Zoe Beautee founder Carline Smothers started out as a dream factory worker, and now she’s a dream execution master. Her brand is one of the most recognizable in the Haitian-American market. When she started out, she saw the demand for cultural significant clothing aimed at both sexes, and dived right in.

The Florida-born, Atlanta-based entrepreneur has been stomping the grounds, putting in work to stretch her brand’s limits. Last year, she held the Zoe Beautee Awards and this year she’s moved on to the next phase of her branding strategy: the book series.

Read on as your girl Kreyolicious questioned her about Zoe Beautee’s growth and what’s next for her.

Kreyolicious: In terms of all you have accomplished in the past year as CEO of Zoe Beautee, which accomplishment makes you proudest?
I would say creating Zoe Beautee Little Reader’s Collection, writing Fanmi Mwen (My Family) a bilingual children’s book—which is the first in my series. When I was younger, reading, writing, and spelling did not come easy to me. I was retained in the first grade, and had to take speech all of my elementary school years. English was a second language for my parents, they spoke Kreyol and I would always respond in English. For that reason, I comprehend Kreyol very well, but never spoke fluently. I’m determined to bring more cultural diversity in children’s books. I would like our youth to be culturally conscious of who they are, which will in turn bring a sense of pride. This book goes hand and hand with my slogan “Expressing Beauty Through Language”.

Kreyolicious: It takes a great deal of drive to be an entrepreneur. What keeps you motivated?
My husband, children, parents, family, and supporters. With each accomplishment I achieve, my children are watching me every step of the way. They encourage me to keep going, even share their ideas with me. [Laughter] I want them to follow their dreams, no matter how much it scares them! I have a lot of people I’ve influenced in so many ways, I can not give up. One day all the hard work, and long hours will pay off.

Kreyolicious: Can’t remember who this quote is from…but it said something to the effect of…if you can’t possibly want to be a successful entrepreneur, without being an avid reader. What are some inspiring books that have helped you in your journey?
Well, due to all my struggles with reading in the past, I rarely read for myself. However, having young children, I read to them often. I have a small book library in our home, to build a love of reading.

Kreyolicious: I saw at least two articles this year about mental health issues including stress, lack of sleep and exhaustion that comes with running a business. How do you stay maintain that healthy balance?
My mind is constantly going, even while I am asleep. It’s a struggle, but to keep my sanity, I balance work and play. Play is anything that does not include working. Whether it be calling my parents, taking my children to the park, or something as simple as laying in my husband’s arms. I also set aside work time, which typically around early morning or late night while our children are at school or asleep. I could get more done that way. At times it could get extremely difficult being a wife, mother, and businesswoman. My family comes first so there are plenty of times I turn down great opportunities simply because I have to be home to take care of them. However nothing in life worth having comes easy. I take it one day at a time.

With fellow entrepreneur Pascale Rowe at an event.

Kreyolicious: You’ve made it clear that your heritage as a Haitian-American led to your founding Zoe Beautee. Do you think it’s brought you closer to the community?
It definitely has. I have met so many amazing people since starting this business. I’ve also learned so many new things about my culture. We are not taught about our culture in schools, so we have to talk to our parents, research, and teach ourselves. That is why I’m really excited about my children’s book series! It will teach young children growing up outside of Haiti about their heritage.

Former Miss Haiti Universe Sarodj Durocher Bertin won’t disappear from the spotlight anytime soon. Bertin is widening her wings, and recently signed a deal with Miami-based Maite Makeup company. It was only a matter of time before the almond-eyed beauty would get snatched by a cosmetic company. Sarodj has her own collection with the cosmetic company. We discussed the line and her future as an entrepreneur.

What does this deal mean to you?
It is a project we worked on together, with the Maite Makeup Company, and it is so pleasant to see it come true.

Out of all the cosmetic companies that have approached you, why did you choose to go with Maite?
I chose the Maite Makeup Company, because Maite and Luisa—the owners of the company—are young women fighting for their dreams, and I wanted to support them. Besides, when I tried the entire collection I loved it, the good quality, nice pack[aging], and beautiful colors.

Can makeup make a girl look beautiful?
No, I believe all of us have beauty, and makeup help us show that beauty, but if you feel beautiful, you will look beautiful.

How do you care for your skin when you have been wearing makeup?
I make sure I remove all the makeup with a cleansing soft scrub, and then use a conditioning cream
for the face. Daily I use sunblock on my face and neck, and drink a lots of water.

What’s your favorite piece in the Maite collection?
My favorite piece it my from the collection Sarodj by Maite Makeup Company, the name of the lipstick is: I Love Haiti.

Do you have a special regimen that you follow, in terms of exercise and the like?
I work out 3 to 4 times a week, I do cardio from 30 to 45 minutes, and I try no to eat carbs, after 6 pm.

