Today we’d like to introduce you to Chinyere Chi.
Hi Chinyere, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My business started as a result of me solving a problem for myself. I needed a satin bonnet that offered more than what the ones I owned could do for me. At that time my hairstyles interchanged between beautiful voluminous curls and long braids. Unfortunately the satin bonnets I bought from my local beauty supply store didn’t do much for me; they didn’t fit my hair and they simply weren’t stylish. So one day after work, I decided that I’d make myself a custom bonnet. I watched some videos online, purchased some fabrics and a sewing machine and made myself a couple of beautiful satin bonnets and shower caps that solved all the problems I had. My sister who was in the process of getting married at the time, saw my bonnets, loved them, and requested a few to gift her bridesmaids. From that point the word of mouth spread amongst small groups of friends. This fueled my decision to create Regal Ivy.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The beginning was a bit rough, because I still had a corporate job and would try to juggle that, my business and motherhood. As my business started to grow, i decided to retire from my corporate job and focus on business full time. Although this allowed more time to focus on my home and business, the eye opening fact became that entrepreneurship can be a hard journey when it’s no longer a side gig. But I have no regrets! I eventually got a small team and they are extremely helpful.
As you know, we’re big fans of Regal Ivy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Regal Ivy is a lifestyle brand that specializes in head wear and lounge wear for women. We started with one major goal, to provide women with better hair days by creating beautiful premium quality products that are stylish, comfortable, and durable. Our creative inspiration hails from sub-Saharan Africa. Regal Ivy also envisions all women as royalty so these are all tied into the what sets us apart. We are inspired by Queens- and hope to cater to the ever evolving woman through products that empower, bold femininity, class and self-care.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think it’s hard to say what the next 5-10 years will be like. I mean before last year, most of us wouldn’t have envisioned that we would still be in a global pandemic. Overall, I see a lot of growth in this industry. People are starting to realize the importance of self-care and are beginning to nurture that need more.
Contact Info:
- Email: Hello@regalivy.com
- Website: www.regalivy.com
- Instagram: @regalivy
- Facebook: shopRegalivy
- Youtube: Regal ivy
Image Credits
Regal Ivy
