Hey Y’all, 

I’m not a blogger like that but I know that I owe you all an explanation and a video is not my thing; although I still might give you one. Being an entrepreneur is full of high highs, low lows and a few in betweens. During the height of the pandemic with the help of a good friend I saw an amazing opportunity EARLY and I happened to capitalize on it. I am also very thankful that I was able to help so many people in their time of need with PPE and accessories. BUT getting back into the groove of what my business is or was has been much harder. Pre-pandemic I mostly did custom work and alterations but it was slow going over the past two years because I am a solopreneur and had recently finished grad school and had a baby and was just getting back to my clients as well as trying to gain more. On top of the fact that I started a part time new career in art education. I was all over the place (Guess what?! I still am ;0). Who isn’t though?? Then the panini, job loss (my other jobs), and business gain SLAM!! 

As soon as I got a grip on handling the blessing that was given to me with all the orders in the midst of the pandemic I started to open up my studio to in person clients again. BUT I’m also in New York City; we are not as open as a lot of other places so finding clients for custom clothing is/was hard. I have been trying to keep the online business going by creating ready-to-wear made to order pieces. Sales on those pieces were ok; Not as great as I expected. Some styles I was more passionate about than others but that’s not the point. I realized that I was designing to trends and trying to make pieces to fit into the trends of the moment with a little bit of me in them vs. designing and making pieces I loved and was/am passionate about regardless of what is being pushed by main stream fashion. The dream for years has been to create a collection but those are expensive and time consuming and creating a collection in a pandemic with a toddler on top of orders was just too much for me. I am used to creating evening wear collections but where are we going? I am not Dolce and Gabbana I don’t have those resort wear/ celebrity clients YET! So, it comes off as a waste of money in the present.

I’m saying all this to say that I have been inconsistent with posting product, promoting product, social media, all of it because I am lost as a designer. I think without realizing it I was a bit lost pre-pandemic with so many life changes on top of owning/running a business then we went into a panini!!! As a giver of making things that make people feel beautiful I don’t know what to give the people (YOU) for sitting on your couches at your computers etc. Yes, you can be glam at home but I just wasn’t thinking y’all wanted to go full on 1950’s housewife especially if you’re at home with kids. I want to give you me but I don’t know that I know what or who that is either. I have never been keen on content creation and self-promotion. How can you be consistent when you don’t know who YOU are? Furthermore, who you are talking to; Who is my customer (Y’all who are you? Speak up for yourselves). Post- COVID (Fun Fact: We’re not actually Post COVID yet)? 

Being Consistently Inconsistent is all I know how to be because I’m so unsure. It’s bad for my bottom line to be honest as well as unfair to all of you but it’s the best reason I’ve got. I don’t know what our new normal will be but I want to be here for you and I hope you are still here as I figure it all out. I am behind the scenes trying and I hope for both of our sakes I get it together quick and y’all enjoy. At the moment some new spring colors have been re-released in masks and fanny packs. As well as Spring clothing available for purchase. 

Just Keepin It Real! 

Love you Longtime, 

ImaniLia