You’re quite the businesswoman. Can we hope to get a Sarodj Bertin clothing line? Or perhaps your own line of cosmetics down the road?
Well I can tell you that soon you will see Sarodj in other things! But, it’s a surprise. Can’t tell you right now what it’s going to be! Ha ha.

Do you have any special beauty tips to share with the ladies out there?
I like using really organic things for beauty, some of them are: aloe Vera. I use it as a mask for the face, every 3 months. I use brown sugar with honey for body scrub. I put some almond oil in my daily body cream. And I drink tea [tea] everyday.

You probably have worn a piece in the Caribbean Apparel line and not even know it. Or you may have seen someone or have had a friend who has donned one of the cultural slogan-laden jackets and shirts of the line. Truth is, the Caribbean Apparel is among the fastest growing brands among young folks and is especially popular with the urban market.

Legrand Gandhi Lindor, the man behind it, likes it that way. Born in Boston of Haitian parents, Lindor graduated with a Bachelors degree in Finance and Real Estate Investments/Development from The George Washington University before receiving his Juris Doctor and a Masters of Business Administration at the University of Connecticut.

At one point, he thought he could somehow combine his love of different cultures, and his knowledge of entrepreneurship, finance and business law and parlay all three fields into a business. Lindor truly wanted to form a company that would focus not on just one country, but many in a way to help create cohesion or at least an understanding of different cultures starting with the Caribbean islands.

But many new entrepreneurs dream about mixing all their passions together, and sometimes the results fall considerably below their expectations. Would this venture of Lindor’s work? Six years after it officially launched—Caribbean Apparel the company Lindor founded—still stands. From Grenada, to the Virgin Islands, to Barbados, and to the flagship Haiti collection, Caribbean Apparel helps consumers celebrate their identity and cultural self-expression.

Lindor discussed his entrepreneurial journey, the fashion business, and what comes next for his eponymous brand.

Q & A

Kreyolicious: When did it first occur to you that starting a company selling Caribbean-themed and Haiti-themed apparel would be profitable?
Well, ever since my undergraduate days my friends and I would go to the various West Indian Festivals —DC, Miami, New York, Boston—and we would spend our money on various things, apparel being one of them. That is when it first occurred to me that in the future we could make money selling higher quality apparel with more thought intensive designs. Being a business major I figured why not have fun and make money at the same time at these festivals. I finally put that into practice in my third year of my JD/MBA program when the opportunity arose. I put a plan together and sold shirts at the Annual National Haitian Student conference in 2007 which was hosted at Penn State University. I went to the event with about forty shirts or so and sold out in thirty-minutes. While I started with the t-shirts, the process of making jackets for Haiti was well under way which we debuted in the fall of 2007 with the Haiti Flag Jacket, Haiti 1804 Jacket and the Limited Edition white Haiti jacket for females and Blue Haiti jacket for men.

It was more about giving our people good quality clothing to wear not just during Kanaval—Carnival—but everyday and a way to express our cultures in ways that people may not know about: for example our Toussaint L’Ouverture shirt or our Haiti shirt which has Est. 1804—meaning established 1804 as some young Haitian-Americans don’t know the history of Haiti—but only what they see on television—which normally isn’t anything positive. So our whole motto, Unity. Culture. Pride. ™ is coming from a different angle—being all inclusive and high quality designs on high quality apparel. We love hearing stories from our customers about positive reactions that others give them when they are either wearing one of our jackets or shirts.

Kreyolicious: Caribbean Apparel™, a rather simple name we think. Was it difficult to come up with?
Not really. We first started as LGappareL®—with the LGL representing my initials. We then wanted to create a brand name that would be more descriptive of what we do and focus on right from reading or saying our brand name. It gets the point across and simply a hot concept that many people have caught onto in a rather short period of time.

Kreyolicious: You’ve been running Caribbean Apparel™ for years now. Do you have any advice and tips for someone who might be wanting to take up a similar venture?
The advice would be to love what you do and do it well. Things are not always easy and there are many more behind the scenes work that gets done that many people don’t see or realize because all they see is the end product. Also, don’t get discouraged. Learn from mistakes or failures to improve upon what you are doing and don’t let someone tell you that you cannot do something; use it as fuel for your fire within.

Kreyolicious: What are the daily going-ons of running Caribbean Apparel™? Are you the type that wakes up at 5 a.m. and goes home at 9 p.m.?
Daily, we are in thoughts of how to make more designs and countries. We are continuously contemplating new designs with our Creative Director and partnerships with others to expand our brand. Also, we are learning more and more about the apparel and printing industry. We have expanded our business to custom print and embroider for others, whether it be student groups, entertainment bands, family reunions, companies, etc. I am more of the type to wake up at 9 and go to bed at 3 a.m. [Smiles]

Kreyolicious: As you began running Caribbean Apparel™, what was the biggest challenge you faced as a shot-caller?
The biggest challenge of being a decision maker is to listen to others and their ideas and even if I may not personally feel it is the best look or what have you, it may make more business sense to go in that particular direction. We have so many ideas that the actual hardest thing is figuring which direction to go in next in terms of expanding our business.

