Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantal Clarke.
Hi Chantal, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Chantal Clarke better known as Chantii, 27 years of age from the beautiful island of Jamaica. My Journey in entrepreneurship has been nothing short of an eventful, insightful roller-coaster of learnt lessons and goals accomplished. I started this journey at nineteen years old, just around the time I started my modelling ventures. I always had a love for the fashion industry and at the time, I loved wearing costume jewelry. So many people would give compliments and a friend of mine at the time asked if I would sell them and I jumped at the Idea. From there, my love for not only fashion but being a sales personnel, as well as developing a creative eye for marketing and advertising my products, became a deep passion of mine.
I tried at least six other business ventures I did my own T-Shirt line, Press on nails, Gym Wear, etc. that snowballed into my current venture of “Chantii Kouture,” which I am just a month away of celebrating one year consistently operating where I design Sleep and Loungewear 100% made in Jamaica. This venture has been my most successful yet and it is simply because of all the trial and errors I’ve had over the years and consistently working on my craft and being focus on my creative ability to market and advertise my brand and doing my RESEARCH. I believe when you want to achieve something you are passionate about you have to be patient and try a lot of different ways to get to your ultimate goal because this will help to cultivate your talent. Also, I embrace wearing many different hats in my businesses operation such as Logistics Personnel, Content Creator, Model, Accountant, you name it. Over the years, this has helped me to understand all areas of my business and makes me have a greater understanding of not just my creative talent but the business side of turning passion to profit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a smooth road at all many mistakes and financial downfalls. I remember when I did my T-Shirt line and the prints weren’t done correctly and I lost so much money in that investment. (That was a sad day for me, lol). Additionally, I have a full-time job with a corporate company and perusing my Bachelors in Marketing so BALANCE no doubt a big struggle of mine to give all areas 100% all the time. There are days I’m super exhausted and Fatigue because my operation is a “one-woman show” some days I’m the delivery personnel, some days I’m the photographer, so It’s A LOT. When it comes to my new venture the more the demand increases so does the pressure to put out “better and better” designs and this sometimes give me anxiety because I’m never 100% sure what design is going to be a hit or miss. It’s a risk I take all the time and hope customers see the vision and love as I do in all my designs, but sometimes not everything is hit and back to the drawing board I go it can be a little discouraging but it’s all worth it because I learn, observe and listen to my customers and followers and get to test my creative skills every day and that keeps me excited and focused.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
So I am the designer and Content Creator for my own clothing brand “Chantii Kouture” where I design Luxury Sleep and Lounge wear 100% made in Jamaica. My brand is almost one year old and I do a range of sleep and lounge wear from Satin Robes in many different colors to Pajama sets, Lingerie, Kaftans and Sleep Dresses. What makes my brand stands out is that I always try to incorporate lots of bold colors to give it a “tropical ” appeal as a Jamaican brand. My designs are always summery even though it’s sleep and lounge wear because I always want my customers to feel and embrace there “Sunshine” within. I think a lot of times we as women put a lot of effort into what we wear to parties, Formal Functions etc. but not necessarily what we wear to bed. And I believe this is important because it not only boost your self esteem but does wonders for your mood and sleep. We wear so many hats day to day as women so downtime and what you wear in those moments are helpful to rejuvenate and refocus mentally.
I am most proud of my ability to connect with my customers and form a relationship with them. This has been instrumental in my rapid growth in such a short period of time because of how I make the customer experience engaging. I am definitely my customers “hype man” giving compliments and walking them through the process of making Items for them just right. I take pride in always making sure my customer both locally and internationally are satisfied and gets value for money. What sets my brand apart from others is a combination of things like the engaging customer experience, creating appealing content so you always feel like you are experiencing a piece of Jamaica and my range in accessibility. I ship internationally and have sent Items to at least eight different states in the U.S such as Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Florida to name a few and also in the Caribbean Region.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in a small community called Bull Savannah on the south side of Jamaica in the parish of St. Elizabeth. I grew up around a lot of family and was always the “entertainer” because I loved to dance and play music and to this day I still do lol. I also was active in sports growing up. I did netball and track and field in high school for a few years and after my discovery of Tyra Banks that’s where my interest in modeling started at 16 years old to which I went to on at 18 to compete in Miss Universe Jamaica and at 19 Carnival Queen International in Curacao. I grew up around lots of cousins, aunts, uncles, and a mighty strong mother and Grandmother that made me very discipline in how I carried myself but also understanding the “strength of a woman” and what that meant in their eyes.
My grandmother raised nine children and at least ten grandchildren on her own and she was the sole breadwinner of her household. Because of her I first handily observed being a disciplined individual wearing all the hats she had to and took her many roles seriously with grace, kindness and integrity. That taught me how to embrace the many aspects of not only being a woman but an independent one and being gracious and kind to everyone but also being discipline in my endeavors and not quitting because something is challenging. My mother also is truly one of the most hardworking woman I know and she does it with a smile. (I couldn’t understand it). But overtime I did because she was living her purpose and enjoyed her job as an entrepreneur as a restaurant owner. I saw her built her business from the ground up with pure hard work and dedication and that taught me to honor my commitment to any venture I peruse. I carry that very mind-set to this day with everything I do.
Pricing:
- Satin Robes – 30 USD
- PJ Shorts sets – 30 USD
- kaftans – 48/50 USD
- Pj Long Sets – 48/50 USD
Contact Info:
- Email: chantiikouture@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/chantiikouture?igshid=veyf2bxxnv7t
Image Credits
Purple Kaftan – Mishoni Swack Green and pink robe – Mishka Powell Yellow Shots set – Mishoni Swack and Angella Nelson Gray Kaftan – Chantal Clarke (Owner of Brand) Red Robe – Crystal Mason Multi colour shorts set – Sandra Saunders Bridal Robes (My first Bridal Party)
