Today we’d like to introduce you to Lepa.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Fashion has always played a major role in my life, it’s apart of my identity and how I express myself without speaking. I actually blame my dad for leading me into fashion styling. Since I can remember, he would always force me to help him pack for his trips to Nigeria and put EVERY SINGLE outfit together. I was his personal stylist without knowing it. Once I got to college, I decided to take fashion styling more seriously. I’d always had girls coming to me for fashion advice and makeovers so I decided to test the waters. It was a skill that came natural to me and from there, I continued to grow.
I would come up with creative set ideas and utilize my apartment to shoot my own editorials! This was in 2013, at the time Instagram was just getting popular so I was able to use the platform to share my work. Once that happened, I started getting booked to style reality tv celebs & editorials sets for Photographers in my hometown Maryland.
The turning point was when my style closet was getting out of hand & I didn’t know what to do with all the clothes. So instead of getting rid of everything, I decided to sell them for profit. I wanted to create an online boutique that was trendy & affordable, one that would appeal to almost every audience. So often, we want to look good but don’t want to break our pockets to do so. From there, LepaStyles.com was born! I went from selling consignment one of one pieces to a rebrand of new refined inventory.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As a small brand, there’s always a fight to be seen amongst the rest when you don’t have over 10k followers or you’re not clout chasing. Often times, I feel as though my brand is overlooked. Seven days out of the week I’m playing Boss, HR, shipping handler, buyer, designer, etc. with barely any help.
There are weeks when I don’t make any sales at all and still have to find a way to remain positive. It gets discouraging when you work hard and don’t always see the results. Through the struggle, I’ve learned to appreciate the genuine connections I’ve built with my clients and customers. It’s just a reminder for me to go harder!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At LepaStyles.com, we’re known for our bold statement pieces! When people shop with us they know they’re going to find something that is unique & quality low cost! Our clothes are consistently up to trend ranging from all sizes! We also provide fashion styling services to our customers. You have to the option to chose from personal styling or industry-based professional set work. The choice is yours! I often like to say we’re the one-stop shop for any fashionista looking for a quick fashion fix.
The proudest day of my company was the day I launched my website. It was me taking that leap of faith & believing in myself.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I wouldn’t start over. I believe that path that I’m currently on was already paved for me so I’m just following along the journey.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
Online stores will always be relevant and the pandemic has proven this to be true. During a time where people couldn’t leave their house they still had access to online shopping! As far as trends, fashion is a revolving door. Nothing truly ever goes out of style, it all has to do with timing! What I will say is that the black culture has always had a major influence on what we wear and it’s time for more people to pay homage.
Contact Info:
- Website: LepaStyles.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: Lepastyles
Image Credit:
@Brandinicolina, @winford_photography1, @westlyjohns @kiyana.k, @tayojr
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