Kreyolicious: You have so many selections. Do you have a bestseller?
Currently, our best seller is our L’Union Fait La Force and Nègre Maron design—Unity Makes Strength. I believe this is our greatest concept shirt and the Haitian motto is a powerful phrase and to combine with the Nègre Maron statue—which is a staple in Haiti and symbolized freedom and the power of working together—is a design that has resonated with all types of people, not just Haitians.

Kreyolicious: Does your company partake in any Haiti-related activities?
Caribbean Apparel™ is constantly working with various companies and organizations who help people help themselves. We like to work with organizations that focus on health and education, not just in Haiti but throughout the Caribbean. We have been invited and have attended many events for non-profits including fashion shows, fundraisers, etc. We have been invited by the Haitian Embassy in Washington, DC for a few events over the years, we have participated in a fashion showcase in Haiti. People can keep up to date with what we are involved with on our website, where we post on our blog events that we have
participated in or will participate. We have also help sponsor events as well.

Kreyolicious: What’s next for the line?
Next for us, is to create more countries and then to start our production in Haiti to create jobs. From there, our other goals and ambitions will come to fruition.

You can visit Caribbean Apparel’s website and view their selections here.

The chic jewelry and accessories line Bisoux Jewelry is the handiwork of two sisters: Stephanie Lee and Vanessa Rigaud. The sisters took the pluralized spelling of the French word meaning “kiss”, and founded their well-received brand under that name. Born and raised in D.C. and the daughters of Haitian parents, the siblings launched the line in 2009.

Rigaud has a Bachelor’s degree and in Health Sciences from James Madison University, while Lee has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. Somehow, jewelry making came calling, and the sisters bring their minds together to create a collection of pieces that are stunning, dressy, but that doesn’t outwear the wearer.

Q & A

Tell us about yourself.
STEPHANIE: I am a Jesus lover who is stimulated by all things creative. An aspiring jet-setter. Foodie, and an ambitious woman following my purpose to influence my environment with the gifts and talents God gave me.

VANESSA: I am a wandering wonderer always looking for a great find. I am a vegetarian who loves traveling around the world collecting treasures and always looking to book my next trip. I am a visionary who has a passion to serve my community and encourage others to do the same.

Do you think jewelry pieces are an absolute must to an outfit?
STEPHANIE: We believe jewelry pieces are an absolute must because we view jewelry as the exclamation mark to your outfit. You can take a casual look and dress it up with a bold necklace, earrings, or chunky bangles. Wearing jewelry gives you the opportunity to add color and texture to your outfit in a variety of ways. Just like your own personal style is an outward expression of your personality, so is the jewelry you choose to wear with it.

Bisoux Jewelry works with a great number of magazines. When you’re doing a photo shoot with fashion magazines, how do you plan things out?
STEPHANIE: When we’re recruited by fashion magazines to provide accessories for a photo shoot the Creative director or stylist sends us a vision board of related looks for the visual concept of the shoot. Once we understand the concept we start planning what jewelry pieces in our inventory would work best to either compliment, or enhance the looks they want. Some stylist already have an idea of which of our jewelry pieces they want to use and request those pieces. If we don’t have a jewelry piece in our inventory we think would look great with their concept we go looking for it. The final product looking its ultimate best is our goal so we bring as many pieces to the shoot we can to make sure we have what the stylist is looking for, or may not have thought of.

In terms of model photo shoots, how do you usually go about with those?
STEPHANIE: If a model request our services for their own look book we work with them to come up with a photo shoot concept. We ask what image they would like to portray and how they would like to be photographed. Normally we work with stylists and creative directors to pull looks together to dress the models. During shoots our main goal is the outcome so whether it’s a model, stylist, or photographer giving us creative suggestions we are open to hear them.

What do you do though when you have differences about, say, business matters or artistic direction?
VANESSA: Being a team gives us the creative ability to pull from two minds. We normally discuss our ideas and collectively decide which is best for the project. We understand what our strengths and weaknesses are and
know how to assign and manage business matters to the one with the strength in that area. Honestly, even as children/teens growing up we only ever had one argument. We are lucky to say we get along very well!

