Today we’d like to introduce you to Ilona Shenderovich.
Hi Ilona, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started with living in Harlem several years ago and starting to experiment with different patterns/colors/fashions. I’ve been a hat wearer since I was young so I’ve always worn different hats with outfits. In 2019 I walked into one of my regular hat stores and noticed pins and feathers I can play with on the hats and decided to dress up my hat with some of those accessories. Getting home that day and looking at all my plain hats, I decided to go to the fashion district to buy some feathers and accessories and that’s where my creative side really came out. Getting compliments from strangers and coworkers started to ignite a fire within me, unfortunately then COVID came about. Several months into covid and being completely alone in my apartment, a friend of mine asked if I wanted to stay with her for the summer in Atlanta since she lived in a house. I got on a plane the next week and to my surprise, ended up buying a house within two months. I lived in Atlanta before so I knew quite a few people and places already.
My outfits and hat-wearing became a magnet for people in Atlanta and I got invited to be a vendor for Atlanta Cigar Week in Sept 2020. At that point, my designs became popular not just for folks in Atlanta but all around the United States. My client list grew exponentially throughout the past 2 years and here I am today, August 2022 celebrating my two year anniversary.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any entrepreneurial journey is ever a smooth road. Running a business requires a lot of money being put in, I am still working my remote day job which I use to help pay for my business, and I have invested a lot of money into it. I get invited to be part of different events throughout the country and part of the struggle has been determining if it’s a good market for my business or not. The past two years has definitely been a lot of trial and error I have learned from.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make custom-designed fedoras for men and women. I am most proud of the quality friendships I have acquired throughout my two years in business, and it is much bigger than just hats for me. My passion is in my creativity and my mind so I am walking in my purpose and have a genuine interest in being a vessel of information, networking, matching people together, and matching people to the right FEDORA!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that surprises people all the time is my ethnicity! I was born in Belarus and speak 100% Russian.
Pricing:
- Straw hats – $125
- Wool hats – $200+
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fedoradesigns.com
- Instagram: @fedoradesigns
- Facebook: /FedoraDesigns
