January 22, 2019

Meet Trailblazer Diandra Skeffrey

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diandra Skeffrey.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Diandra. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
First and foremost, I am 27 years old and Denim’s Mom! Lol He is 3 yrs. Old.
Diamant Noir Boutique came about in 2012, which was my second year at SCAD Atlanta. I come from a fashionable family background so fashion itself has always been a passion of mine. While growing up I was always complimented on how nicely dressed I was, and I was always being asked where I purchased certain pieces from. I have always been a bargain luxury shopper, so I love nice things but at a great price. I was always able to find unique and different pieces while shopping, and it wasn’t so easy for others. I then thought, well why not find nice pieces and resell them to others with my same fashion aesthetic. I first started sourcing vintage clothing and reconstructed them in some way, that was the start of Diamant Noir. I wanted my pieces to be exclusive, I didn’t want my customers to see someone else with something they had on. That was always a pet peeve of mine, lol. But as time went on, I realized I needed to branch off and started purchasing wholesale items. I was always so picky about what I added to my store because I wanted it to keep that exclusivity, but at an affordable price. I studied abroad in Hong Kong in 2013 and was able to get exclusive pieces and tons of inspiration.

As much as I wanted to lift Diamant Noir off the ground, it was hard to do so because of my school workload. I struggled between school and maintaining my business to where I had to choose one over the other, school. School ended in 2015 and I thought that was the time I would take my business to the next level, well I had a surprise waiting for me! I walked across the stage nine months pregnant and welcomed my sweet baby boy two days later. It was so much happening all at once; my business was farthest from my mind. I now have a son to care for and I needed consistent money. I found a 9-5 and began to forget about what I loved most, my dream. It wasn’t until 2017 when I realized that I was forgetting about my 1st love, my business. I then realized I had to start over, I grew a little fan base back in 2012-2013 but it all went away once my business was at a standstill. I started back from the ground up. I have been growing and building ever since. Diamant Noir holds a special place in my heart, I am not exactly where I want to be with my business, but I know soon enough I WILL get there. Hard work and determination will get you very far in life, just always keep the faith.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road was not easy, and it continues to be a rough road. Owning your own business without any financial back up can be very stressful and can seem impossible! I started off with $500 and I tried my best to make that $500 stretch as far as it could go. I had no clue on what I was doing and how I was doing it. I didn’t have a mentor to teach me the ins and outs of this business. Everything I have learned so far has been from trial and error. Yes, I have taken a lot of losses money wise, but I appreciate the lessons and experiences that I have learned along the way. I am a very active Mother, which is a big job within itself, so this journey isn’t a walk in the park. I would tell other young girls my age to make sure they do the research! Talk to someone in that field! Read books! Go to networking events! Look at what your “competition” is doing. Do not copy but take notes, get inspired. Most of all, GO FOR IT. Waiting until the “right time” will never happen. Take that leap and do what you love, you will be thankful in the end. My failures taught me everything I know today. After failure comes success!

We’d love to hear more about Diamant Noir Boutique.
I am the CEO of Diamant Noir Boutique. I am a one-man band right now, so I do everything! I source new items, style our photo shoots, capture and edit photos, update our website, attend trade shows and networking events, source models, and the list goes on. I am most proud of how far my brand has come from items we now carry and the actual look of our brand. We have worked hard on marketing and the look of our social media and it has made a huge difference in our brand. We are set apart by others providing exclusive and good quality products, with exceptional customer service. Shopping online and receiving a package in the mail is the most exciting feeling ever. Presentation goes as long way, we truly care how our packages look on the inside or outside, it adds value to the purchase.

So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I feel like there are a great number of opportunities that women are well positioned for, which is anything a man is well positioned for. We are all equal but are often excluded because of our gender. Women are great leaders and tend to be headstrong when it comes to business. Besides being a Mom, something a man can’t be, I wouldn’t put a specific title or opportunity that women are well positioned for because we can do it all.

Contact Info:

Website: www.shopdiamantnoir.com
Phone: 4044846007
Email: info@shopdiamantnoir.com
Instagram: @shopdiamantnoir
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shopdiamantnoir
Twitter: www.facebook.com/shopdiamantnoir

Image Credit:
Diandra Skeffrey @hautegaldeedee

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.