How I Started: Nala the Label
There are brands that create pieces for trendy teens while some brands design clothes for the fashion girl. And then there's Nala the Label, a brand that creates pieces for women who close deals in heels. Find out how fashion student, Nicole Javines created this bold and brave local brand that's fashionable, sophisticated, and edgy in all the right ways.
How it started. "I started Nala the Label as an experiment. I noticed that there are only a few local brands that are selling pieces that boasts of the Kardashian/Jenner aesthetic, which is actually a huge fashion trend. So, I took a risk, started Nala the Label, and to my delight, everyone loved it!"
Why Nala the Label? "RTW is something that everyone can buy and wear easily. That's why I made Nala the Label ready to wear so all women can wear it with confidence."
Young entrepreneur. "There are times when being a young entrepreneur is indeed a challenge, but if you look at the bigger picture, being a young entrepreneur is actually an advantage. You get to start young, there's still a lot of room for brand improvement, there's still a lot of time to learn the different business techniques, build connections, and gather more experience, too!"
Entrepreneurial philosophy. "I've been reading a lot of entrepreneurial books lately and one line that struck me the most was from Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill:
"Wishing will not bring riches but desiring riches with a state of mind that becomes an obsession, then planning definite ways and means to acquire riches, and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognize failure, will bring riches."
Basically, there's no room for giving up. Failure is just one step to success, and instead of fighting it, one must accept and simply learn from it."
Drawing inspiration. "Nala the Label's muse has always been the woman of this century—classy, goal-oriented, and an independent millennial. I draw my inspiration from them."
Flying solo. "I currently work on Nala the Label on my own as of the moment. But of course, as the brand grows bigger I would have to hire a team to help me out in the future."
Little challenges. "One of the biggest problems that I have to face with Nala the Label is meeting the delivery time of the customers. I only have a few seamstresses, and orders can go beyond what we've initially predicted. So, sometimes we have to prolong the delivery time since my seamstresses can only make a limited number of pieces per day."
Staying original. "Having studied fashion design, I use what I have learned in my classes, and try to keep my designs as fresh as possible. I aim to make every piece in Nala the Label as timeless and classy as possible so it well never go out of style."
What's next? "I'm definitely planning to go beyond eCommerce. I want to supply in stores, and although I know it would take some time, my main goal is to make my brand a household name."
To young budding entrepreneurs. "Just keep on exploring and always learn new things. Read books, join classes, seek a mentor, etc.. If you failed on your first try, try to find out where you went wrong, and understand why you failed, improve, then try again. Always remember that you can never achieve success by giving up."
Know any young entrepreneurs? Leave a comment below and you just might see them on the site next week!
