Columbus entrepreneur turns faith into fashion with Believe Accessories

For Erika Thomas, entrepreneurship began long before she opened the doors to her business, Believe Accessories, on Talbotton Road. It started at age 13, when she began designing jewelry and baking cakes for birthdays and weddings.

A Columbus native, Thomas continued making custom cakes while earning her bachelor of business administration from Columbus College, graduating in 1990. Just two months later, she began working at TSYS, launching what would become a 30-year corporate career.

But soon after, she felt a divine calling that would change the course of her life.

“A year after starting at TSYS, God put an assignment on my spirit,” Thomas said. “He told me exactly what to do and when to do it—start a business making jewelry.”

Skeptics questioned the idea. Why would customers choose her designs over a big-box store? But Thomas was undeterred.

“God placed it on my heart to move in faith,” she said. “And that’s what I chose to do.”

She secured a business license, began designing merchandise and followed what she believed was a spiritual roadmap. Her inspiration to name the business “Believe Accessories” came while listening to Yolanda Adams’ album of the same name.

Founded in 2001, Believe Accessories specializes in custom jewelry and apparel for members of historically Black Greek-letter organizations. What began as a line for Alpha Kappa Alpha has since expanded to include licensed merchandise for all Divine Nine organizations, as well as Jack and Jill of America.

Thomas also has extended her offerings to include men’s and women’s clothing, handbags and luggage—each item uniquely designed for her niche market.

“I love what I do,” Thomas said. “When you’re doing what you love, time just flies.”

Throughout her journey, Thomas balanced her growing business with full-time work at TSYS and raising two daughters with her husband, Frank Thomas Jr. In 2023, after three decades in the corporate world, she retired to focus fully on Believe Accessories.

Today, she runs the business full-time from her brick-and-mortar location at 1604 Talbotton Road and continues to sell at trade shows and online, at https://believegreekapparel.com/.

“This journey has had its challenges,” she said. “But I believe if God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it.”