Bisoux Jewelry has a vast collection. Which pieces would you say are the most popular with your clients?
STEPHANIE: The most popular jewelry pieces with our clients are our statement necklaces. We love to collect pieces from all over the world so we often have pieces people have never seen before. We also like to use our jewelry in an unconventio

Haiti has its very own lean chocolate bar, and it’s called Askanya made by Askanya Chocolateries. The brand was created by three entrepreneurs whom are based in Haiti. As of this writing, the brand is available in 10 locations in the US, including the famed The District in New York, Fritai in New Orleans and The Chocolate Factory in DC, in addition to 25 prime locations all over Haiti. According to one of its co-founders, Askanya is based in Ouanaminthe, a city outside of Port-au-Prince, and its location isn’t a coincidence. Co-founder Corinne Sanon Symeitz says she and her co-founders chose that location to reduce business dependency on Port-au-Prince. Askanya employs Haiti’s farmers, cocoa growers, and food lab workers, many of whom are women.

From the tree to processing to an Askanya bar.

Roasting time!

Two experts are creating the Askanya Chocolateries products to perfection.

Ooh, another shot of the Askanya food lab!

And finally…the finished product.

Above: A staff member displaying Askanya products as part of a promotional campaign

Above: The brand has been involved in entrepreneurship and social activities in Haiti. Here are some of the staff at a retreat for Haiti’s women entrepreneurs.

Above: Askanya at Le District in New York’s financial district at Battery Park, one of the many locations in the USA where the chocolate is available.

[[Product photos: Andreas Symeitz]

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT THE BRAND!

BE SURE TO SHOP HAITIAN CHOCOLATE BRAND ASKANYA VIA THE BRAND’S WEBSITE HERE! | ASKANYA ON FACEBOOK| ASKANYA ON INSTAGRAM| ASKANYA ON TWITTER

Like most hair and beauty-based firms, Kreyol Essence started off with a beauty disaster. Yve-Car Momperousse was having her hair done at a salon, when the stylist, using an overheated iron, burned her hair. Momperousse found herself with a hair dilemma and couldn’t help but think back to lwil maskriti, the Palma Christi oil her mother used on her hair when she was a little girl. The Philadelphia resident made the rounds of the natural and Caribbean stores in her area, in search of the product, but turned up empty-handed. She wanted to make the organic product available to herself and other women facing hair who needed it. Creating her own product line seemed to be the solution.

Yve-Car Momperousse and Stephane Jean-Baptiste showcase Kreyol Essence products at an event.

From the outset, Momperousse knew she wanted a name that would embody the essence of Haiti. She and her fiancee Stephane Jean-Baptiste had a pressure-filled debate over whether they should choose a French name, or a Kreyol name. Some individuals advising them, were clamoring for the former, arguing that it would have a more elegant and luxurious image in the minds of potential customers. The entrepreneurial team decided to go with their gut feeling. “As a lover of history,” says Jean-Baptiste, “I’ve always seen the elegance and luxury of the Haitian heritage. While the French roots are part of our culture, it’s certainly not the core of our history.” Thus, the name Kreyol Essence was born. “For me, the term Kreyol Essence is the culmination of the spirit of the Taino people, the will of our African forefathers and the regal tradition of our French imperial vestiges. We wanted to show that not only can pride be conjured up from an authentically Haitian brand, but also a strong sense of sophistication and Caribbean elegance.”

What started off as a one-woman operation, then a two-person operation focusing on hair, has expanded to a skin care line as well and now employs an estimated 400 people in Haiti. It is of utmost importance to Jean-Baptiste and Momperousse that their business help grow Haiti’s economy, and help repair its environment. The Kreyol Essence team in Haiti are heavily involved in a seeding and planting program, raw ingredient cultivation, and overall sustaining women entrepreneurs on the island.

Although Kreyol Essence is based in New York, you have a castor oil farm in Haiti that employs people there.
Kreyol Essence is an agri-business that endeavors to tackle the socioeconomic disparities plaguing Haiti by developing a business model that benefits the country economically and environmentally.  We currently produce the Haitian Black Castor Oil on our own farm in Thiotte, which is in the South Eastern department of the country. We purchase seeds at above market rate from small farm holders in the area and employ local women to clean, hull and extract the oil by hand. Additionally, we have a strategic partnership with the Organization for the Rehabilitation of the Environment (ORE), a grassroots organization established in Haiti in 1985, who hires and manages a network of local women in Camp-Perrin for the production of our Castor Oil. By hiring local women and sourcing castor seeds from small farm holders, we are on track to creating 400 jobs in 3-4 years.

Can you tell us more about your products?
I truly love all of our products because they are practical, luxurious and affordable. Most of our products came from a need that we, as busy professionals, had for personal care maintenance routine. Through Haitian Black Castor Oil, I feel as though we are letting the world in on our little secret of Haitian vitality and hair growth. As you know, it is an amazing curative and therapeutic solution for a variety of hair and skin ailments. Developing products anchored by Haitian Black Castor Oil was an amazing journey of discovery as we learned all the different medicinal uses.

