Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Nia.
Jenna, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been designing and sewing clothes since I was a teenager and launching my own line was always my dream. I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri but even as a child I knew I wanted to live in Atlanta after I graduated from high school. When I was applying to colleges my senior year, a dual-major fashion and business program at Clark Atlanta was at the top of my list but I made a tough decision to accept a full academic scholarship to Saint Louis University, a prestigious school in my hometown that doesn’t have a fashion program.
While in college, I lost sight of my true passion and entered the corporate world after earning my Bachelors in Business and then later earned my MBA. It wasn’t until 2013 that I followed my heart and launched IMME COLLECTION.
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?
I don’t think any entrepreneurial venture is without struggle and I’ve definitely encountered several obstacles along the way. One of the most important aspects of making and selling any product is partnering with the right manufacturer and this has been a difficult process.
I’m a designer at heart and I’m very business savvy but I don’t have formal training in fashion design and manufacturing so I had to learn a lot about how to select and partner with the right clothing manufacturer by trial and error. It’s not as easy as some may think to find a company that can produce your designs with the fit and quality and that you expect. When I released my first collection, I had some bad experiences with a couple of local manufacturers before I found a company that could interpret my vision and delivers top quality garments in a timely manner.
Then, as my company grew, the local manufacturer could no longer keep up with my production capacity so I had to find another company outside of Atlanta. This was even more difficult as I had to communicate with the new company remotely versus being able to meet in person on a frequent basis.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
IMME COLLECTION is an emerging women’s apparel line that represents confidence, originality, and bold femininity. Our brand caters to women who want to make a statement with their sense of fashion. I’m passionate about ensuring that our garments are made from premium fabrics with top-quality construction.
I’m very proud of the feedback that we get from our gorgeous clients when they feel beautiful in our pieces. I’m also proud of the notoriety that the IMME brand has earned from being worn by trendsetting celebs and influencers.
What were you like growing up?
I’m the oldest of three and as a kid, I was naturally very bossy, independent, and protective. I’m still all of those things, lol. Growing up I loved all things fashion. The fabric store was my candy store. My grandmother was a master seamstress and my siblings and I spent a lot of time at her house. She used to make most of her own clothes and I can remember being so intrigued by all the beautiful fabrics she used and the way she put her own spin on store-bought patterns.
My mother nurtured my interest in fashion by buying me a sewing machine for my 12th birthday. I always wanted to be different so I loved being able to make my own clothes and alter clothes that my mother brought me to fit my own vision.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.immecollection.com
- Phone: 404-500-8715
- Email: info@immecollection.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/immecollection
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/immecollection
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/immecollection
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