Super excited about this interview. Introducing my good friend ShaRhonda from Vintage IIXIXV clothing line!
I had the opportunity to interview ShaRhonda about her new clothing line which is available online now! ShaRhonda dishes out what it took to make her successful at being a clothing designer and things an aspiring designer should do if they too want to begin their line.
If you or someone you know has thought about becoming a designer you should definitely check out this interview.
About ShaRhonda | I was born in Houston Texas, moved around a lot grew up a military brat. Now an US contractor who has worked in Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar and now Kuwait. Pursing a career in Information Technology. Recently launched a clothing line targeting the 90s era called Vintage IIXIXV.
Q: So what made you want to have your own clothing line?
A: I have always been into fashion. I feel like you express yourself through your style. So I figured I would create my own design off of my personality.
Q: What does Vintage IIXIXV mean?
A: Vintage IIXIXV stands for vintage 1995. I literally broke it down by each individual number in Roman numerals to come up with the 1995. I (1) IX (9) IX (9) V (5). See I’m a whole 90’s vibe from my style of dress to the music that I listen to. The 90’s era of fashion came from different genres of music. It had so much cultural diversity I wanted to target that era.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
A: My Inspiration comes from growing up in the 90’s and falling in love with the culture and music. I am a huge connoisseur when it comes down to the music of the 90’s. My clothing line shows different aspects of the hip hop culture from that era.
Q: If you could change one thing about your process, what would you change?
A: I would change my form of communication that I had with the manufacturers. I did every step through email. Which made the process very difficult. Imagine trying to explain every detail from stitching, sizing down to the exact color you want without communicating face to face.
Q: What were some complications that you encountered during your journey?
A: I ran into timing issues. I would have photo shoots lined up and then my product wouldn’t make it in time. Which caused a whole lot of stress on my team. And it caused issues on meeting due dates.
Q: What advice would you give to those aspiring to be a clothing designer?
A: I would definitely say take your time! Nothing can be rushed within this process. Do your research first and start with a vision board. Most importantly GO for it!
Q: What is the feeling you want your consumers to have when they put on your designs?
A: I want my consumers to feel as if they are back in the 90s. My clothing line consist of bright colors, brick cell phones and pagers, which were a huge part of the 90s fashion. I want them to feel my vision. When you wear a piece from my line it will automatically make you feel the hip hop culture from that time.
Q: How long does it usually take to manufacture 1 of your pieces from design to finished product?
A: From start to finish it would take about one week to perfect one piece. Sometimes that could change if anything had to be fixed. Once I approved we would give the ok to create a bulk order.
Q: Do you follow trends with your designs or do you like to stand out? And why?
A: I definitely like to stand out. I do get my ideas from the 90s era but it’s not based off of what is already out. Here we are physically in 2020 and I am creating designs from the 1990s.
Q: Who does your business inner circle consist of?
A: My business circle consist of myself and my sister. I do bring in photographers and different models. But the business is ran by us two from the creating process down to actually shipping the product. As my business grows I do plan to expand and bring on new members to the team.
Q: Lastly, what is your vision for your clothing line? Where do you see it going?
A: My vision is huge! I see my clothing line becoming a household name. You will definitely be seeing Vintage IIXIXV at the top with all the other big names.
Photo Credit: Images courtesy of Vintage IIXIXV