When Yve-Car proposed the creation of the Palma Shea line, I thought it was genius! Our Palma Shea: Organic Hair and Body Butter is the perfect union of Haitian Black Castor Oil, West African Shea Butter and essential oils. The inspiration for this product line is based in the idea that you don’t have to shuffle between multiple products when getting ready in the morning. This organic blend is perfect for the entire family because the combined power of the two ingredients rejuvenates and rehydrates hair and skin. We also have a Pomad Kreyòl, Goat and Coconut Krèm ak Lèt and Savon Kreyòl.

Above: Entrepreneur Yves-Car Momperousse, the Founder of Kreyol Essence, flashes a smile as brilliant as the castor oil that her company is founded on! Photo: Nouveau Concepts LLC ]

What aspects of your background was especially useful in starting Kreyol Essence?
I’ve called upon a myriad of experiences to help me launch new creative ideas, plan and coordinate shipping logistics, and provide need based analysis for each step of our growth. We spent this past summer on our Launch Tour, which provided our customers the opportunity to experience our brand through our celebrated Beauty Bar. Having started my professional career as a recruiter and marketing coordinator for the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, I’m no stranger to being on the road engaging various communities. The skills that I gained developing marketing strategies for Penn Graduate School to attract and recruit ambitious leaders nationwide is at the foundation of what I do every day. My experience as an Account Executive for Azuna, a media firm based in South Korea gave me an immediate advantage in understanding the often complicated world of supply chain management and the much needed patience when dealing with international shipping logistics. Understanding the passion, culture and uniqueness of the Haitian community came as a direct result of my work as Communication Director for the National Haitian Student Alliance and Community Development Chair for the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia. Both experiences rekindled my drive to mobilize and bring about systemic change within the Haitian community. I draw on this same drive every day to remember our mission at Kreyol Essence.

From the feedback you’ve gotten from your customers, which of your products are the most popular with them?
We in the Haitian community, complain a lot about us needing to do a better job supporting each other but I can actually say that that I am overwhelmed by the support of Haitians from the U.S., France, Canada, the Caribbean and the Middle East. Our bestseller is, by far, Goat and Coconut Krèm ak Lèt Moisturizer. Customers rave about this rich and creamy remedy that boasts the power of organic goat’s milk and coconut cream that effectively hydrates. The one and only, Pomad Kreyòl is another fan favorite – folks love the unique and exotic Haitian ingredients.

What have you learned along the road of entrepreneurship that you would like to share with others who are contemplating becoming travelers along that same road?
Wow, there have been so many lessons, but if I could narrow it down to my top three it would be: follow your instincts, believe in yourself and just get out there! When I didn’t follow my instincts or believe in myself, I think I’ve made many mistakes and missed out on many opportunities because I “faked” myself out. I have learned to go with my gut. Often, if you take that leap, you will make it through the journey.

What’s the one thing about having your own company that you’ve observed, that no one told you?
No one told me how much of a personal journey and exploration that comes with being an entrepreneur. Furthermore, when you have partners no one really tells you how to pick the right partner and that it is a marriage. Strengths and weakness need to be discovered so you can have good partnerships and vendor relationships. It’s hard work to maintain these relationships. You realize what makes you really happy and discover self. You realize what you are capable of.

Launching Kreyol Essence is a big risk that’s paid off. Where do you think the strength of the company lies?
Our core strength can be found in our founder and CEO. I’m truly inspired by Yve-Car’s keen instincts and the lucid vision that she has for the company. I’m constantly amazed of the precision that she has for understanding the needs and interest of our customers. Because this endeavor is so personal, her shrewd business sense is magnified by her innate compassion for helping others. Her leadership in business and the galvanization of others is truly innovative. Too often she’s in the driver’s seat pushing me creatively and providing a platform for me to explore my crazy ideas. Over the years we have developed a kinetic energy that seemingly wills me the ability to carry out and conceptualize her creative ideas that are sometimes obscure notes. This force was birthed when we first came together to organize the National Haitian Student Conference in Pennsylvania seven years ago. Our shared passion and dreams for Haiti was our relationship matchmaker and continues to be a core that drives and strengthens our company. We wake up early in the morning believing that our shared aspirations and sacrifices is part of that transformational movement that our generation can support in order to resurrect Haiti.

There are people out there with huge ideas, but little faith on what might await them if they take the plunge and start a business of their own. What’s your advice to them?
Having passion and conviction are certainly the catalysts needed to get a business idea off the ground. But what I’ve learned along the way is the importance of proper planning and having a good effective strategy in order to have a sustainable business. Take the time out to do the research – interview friends and family in order to ensure that your idea is meeting a need, a solution or a demand. We live in the information age so a quick Google search will provide you with information needed to learn about market trends and the viability of your idea. It’s also important to slow down in order to speed up, meaning take the time out to develop your system. To often we rush into a business idea without thinking about how it’s going to work; this leads to a fast burn out. Try to setup your business to run effectively even if you aren’t there. It took us about two years of research and development in order for us to bring Kreyol Essence to market. Both Yve-Car and I are perfectionists, so we are always tweaking and making enhancements, but I feel because of we took time out in the beginning we will never stray away from our vision.

