Today we’d like to introduce you to Valeria Amaral.
Valeria, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I currently work full time and have two online businesses. I went to college for fashion design and my dream was to have my own clothing line. I started working in fashion when I was 18 years old. I was very blessed to get my start working for Tommy Bahama. I had the opportunity to travel a lot and attend trade shows and really understand the business world of fashion. This is when I knew I wanted to pursue my dreams. To put my self through college, I ended up leaving my job and working in retail because the schedule was more flexible with my school schedule and I wanted to remain in the industry.
When I graduated college, I knew the journey to start my own clothing line was going to be a long one. So decided to start blogging. I thought this would be a great way to stay connected in the fashion world while I build up my clothing brand. I have had both businesses for about six years. It has been a challenge for sure but it is what I am truly passionate about. I have had good years and tough years but I will keep working on both my brand and my blog because I am truly passionate about it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As I mentioned previously, it has not been a smooth road, especially with my clothing brand. I have made plenty of mistakes and learned the hard way. I have invested a lot of my own money but I have also had amazing rewards and experiences from it all. The process of building a brand from scratch is a lot of work! I do it all and till this day, I still do it all. It has also been a big investment. I have saved and worked hard as I haven’t had any financial help.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Clothing Brand: I design and make women’s ready to wear. I have an online store and I do pop-ups around Miami once a month. I have also build a clientele and work a lot with creating custom pieces. What I am most proud of and sets me apart from other brands is my brand’s core values. We donate 10% of every sale to a non-profit organization that helps human sex trafficked survivors get integrated back into society. We also are an ethically sourced and produce brand.
Blog: I blog about fashion, travel and lifestyle. My main focus is on styling affordable pieces with designer price points. Making chic looks attainable. I am a petite Latina woman and I focus a lot on that as well.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I think success for me personally is when you achieve the goals you set out for yourself. I believe there are many different levels and facets to success. My criteria for success in my business first was to make it happen, to start the business. Then it became to turn over a profit. The next step for success for me currently is to continue to set goals and achieve them over and over.
All in all while having integrity, passion and joy in what I am doing. Because achieving monetary success is not enough and popularity or fame just fades. That is why I made it a point to always give back from the very start of my brand. If I can not be generous with $1 how will I ever be when I make $1 million.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.valeriaamaral.com and www.chicbyv.com
- Phone: 305.894.6573
- Email: info@valeriaamaral.com and valeriaamaral99@gmail.com
- Instagram: @valeriaamaralofficial and @chicbyv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriaamaralofficial and https://www.facebook.com/chicbyv
Image Credit:
Melody J Photography
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