Today we’d like to introduce you to Ibrahim Yaro.
Hi Ibrahim, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Having an entrepreneurial mindset at a very young age due to a serial Mom entrepreneur, I always wanted to own a clothing brand. Fashion has always been my passion, and I, as a good West-African, like to dress to impress. While attending St. Edwards’ University here in Austin, TX, I used to work on numerous entrepreneurial projects. I’ve been importing clothes from different parts of the world, mainly Africa and Europe where I was visiting family once a year. In 2015, I then partner up with a friend who lives in Canada in creating an online brand called Maison Gaynde. Our mission was to incorporate the Euro-African designs in North America. The brand mainly focused on delivering classy products. Production costs were pretty high in addition to a costly shipping fee to get the items within the States and Canada. Therefore, purchase price were also expensive also because we were trying to target a specific audience. Two years later, due to lack of management experience, and team misunderstandings, Maison Gaynde closed its doors.
In 2017, same year I failed Maison Gaynde, I’ve started a new brand called Roots Apparel. I first started to expand the brand with gears such as hats. I was still finishing up my Accounting degree so I wasn’t fully focusing on properly marketing the brand. Even though being in a college environment and incorporating a Business Fraternity Delta Sigma Pi definitely helped me to expand the brand and make decent sales in order to sustain Roots Apparel. On May 2018, I graduated from St. Edwards University and worked for a year at Apple, Inc, as a Data analyst while still working on expanding Roots Apparel. Actually, the only reason I got the job was to save enough money in order to really focus on my entrepreneurial journey.
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to quit Apple, Inc in late 2019. Roots apparel was not bringing enough revenue for me to live from it yet, so I was driving Uber, delivering food and making stands-up shops to sell Roots apparel products’ all over the ATX. Some days worked and some others not. Still in 2019, I’ve rented my own apartment through Airbnb and packed all my clothes in my Nissan Altima and slept over at different friends whom I’m still close with today. I found in love with the process, but my passion was still here and Roots apparel was performing better due to better management more hours of work put in.
In 2020, I’ve established Roots Apparel as a limited liability company and get a loan to purchase an embroidery machine which I truly enjoyed.
Two years later, I manage Roots STR, LLC (short-term rentals) with more than ten apartments rented through Airbnb all over ATX and making decent revenues per year with my team. I now have more time to focus on my true passion: Roots apparel, LLC.
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?
The entrepreneurial journey is not easy one for sure. It would have moment when one will question himself. There are a lot of ups and downs that prepare the entrepreneur for future obstacles. The most important thing is to fall in love with the process.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Roots Apparel, LLC?
Roots Apparel aim to provide high-quality apparel at affordable costs worldwide. We mainly operate our business online via social network such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and of course our main website www.rootsapparel.fashion. Roots specialize mainly in a mix of street-classy styles with gears such as hoodies, crop-top, headwear, joggings, accessories, and so on. Roots apparel made a name in Austin through selling mainly headwear with unique designs.
Roots Apparel provides not only high-quality products but also an all experience and strong message through our designs. Indeed, the calling Roots means whenever we are, whoever we are we must always remember and come back to our Roots because it’s the essence of all humanity. In my biggest battles, my most trusted weapon was to constantly reminding myself where I’m from and how far I come from.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned along my journey is having faith in whatever you achieve. Being humble is definitely a key to success also. No toxic environment such as friends and family is much need in an entrepreneurial journey. I also learned that we should never hesitate to take action when needs to, if not we can only regret later. I’ve always provoke my chances and opportunities rather than waiting on them.
Contact Info:
- Email: rootsapparel43@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.rootsapparel.fashion/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roots___apparel__llc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RootsHatss
- Other: https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdkVx7Be/
Image Credits
Cynthia Godslaw Juls