Kreyol Essence is a venture of your company Nouveau Concepts LLC. Are you branching out to other arenas as well?
At the core our missions are the same, but the medium for disseminating our values are slightly different. My vision for Nouveau Concepts has always been to be a key storyteller in the development of multi-ethnic narratives, especially that of our Haitian culture. We have lost control of our visual and historical narrative and I’d like to help reclaim that with whatever mass media tools I have access to. Nouveau Concepts, has given me the ability to develop visual communication and marketing strategies for various clients using the creative palette that has been molded by my cultural lens. We are doing the same thing through Kreyòl Essence. Our sourcing of natural and organic ingredients from Haiti and crafting a luxury brand is our way of starting the paradigm shift and rewriting our narrative. The fact that our packaging has been inspired by the vibrant and bold imagery of tap-taps that zip through the lively streets of Port-au-Prince is a testament that we are capable of expounding upon the notions of what we have traditionally considered to be beautiful. Rather than branching out, I consider this an opportunity to develop new marketing strategies to help me visually communicate our multi-cultural perspective with all people.

What’s next for Kreyol Essence as a brand?
I can’t give away all our secrets! As we grow we strive to continue to be a brand that continues to provide unparalleled service and continue to have an intimate relationship with our customers. We are thrilled to know that our community embraces our mission and takes ownership in the type of products we develop. To that avail, we will continue to develop products based on the demand of our customers. The one piece of info I’ll share is that we plan on taking this initiative global! We are obsessed with reinventing old and unique ingredients. Not only do we want to source the great agricultural wonders of Haiti, but we want to bring Haiti to the rest of the world.

[Photos Credit: Nouveau Concepts LLC ]

Get to know the Kreyol Essence products. Visit the company’s website HERE.

Everyone from hip-hop legend Wyclef Jean to fashion great Donna Karan have been spotted wearing the brand Dnalsi. But what is Dnalsi? A clothing line started by East Flatbush, Brooklyn-born and raised college friends Rob Constant and Gladymir Leveille, in case you didn’t know! The conversation is already in motion with co-founder Gladymir…Here’s what he had to say in terms of advice to up-and-coming entrepreneurs and his future plans for his brand.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to someone who wants to start a brand like Dnalsi?
You have to know you’re overall goal and vision for your brand. Once you know that, then you know what your starting point will be and what your end goal will be for the brand. Your customer may not know what your end goal is in the beginning but as long as you’re telling a story and keep them captivated they’ll stay with you on the ride. But speaking in general terms as an entrepreneur, you’ll face many obstacles when starting your business. At the end of the day you have to ask yourself how bad do you want it? What are you willing to give up and sacrifice? Is this your dream, your passion or just a hobby? It’s a mental grind and you will be tested every day, and that’s a fact!!

Kreyolicious: Also, you had an event where you helped raise money for a soccer program in Haiti. Why do you think it’s important to give back?
It’s a must us and it’s only right. We are the keepers of our legacy. Our Sak Pase collection is all about promoting the Haitian Culture in a positive way It’s a “Love Movement”, and so, giving back is also part of what we do. It’s important because although Haiti has made some great strides over the past few years; this generation has to continue to give back and be part of the continued growth of Haiti as a whole.

Kreyolicious: Do you have a favorite book that you turn to for inspiration or motivation that you’d like to recommend to others?
I’ll give you two. [Laughter] Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Branding and Lifestyle–We grew up not to far from Daymond John and his partners and watched the rise of Fubu with our own eyes. It’s a great story of not giving up, believing in your dreams, and finding creative ways to brand your company with no budget. Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out….This is Marc Ecko’s book and he lays it all out of all the mistakes he made in the fashion industry when he first started out. But even moreso, his story is amazing of he started doing graffiti shirts from his garage to a multi-billion dollar fashion label.

Kreyolicious: Sounds good..It’s two years from now, and we’re having yet another conversation about Dnalsi. What will the brand have achieved between now and then?
Among our achievements: our brand will be [carried by] more stores around the country. The Dnalsi brand which is the umbrella company would be on its second or third collection. Our new collection New York Is Hip-Hop would be in market for sale–we’d be celebrating seven years of our Sak Pase brand and you’d see us with cooler designs to rep Haiti and to rep your culture. You’ll also you’d see the brand move on ancillary products. So, look out for that Sak Pase Cocktail coming soon!

