Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Alcantara.
Hi Stephanie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
I’m from Dominican Republic, born in Bronx NY Oct 11, 1989. Family moved to Miami when I was 9years old. Absolutely love South FL helped mold me into the business savvy woman I am today. I’m one out of four girls, I’m the second oldest. Parents divorced in Middle School. But still remain good friends.
Went to FIU for college, graduated with a Bachelors’s in Hospitality Management in 2012. I joined a sorority, Sigma Kappa. All while working full time, bartending at Brimstone Woodfire Grill in Pembroke Pines. I work there since I was 18 for about 8 years. Also had having a personal life. For me balance is key, you can do it all. Just have to sacrifice sleep here and there lol.
My sister and I started our own fashion and lifestyle brand in 2012, A&A Empire @aandaempire. I always knew I was going to be an entrepreneur from the moment I learned about entrepreneurship in high school. My sister, Jennifer, went to Art Institute in Miami.
Fast Forward to 2019, moved to LA (with my partner, Lil Champ Fway and 2 yr old son, Gianni) to pursue a career in fashion and hospitality. Back in the day, my sister and I had quite of few challenges when we started our brand. It was difficult finding a seamstress who can sew samples, then produce x amount of pieces. All the manufacturers we found, both local and overseas required minimums of like 50-100 units of each style.
But we didn’t need that much, we had limited capital and we just wanted like 10 of each style to start to see how they would do on the market, then reproduce the popular looks. Especially while we’re so new. Also, at the time, it felt like Miami had limited and dated fabrics, compared to NY where it’s overwhelming how many incredible fabrics are available.
So when I moved to LA, it was to help build a pipeline for Designers and Entrepreneurs who want to start their own fashion brand or want to produce smaller quantities.
I met my business partner, Unique in 2019 thru our son’s teacher who kept telling us that our boys are friends and play with each other really well. Ms. Shay suggested we help each other with babysitting, and we did just that. We became friends thru our boys, started to realize we had a lot in common and most of our goals aligned. She has her own brand, Monroe Threadz that she designs and sews by hand.
Later realizing, she was the ying to my yang. I became the Creative Director of Monroe Threadz @monroethreadz helping with photoshoots, aesthetics and content.
Unique, was already working with a few brands on a small scale manufacturing their clothes. Once again, our goals aligned because remember why I moved to LA. Was to help build a fashion pipeline for South Florida specifically.
We later became Business Partners, launching our garment manufacturing business Spring 2021. Monroe Seamz, a name Unique was already using. Started off with one seamstress, getting inquiries thru Instagram mostly. We have a factory now and and just hired our second seamstress, searching for a third to help keep up with orders. Also looking for interns to help us, and continue to grow and scale our business little by little.
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?
First, with A&A Empire, biggest struggle was the limited access to fashion in Miami and Broward county. Including diversity of fabrics, searching for seamstresses and manufacturers willing to deal with small orders. So we created a T-shirt line to help generate brand awareness, easier to do, found a manufacturer willing to help. We created 3 styles for women, and two for men.
LA, just moving and transitioning here is tough! Thankfully we moved with jobs and an apartment but really paid our dues here. It’s been two years and a half.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Start to finish production company. We are a boutique manufacturer we make garments for designers, boutiques and whoever needs their vision to come to life. A key factor is we offer no minimums, it gives you the freedom to create and test the apparel on the market before producing 100 pieces and losing money, time and resources if it doesn’t do well.
Business was launched by two women, a Latina and a Black woman, both mothers to 4 year olds. Most of our clientele are women but we do cater to men as well.
We want to build a business with integrity, transparency and quality work. So many of our current clients have horror stories with manufacturers tacking on extra fees or completely ghosting once the deposit has been made. We want to give people peace of mind, you know exactly what your paying, no hidden fees, and we send photos/videos so you can see your vision come to life from scratch.
We offer above minimum wage, we value or employees and want them to know they’re appreciated for their hardwork. We also offer flexible work schedule. It’s 2021, who still wants to work 9-5? 🤷🏾♀️ We also offer bonuses, so their pay is never capped. There’s always room to make more money and room for growth.
I handle Clients and Sales, the front part of the business, account management. Unique handles Production from start to finish. We both take charge of Marketing and Branding.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Starting with Angel and Rosana, both parents are very fashionable, most of my influences with my style come from them. Used to watch my maternal grandmother paint, sew, crochets and had a green thumb.
My moms sister, Jazmin, super artsy and creative, total DIY person. Used to have her own whimsical children’s clothing line, my sisters and I would watch her dye clothes from scratch and create simple objects/animal and stitch it on clothing we would help her sew labels on the clothes, make Tutus, and package up orders. After school, we would just walk across the street to her place until our parents picked us up in HS. Definitely a pivotal moment for me.
My sisters, parents, besties from HS and College have always believed in me and supported me however they could. That all gave me the confidence I needed to continue pushing.
Virginia, taught my sister and I the fundamentals of sewing. We learned how to handle sewing machines, Taught us how to spot quality work with stitching, seams, hems and everything involved in garment manufacturing. A total inspiration and part of the reason I’m successful in my position.
Pricing:
- Sample Making $20 and up
- Fabric Sourcing $50 Per Hour
- Pattern Construction $85-$150
- Custom Designing $300 and up
- In-Person Consultation $100
Contact Info:
- Email: Info@monroeseamz.com
- Website: www.monroeseamz.com
- Instagram: @monroeseamz @stephanieaada
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/monroeseamz
