FAITH MEETS FASHION
DELTA TWP. - Ray Jackson had worked as a statistician for 30 years at General Motors Co. when he said he realized he had another calling: evangelism through fashion. 
So, Jackson retired from his job at GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant about 10 years ago and started a Christian T-shirt company: "I felt like it was something God told me to do." Jackson, whose business has grown beyond T-shirts into a full-line clothing store in Lansing Mall, said it wasn't a difficult transition from autos to apparel. "I've always had a sense of fashion, even as a child," he said.At one point, Jackson worked as a manager at a discount retailer Kmart before taking a job at GM.Jackson, started off about seven years ago with anonline business selling T-shirts with the logo for his brand, originally called Kingdom Wear. He grew the label by selling clothes at Christian music concerts, fashion shows and other events. In October 2008, Kingdom Dreams, as the company was renamed, expanded into a kiosk at the Lansing Mall, selling sweatshirts, jeans and other apparel. Now, Jackson has a full line of men's and women's casual and formal clothing he sells online and at a recently opened a 2,020-square-foot storefront in Lansing Mall. Jackson said he always planned to grow beyond the kiosk, but the recession slowed his expansion plans. "We saw trouble in the air, so we thought we'd take a baby step, see if people liked our clothes," Jackson said.
Other stores possible
Jackson said the response to the new store has been "phenomenal." The privately owned company does not release sales figures but Jackson said he is looking to rent space in at least four Grand Rapids- and Detroit-area malls. 
The Christian theme is not as visibly apparent in the store as the T-shirts once were but Jackson still considers himself to be a Christian business operator.
Christian businesses overall bring in sales of more than $4.6 billion a year, according to trade group CBA. Kingdom Dreams has two full-time and six part-time employees, along with a handful of designers outside Lansing. The clothes are designed for young professionals, ages 20 to 40. Prices range from $22 for a T-shirt or hat, to $800 for men's suits, which the store plans to offer soon.
The Christian clothing company is established so we can have modern apparel, so it's not just a Jesus T-shirt or a Jesus hat, (it's) something you can wear to work, you can wear to church," said Amy Harris, vice president of the company.
Customers of all ages
Though the line caters to young professionals, it has attracted customers of all ages. Jackson said he recently sold two dresses to an 80-year-old woman. And St. Johns resident Jennifer Gonzales said her 9-year-old daughter, Alyson, refuses to take off her new Kingdom Dreams shirt. It's a treat for Alyson, who is having surgery for a condition known as silent reflux. "She wants to wear it right up to surgery," Jennifer Gonzales said. "She doesn't want to take it off."
10% of profit donated
Jackson said he donates 10 percent of his profit to local and national ministries. "I wouldn't dream of doing it any other way," he said. "That's really the heart of the store." He gives away hundreds of pieces of clothing to those in need at the Lansing Bless Fest, an annual festival featuring free religious concerts, food, children's activities and services. Jackson also runs Royalty Agency, a modeling agency and academy he started three years ago. Harris, who has several years of modeling experience, helped launch the agency after realizing there was a need for local talent. She also is vice president of the agency. The company works with about 60 models, many from Michigan but also from other states. Clients include national companies Proctor and Gamble and McDonald's along with local businesses like the Lexington Lansing Hotel and Shaheen Chevrolet.
Most of the employees at Kingdom Dreams also work for the agency, located at 1305 S. Cedar St. in Lansing MI.
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
TOP: Faith meets fashion: Ray Jackson, CEO of Kingdom Dreams in the Lansing Mall, began the store's venture with a mall kiosk. Jackson started off in the clothing business about seven years ago with an online company selling T-shirts with the logo for his brand, originally called Kingdom Wear
MIDDLE: Checking out the styles: Jonathon Owens of Grand Ledgetries on the merchandise at Kingdom Dreams. At right is Amy Harris, vice president of the Lansing Mall clothing store.
BOTTOM :Men's line: Ray Jackson helps customer Jonathon Owens of Grand Ledge. Jackson's store, Kingdom Dreams, carries casual and formal clothing for both men and women.
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Visit us at www.kingdomdreams.net
DELTA TWP. - Ray Jackson had worked as a statistician for 30 years at General Motors Co. when he said he realized he had another calling: evangelism through fashion.
So, Jackson retired from his job at GM's Lansing Delta Township assembly plant about 10 years ago and started a Christian T-shirt company: "I felt like it was something God told me to do." Jackson, whose business has grown beyond T-shirts into a full-line clothing store in Lansing Mall, said it wasn't a difficult transition from autos to apparel. "I've always had a sense of fashion, even as a child," he said.At one point, Jackson worked as a manager at a discount retailer Kmart before taking a job at GM.Jackson, started off about seven years ago with anonline business selling T-shirts with the logo for his brand, originally called Kingdom Wear. He grew the label by selling clothes at Christian music concerts, fashion shows and other events. In October 2008, Kingdom Dreams, as the company was renamed, expanded into a kiosk at the Lansing Mall, selling sweatshirts, jeans and other apparel. Now, Jackson has a full line of men's and women's casual and formal clothing he sells online and at a recently opened a 2,020-square-foot storefront in Lansing Mall. Jackson said he always planned to grow beyond the kiosk, but the recession slowed his expansion plans. "We saw trouble in the air, so we thought we'd take a baby step, see if people liked our clothes," Jackson said.Other stores possible
The Christian theme is not as visibly apparent in the store as the T-shirts once were but Jackson still considers himself to be a Christian business operator.Customers of all ages
10% of profit donatedPHOTO CAPTIONS:
TOP: Faith meets fashion: Ray Jackson, CEO of Kingdom Dreams in the Lansing Mall, began the store's venture with a mall kiosk. Jackson started off in the clothing business about seven years ago with an online company selling T-shirts with the logo for his brand, originally called Kingdom Wear
MIDDLE: Checking out the styles: Jonathon Owens of Grand Ledgetries on the merchandise at Kingdom Dreams. At right is Amy Harris, vice president of the Lansing Mall clothing store.
BOTTOM :Men's line: Ray Jackson helps customer Jonathon Owens of Grand Ledge. Jackson's store, Kingdom Dreams, carries casual and formal clothing for both men and women.
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