This concludes PART II of the interview with heritage clothing brand Dnalsi’s co-founder Vladymyr Leveille. Watch out for PART II. CLICK HERE if you missed PART I

CLICK HERE to purchase Dnalsi’s cultural wear!

CLICK HERE to visit the clothing brand Dnalsi website!

Like many college students, Shaina Louis has to decide how to schedule her classes so that she can also have a social life, and time for a job. But Shaina’s “job” is different from those of most of her peers. You see, she’s her own boss. As the founder of La Glasse Slipper, which she initially started on Etsy, but has since branched out offline to other markets, she’s joining the leagues of entrepreneurs who are launching brands while still in undergrad. Her first breakthrough as a business woman came from attending the Clinton Global Initiative conference as part of a program on campus. She presented her business idea at the event, and was awarded $1300 in seed funding.

From there, the New York resident was in business. La Glasse Slipper consists of jewelry and arts and crafts pieces marketed by Shaina herself.

These days, La Glasse Slipper’s founder has been making quite some leaps with her startup. One of her biggest coups this year was getting her brand in Main Street Mercantile, one of the most influential shops in the Fairport, New York area. Another is increasing the number of women she employs in Haiti.

The lady boss was born in Aux Cayes, Haiti and moved to New York eight years ago when she was eleven. She says that the name of her brand is a French/English for The Glass Slipper.

Above: A piece from the La Glasse Slipper collection, a fashion and crafts accessories line launched by Shaina Louis, a college junior.

Kreyolicious: How did you come to be interested in fashion and jewelry design?
In Haiti, I went to a very competitive Catholic school where everyone aspired to become doctors and other traditional occupations, but I was always different with my own goals and aspirations. My mother graduated from law school and was involved in the political circuit in town. She was very active in providing opportunities for the women in our neighborhood. Being the only woman attending community meetings and watching her gather women from our neighborhood to distribute food and other resources, I was inspired to follow her footsteps. She was always lending a hand where needed. I began to organize my ideas and create an opportunity that women in Haiti could easily learn and benefit from. That’s when I started getting interested into fashion and jewelry design. [It should be] noted[that] Haitian women are good at crafting and sewing, so it only made sense to create a job where they can continue to excel[at it]. My mother was a teacher too, and my father was a self-made businessman. My mother raised me to treat others like I would want to be treated. My brother is following her footsteps in going to law school, but I want to be business-savvy like my dad was in Haiti.

Above: The entrepreneur wears one of the pieces from her startup La Glasse Slipper.

Kreyolicious: Ah…any skills you learned in school that’s helping you carry out your business?
Yes. [Back when I was] a freshman, we were only allowed to take so many classes, especially within our grade level. I had a meeting with my academic adviser about a course that caught my immediate attention, but was not offered to freshmen. After our meeting, I was given the “okay” to take Social Entrepreneurship. I started to see my project as more than just a hobby. From this point, I began crafting my college experience around my business plan, which at the time was just an idea. Later, I took classes in Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Legal Environment of Business, and Micro and Macroeconomics all of which are things that I put to use everyday in my business.

Kreyolicious: What do you like the most about being an entrepreneur?
The best part of being a social entrepreneur is being an entrepreneur for a cause that is so personal. It is a great feeling hiring a childhood friend by way of earned opportunity instead of merely sending money. My mother’s strength, knowledge and poise allowed me to be where I am today. Her perseverance and dedication to law school while raising three children with a full-time job in Haiti makes being a social entrepreneur that much more exciting. The saying, “My foot is too big for the glass slipper”, is more than just my mission statement. It’s all about opening an avenue for Haitian women to be self-sufficient and independent while earning a living to surpass the societal pressure of marriage to escape poverty. Reducing male financial dependency is a huge part.

Kreyolicious: Girl, I am in awe. Where do you see your brand five years from now?
I am always thinking and coming up with new ideas. In five years, my small atelier would grow into employing the majority of women that live in the [outskirt] areas in Aux Cayes. The women are currently working on designing pillowcases and creating traditional Haitian dresses and skirts. I want to grow into a lifestyle brand where people can count on La Glasse Slipper to get authentic handcrafted jewelry, art, home decor and other goods for their home made out recycled materials.

Above: A bracelet from the La Glasse Slipper collection.

Kreyolicious: What female entrepreneurs do you most admire?
I have a lot of females entrepreneurs that I draw inspiration from. Myrtha Vilbon, a woman that started her own toilet paper company in Haiti after overcoming so many obstacles. I admire anyone that builds a business from the ground up and continues to pursue their passion.

Kreyolicious: Impressive…What advice would you like to give to someone who wants to follow your footsteps?
I would tell them to believe in their vision even when others don’t. In the beginning a lot of people thought that I was just a tourist that was just buying goods in Haiti just to go back home and sell them. I had a vision much bigger than that, and I stuck with it. My experiences have taught me to go for it—even if you don’t know where it’s going to go.

