Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiree Faith Chè
DeSiree Faith, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story started when I was still a child, many of the women in my family love fashion, both my Maternal Grandmother and Paternal Grandmother had history in sewing and designing. My Paternal Grandmother Jerline Moning created hats and was known for her beautiful and glamorous church hats. My Maternal Grandmother learned to sew as a necessity, while her younger sister, my late Aunt Cookie designed and made beautiful garments as a hobby and for family. I come from a long line of fashionistas, so I inevitably fell in love with the art at a young age. I found myself doing cross stitching with my mom on some days, watching fashion and shopping shows with her often.
The other side of it was Being born with a growth disorder called Russell Silver Syndrome, thank God I was healthy, but it was always hard to find fashions that would fit me well. I loved shopping but would often leave the stores nearly in tears because nothing would fit me. It was discouraging and frustrating. So when I hit my teenage years my mother took me to a seamstress to have my uniforms and formal dresses altered.
But it wasn’t until I was well into college when I took a fashion sketching course I realized that fashion is where I was meant to be. With the support of my mom and dad, that’s when I pursued my dual degree with Texas Woman’s University. At the end of my university run, Covid-19 shut down the nation in 2020 and it delayed my final internship for two years. Yet, I finished my internship and graduated with my Marketing and Fashion Degrees, a few months later I (with a push from my older sister) decided to start taking clients. And here I am today!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a little rocky but I can say I’m gaining my footing.
I think anyone who’s an entrepreneur can understand that it is not for the weak. It’s all on you. You are the boss so you have to hold yourself accountable, you have to push yourself to keep going.
I sometimes struggle with social anxiety, so I find it difficult to go out to events and mingle to find more clients. Eventually, I end up biting the bullet and going into these crowds of local events and not only enjoying myself, but meeting clients and potential clients along the way.
Imposter Syndrome was probably my most prominent struggle, I would freeze up sometimes before I could even start a project. My mom, my sister, and my husband would often encourage me to just start. To start, keep going, and finish it.
Literally, you just have to do it. That’s all there is to it. I thank God for the people in my circle.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My sister took me to a shop in Dallas called “Soultopia” that is where I purchased crystals and encouraged me to make them into jewelry. I always loved crystals and jewelry but I never even thought to make them into jewelry myself.
So that is where it started! My sister and I founded QueensANU LLC. If I remember correctly, we started that back in 2019 but we ended it in 2023, as we both have different creative fields we ventured into. So I made QueensANU into ReyImani.
We still specialize in crystal jewelry but we’ve now added custom formal design to our arsenal.
I think I’m currently most proud of being known for our jewelry and it carrying me through the pandemic, and now I’m happy to be seen as a custom designer as well.
I think what sets us apart is not just our copper jewelry but the fact that we custom design for little women, along with average sizes, and plus sizes.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I struggle with taking risks if I’m being honest with you. But in the times that I have taken risks, it was worth it because if it worked out, then great! And if it didn’t work out, I learned something new.
I will say before the pandemic, I was more of a risk taker. I was in university, learning my craft, and consistently surrounded by other colleagues with similar goals and ambitions. I was working behind the scenes in fashion shows in Dallas, Texas, so I guess you could say I was more comfortable.
After meeting her through a professor at El Centro College, I took the risk of reaching out to THE Rhonda Sargent Chambers, a well known Fashion Show Producer and requesting she please keep me in the loop of the shows she’d be producing and to include me as a volunteer. Which she did! I gained so much experience and met so many people in the industry because of it.
I think that more of my current risks I take is me, showing myself on social media. Me being fashion forward, as well as a little person with a growth disorder, I’m often the target of ridicule. Some people will find anything to criticize about another person. Earlier this year, my husband (who is over 6ft and autistic) and I took a short cruise to the Bahamas, and each time we were dressed up, we took a short video. I combined all of our looks together in one video and posted it to Instagram. We went viral, the video hit well over 3 million views, over 200 comments, and over 34k shares. We received lots of love but we also received hate. Hate for the most random things, my fashion, my height, our height difference, our bodies. I’m used to it, but my husband isn’t used to that kind of attention and was surprised by the critics. I think I was more hurt by the people criticizing him more than myself. He quickly brushed it off and told me that no matter what, if I want to share our fashions or my own, he will support.
I get a little hesitant about posting now, but I often push through and take the risk because if I don’t show myself or my work, I won’t get any clients! It’ll all work out it my favor, because by the Grace of God, it always has and always will.
Pricing:
- Jewelry ranges from $28-$100
- Special Occasion Dresses $400-$860
- Bridal Dress Prices are TBD
- Custom Suits $340-860
- Single Garments are TBD
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reyimani.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rey_imaniofficial/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Rey_Imani
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReyImaniOfficial
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rey_imaniofficial
Image Credits
All photos are mine.
