challenging myself to feature even more models of different genders, body types, etc., but I am proud to say that Three of Swords is off to a great start when it comes to shining a spotlight on several types of beauty!

A personal suggestion for anyone who also strives to support truly diverse brands: on your social media site of choice, look at a brand’s page pre-2020.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As an Atlanta gal who is new to Houston, here are some of my favorites:

Where to eat:
1. Cafe India (Personal order: saag aloo/garlic naan/mango lassi)
2. Tacos Doña Lena (Personal order: grande avocado quesadilla with nopalitos)
3. In-N-Out (As someone who finally experienced this a few months ago, I had to include it. Personal order: grilled cheese/strawberry shake)

Where to drink:
1. Poison Girl (Good vibes & cheap drinks.)
2. Grand Prize (Same as above.)

Where to hang out:
1. Numbers (Iconic goth spot with STRONG drinks.)
2. White Swan (Out of all the punk/metal venues, this one is my fave so far. If you catch me out one night, say hi!)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to shout out two of my best friends: Raven Mims and Temi Fariyike! Since the beginning of Three of Swords (and well before then), they’ve been in my corner encouraging me and my personal & professional dreams. They’re not only the best models I could ask for, but they provide loving criticism and support in a way that only best friends can. My brand would not be where it is without them, and I hope that every woman is able to experience the type of sisterhood that I experience with them.

Website: https://threeofswordsatl.com/

Instagram: @threeofswordsatl

Facebook: @threeofswordsatl

Other: TikTok: @threeofswordsatl

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.