Kreyolicious: Your parents have given you their stamp of approval?
Explaining to my Haitian parents that I am double majoring in Marketing and Business instead of going into the medical field was not an easy task. Telling them about my three-week trip to Haiti by myself when I turned eighteen was harder. Once my mother saw how much of an impact that I can make, she understood why I wanted to go back and follow my dreams. She supports me a hundred percent. After all, she knows—and I quote—“Shaina is gonna do what Shaina wants to do.”

Support Shaina and her venture! CLICK HERE TO VISIT HER La Glasse Slipper STORE, AND GET SOMETHING CUTE FOR YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT!| La Glasse Slipper ON FACEBOOK

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Jeff Appolon is the CEO of the Poze Brand, a burgeoning fashion line that targets the Haitian-American market. For someone who has never studied fashion and merchandising, he’s doing very well for himself. It’s gotten to the point where Poze is an immediately recognizable name among the college crowd of Haitian descent. Appolon makes certain of that by concentrating his marketing campaigns on Instagram, where the majority of them hang out.

Born in California, and raised in Haiti, the designer knows a thing or two about strategy and marketing. The Poze brand has held court at Style Fashion Week LA, and is worn by many Haitian celebrities, including members of the group T-Vice.

Appolon has a degree in finance, and is currently working towards a Master’s Degree in Accounting at Nova University. This newest credential will surely come in useful as he continues to build his empire.

Kreyolicious: How did you settle on a name for the brand?

First, the word poze seemed so natural because it was so powerful and flexible. I added the “brand” to give it a more global appeal. I figured if people don’t understand the word “poze”, they will know it’s a brand either way and ask what it means.

Kreyolicious: Now, when you decided that you wanted to launch Poze, what steps did you take to make it a reality?

I decided to launch Poze brand after seeing so many other brands representing Haiti the same way. They were all using the same designs or slogans. I felt like we had so much more to offer—that we were more complex than that as a people. I wanted to do a brand that stood out from the rest—that was hip and still represented our culture.

Kreyolicious: What would you say to someone who’d like to create their own fashion line?

I would tell them to believe in themselves in just go for it. And, to be aware of the industry because people mostly see the good side of selling clothes. Also, that the Instagram likes you get doesn’t mean that your product will be a success. I would tell them to be prepared for people telling them how much they love their stuff, but [then] never [make a] purchase. Stay focused and keep your cool. [Laughter]

Kreyolicious: Is your family supportive when it comes to what you’re doing?

Yes. My family didn’t really understand it at first—until they started seeing other people wear the brand. Your family wants what’s best for you, but they can be tough on you as well. Sometimes, you have to shut out what the people who love you have to say about your actions. I’m a strong believer in making mistakes and learning from them. This goes against my parents’ culture and the Haitian culture as a whole—because they strongly believe in playing it safe.

Kreyolicious: What would you say is the hardest thing about doing Poze?

The hardest things about Poze I would say is to get Haitians to trust the online platform. Haitians as a whole are not really into technology. They are very pessimistic about buying things online. Even if they like it and they want to buy a shirt or hoodie, they would rather find a way to contact me instead of getting it from the website–which is a good and bad thing. Good because they are still supporting me—but bad because it takes up on my already limited time. Can you imagine 10 different people with 10 different orders?

Kreyolicious: I see…How do you stay connected with Haitian culture?

Yes. I’m always connected with Haitian culture because it’s a part of me. I can’t be anything else but Haitian. I always go to Haiti throughout the year during breaks. I have friends and family there.

Kreyolicious: Did you read any books that have helped you that you’d like to recommend to me and my readers?

I mostly read a lot of articles on entrepreneurship and small businesses. I really like reading about obstacles that successful entrepreneurs faced when they were first starting up. This gives me the drive to keep on moving forward and to believe in myself.

Kreyolicious: Have you had that moment yet…that moment where you smile to yourself over making your dream to make Poze a brand? What’s your proudest moment so far?

No. So far, I haven’t had that moment, and I think I am far from it. I do have good moments when I see a random person wearing the brand or when someone congratulates me on the brand. But so far, I just see myself scratching the surface. I don’t think I’ve reached a considerable amount of people yet with the brand. Some people might have seen a shirt or something, but they don’t realize that they can also get it. My job is to make that happen.

Kreyolicious: What do you hope to accomplish with Poze?

I want Poze to be what supreme is for the skate boarding culture. I want it to be recognized all over the world as the brand who only celebrates the positive side of Haiti through fashion. I want to show the world that Haitians can be cool and fashionable too…that even while we are dealing with our setbacks, we can still look good doing it.

Poze on Instagram | CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE FROM THE POZE COLLECTION|