EP 67 From Catwalk to Construction to Workwear Fashion Brand
If you think reinvention is impossible later in life - or that fashion and construction can’t possibly mix - Brenda “Maxx” Cumbie McGee is here to prove you wrong.
In this uplifting and eye-opening conversation, Maxx shares her remarkable journey from professional model to union carpenter, and now to Founder of GottStreet Blues®, a fashion-forward workwear brand designed for women who build, weld, dig, create, and do.
From her childhood spent toggling between Tonka trucks and dress-up heels, to decades on construction sites, to a surprise return to modeling in her 60s, Maxx’s story is a testament to grit, creativity, and embracing every season of life with style.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
* How Maxx’s early influences shaped her love of both design and building
* The challenges (and triumphs) of launching a brand later in life
* Her insider perspective on ageism in the fashion and construction worlds
* Why sustainability and just-in-time production are game-changers for apparel
* Maxx’s advice for anyone 60+ dreaming of starting something bold and new
Maxx's enthusiasm is contagious! When she talks, her eyes light up, her passion radiates, and you can feel her energy reaching right through the mic to inspire you.
If you’ve ever thought it’s “too late” to chase a dream, this episode will provide the inspiration you need and have you rethinking everything.
✨ Follow Maxx:
Instagram
TikTok
LinkedIn
GottStreet Blues Website
If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here.
☕ Love listening to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age? Join the movement to end ageism and celebrate pro-aging!
For just $5 a cup, you can sponsor the podcast and help:
✨ Amplify inspiring voices
✨ Break age-related stereotypes
✨ Reach more listeners worldwide
💻 Visit: Buy Me A Coffee
Every cup makes a difference - thank you! 🧡
Waving from Boston – cheers!
Ande ♥
CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism!
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/
https://www.instagram.com/dontbecagedbyyourage
SPONSORSHIP
If you resonate with the show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65, please reach out to me to learn more about making an impact through sponsoring the Don’t Be Caged By Your Age podcast – ande@dontbecagedbyyourage.com.
Brenda “Maxx” Cumby McGee
Founder/Owner
Founded in 2020, GottStreet Blues® working clothes for working women.
GottStreet Blues is the brainchild of a Union Carpenter/Senior Fashion Model. A Global Pandemic and one forced retirement later, a soon to be household / global name brand was set in motion.
Brenda “Maxx” Cumby McGee, Founder of GottStreet Blues, professional model turned union carpenter/steward, has now begun her journey in women’s apparel and soon to make waves starting with women’s construction wear.
As a young girl Brenda had an interest in construction. In her mother’s garden she created a construction site where she used her brother’s red Tonka dump truck to complete her construction vision. By the age of 12, she dreamed of being a model, playing, dress-up in her mother’s clothing while also wearing her mother’s matching shoes and gloves. Then all throughout high school she took metal shop where she learned how to weld, as well as architectural design and art. No one was surprised when she started her professional modeling career at 19.
Brenda is also known as “Maxx”. This name was given to her by photographer Vic Toliva (Detroit). She learned about fabrics from Chicago Fashion Designer Mary Ann Davis, when she modeled for Ms. Davis’s designs. She also learned about clothing lines and manufacturing when she modeled at the Chicago Apparel Center.
Fast Forward to the age of 34, Brenda became a union carpenter thanks to Mr. Larry Cooper (Anheuser Busch Consultant). She worked in the trade-show industry, almost exclusively working at McCormick Place Convention Cent… Read More
