Today we’d like to introduce you to Idayat Ibrahim.
Hi Idayat, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello! I am a Creative Entrepreneur & Founder of four startup businesses; VINCLOX, an online vintage/resale shop; LADYDEE PRODUCTIONS, a creative production company for brands and artists; VINCLOX PRINTS, a virtual custom apparel printing company; and NATURE APPROVES, a health and wellness brand shifting the culture towards a sustainable future. The goal for me is to forge communities filled with people from different backgrounds, who share the same values and are excited as I am about making a positive impact in the world. I am also a Creative Director, Stylist and Project Manager.
When coming to America, Entrepreneurship wasn’t something that came to mind when deciding a career path. Although I grew up in a household of hard workers, business owners and a culture that taught me so much discipline and morals, being an entrepreneur never crossed my mind until 2018 to be exact. What promoted me to pursue Entrepreneurship, was the ability to work for myself, have a sense of ownership, and be free to do the things that brought me the most joy. I’m always ready to learn new things and be in new spaces than what I was used to.
In my teenage years, I worked in the fast food and retail industry, working my way up to managerial roles, so I could learn the structure of a business, managing people, and making sales. I was an asset to everything I was a part of but wasn’t happy. I felt as if I was being taken for granted, which eventually motivated me to take matters into my own hands. I promised that I would never put myself in a space where I wasn’t happy or fully being myself. I wanted to take control of my destiny and not rely on spaces that placed me in a box/limit what my potentials are.
After quitting my retail job in 2018, I took everything I learned from each company and used those tools to start my passion driven businesses. Everything leading up to this moment was all hard work, curiosity, passion, setbacks, good & bad life changing experiences, networking, and the skills I naturally possessed. If you ask me, this path was truly orchestrated by the higher power and for that I will be forever grateful. Being a Creative Entrepreneur now, I am able to manage my businesses, make time to create, and also make time for the things I truly care about: myself and overall wellbeing, my partner, my family, and my friends.
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?
Entrepreneurship is definitely not a smooth road. Just like everything in life, you are faced with challenges and obstacles that you have to overcome in order to see the beautiful outcome.
Some struggles for me (at the very beginning) was finding a community that I could be a part of, who were doing what I was doing or whom I could relate to. I was doing what I loved and got to meet amazing people, but I still felt like something was missing. I was able to overcome that challenge by creating my own space where I can express myself as an artist and attract the community I always searched for, and that was the best thing that happened!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I am not being a girl boss, I am a Creative Director, Stylist, and Content Creator, birthing beautiful concepts and visuals for artists and brands. I specialize in putting together a team of creatives in order to bring the client’s ideas to life, through creativity and storytelling. I am known for the relationships I build with other creatives, inspiring them to explore creativity in new and disruptive ways.
I am mostly proud of how much I’ve grown since my first production. I previously worked as a stylist for Google and The Guardian News; https://www.theguardian.com/rising-voices. I am also very proud and inspired by the community I am building, the world around me, my personal experiences, and the fact that I can make an impact in someone’s life by sharing my gifts and talents and being of service in some way.
What sets me apart from others is my unique style and approach to creativity.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along my journey is that staying true to who you really are and building a strong community is key to success. I’ve also learned how to ask and accept help! As the African Proverb states, “If you want to go fast, go alone and if you want to go far, go together.”
Contact Info:
- Email: dee.creativee@gmail.com
- Website: www.vinclox.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/deeofalltrades
- Other: linktr.ee/IdayatIbrahim
Image Credits
Lady Dee Productions
