If you were to see Jessie Williams walking down the street, you'd probably note that 1) you're a little intimidated because she's put together so stylishly, 2) she's accompanied by a sweet-looking dog named Blueberry, and 3) she really needs to get out of the middle of the street and walk on the sidewalk! In getting to know her, you'd be surprised that she's actually not all that intimidating, but rather, very coy and soft-spoken. But soft-spoken doesn't mean she doesn't have a voice. For Jessie, her voice is strongest through fashion design and creativity, brainstorming ideas, sketching, collaborating with other artists, and executing these ideas with sophistication and precision. She's happiest when she's in her own creative environment, and as a result, everything she touches is presented with a mix of hard work and thoughtfulness.

Jessie was born and raised in Greensboro, NC. She spent much of her youth doing things like making a gown out of an old bed sheet and creating accessories to accompany it. Clad in one of her homemade ensembles, Jessie sold her hand-painted magnolia leaves in a friend's yard, a clear indicator of what was to come for her. She then worked with whatever craft materials she could get her hands on, constantly seeking new, innovative ways to transform ordinary things into works of art. Her creativity eventually landed her a spot in the North Carolina School of the Arts. After surviving her high school years and several bad hairstyle choices, Jessie moved to Chicago to attend the School of the Art Institute.

After college, Jessie revisited knitting, making various garments to ward off the cold weather. In those days, she rode her bike to work, even in chilly weather, because it was better than waiting forever for a bus or train. In the Windy City, wearing a scarf on a bike was better in theory that it was in reality. So Jessie got creative. She knit a mini-scarf that would button around the neck and remain snug, rather than whip her in the face and create the peril of possibly crashing into a tree. This button-up mini-scarf proved to be practical, so at the request of her friends, Jessie kept making them and giving them away.

With the proper amount of self-confidence and encouragement, Jessie decided it was time to market her ideas. She found that some people wouldn't give her the time of day, and others would book appointments and not show up. She was discouraged by that but didn't want to give up what she loved doing most. So she kept knitting, creating, and giving away her products to friends and loved ones. Jessie loved creating so much that she was content with being creative in any way possible, as long as she could watch those tiny sparks of inspiration come to life.

Then, an open storefront in downtown Wilmington, NC beckoned Jessie Williams to roll the dice. She launched Edge of Urge, and nearly a decade later, still marvels at how happy it makes her to continually design and create for people, to present a certain kind of thoughtfulness that is rare to encounter in the fashion industry.