In Kreyolicious.com’s continuous attempt to get to know Haiti a little bit better, the site is also attempting to present you, oh, beloved Kreyolicious.com readers with talents straight out of Haiti. Today’s person of interest is Patrice Esperant, a business school student, who has started a clothing line in Port-au-Prince.

Kreyolicious.com: Tell us about yourself.

I’m Creator/CEO/Designer of the new Haitian clothing line Nègre Marron X Culture. I’m 19 years old. I’m studying Business Management at Université Quisqueya, in Haiti. It’s my first year. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur like my parents and that’s what I am right now. I also love art, street fashion and Haiti’s cultural heritage and its subcultures.

Kreyolicious.com: What especially motivated you to start your own clothing line?

I came up with the idea to create a clothing line mostly inspired by Haiti’s culture! In the US, streetwear brands are really popular and they are the true expression of a certain culture or a certain cultural tendency. Most of streetwear clothing line based in the US were inspired by the skateboarding, surfing, hip hop, graffiti. Boom! Haiti is a country with a rich cultural heritage but it’s not well exploited! So I thought that starting a clothing line with such inspiration would be a great idea!

Kreyolicious.com: Anything in particular that sparked the name?

The expression “Nègre Marron” is meaningful in Haiti’s history. It was used to describe the situation of a [black] slave who flees to the mountains because he or she had enough of cruel slavery. I decided to name my brand Nègre Marron because I wanted to share the philosophy that emerges from it. We all are descendants of these brave Negroes. For me being a Nègre Marron means that you literally and mentally broke your chains—that you have chosen to be different, authentic, unique , courageous and brave. It also means to me that despite all the tribulations, problems and misery, you’ve chosen to be hopeful. You’ve dared to dream and you’ve realized that dream. That’s all you wear when you wear Nègre Marron’s clothing. I want to share that philosophy and mentality trough my brand.

Kreyolicious.com: Take Kreyolicious.com readers in the back room where all the action is! What’s it like running your fashion brand?

It’s really stressful. There is a lot of handwork to do! Since I’m the CEO and also the designer, I have to make sure that everything is done properly, every single details! I have to explain the work to our personal [seamstress]. I have to do the same with the artists that works with us. I have to get the gears to the local print shop and boost them guys so they can give me the works on time. I also have to make the labels, the tags and hangtags—they are very important to a brand’s marketing. I also have to ensure the marketing in all its forms—product, pricing, place and promotion. I also have to get them to the store where they must be sold to the customers. I have to sketch regularly and find originals ideas, put every little ideas on paper. I read a lot about entrepreneurship, fashion and culture because I need it all to well manage my business. I must say, running my own fashion brand is a lot of hard work, but since I’m really passionate about it, it’s fun and I love it.

Kreyolicious.com: What does it take to be a fashion entrepreneur?

As a fashion entrepreneur, you should be passionate about your work, you have to put yourself out there, have faith, perseverance, patience…, you have to be creative and innovative, therefore you must be very curious. You must be a dreamer and always imagine the unimaginable. Sometimes you have to listen to people, sometimes you don’t.

Fashion is a really competitive industry, so you have to be unique! As an entrepreneur you also have to know your numbers, understand the rates, the fees, the costs, the taxes, and make sure you are making enough money to keep your business on track. Also you must show your product in the best light, find great models, great photographers, great scenery for your products. It’s important to be informed, to read about fashion trends and tendencies regularly. You must give your customers an amazing experience based on product quality excellence and product accessibility. It’s also great to build a strong network with useful contacts and relationships, that can open many doors for you. Finally, the most important thing, you have to believe in your self while being open to constructive criticism. I quote one of my favorite quotes from Steve Jobs, “your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work, and the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking, don’t settle—as with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

Kreyolicious.com: Some wise words. Following your dreams and pursuing your passion cannot possibly be easy all the time. How do you stay motivated?

I often listen to Eminem [laughter], and…I always say that I have nothing to lose, and it works.

Kreyolicious.com: Any advice for those out there who’d like to become fashion designers?

Dare to dream. Sketch your dream on paper or whatever it is. Make a plan. Believe in yourself; realize your dream—put that process on repeat, and always smile. Thank you for the Opportunity to talk about my brand. I really love and appreciate what you’re doing for our culture. See you soon!

Connect with the designer on Twitter | Check out the Negre Marron X Culture website on Tumblr | Visit the designer’s Facebook Page | Check the designer and his work on Instagram |

[ Photos: Provided by Patrice Esperant; sidelong photo credit—Jonathan Dave Photography ]

To check out other profiles in the Haiti’s Got Talent/Straight Outta Haiti, Baby Series, please CLICK 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!

Clermont Dossous is an entrepreneur based in Salt Lake City, Utah. As the founder of Lew Ayisyen (When You’re Haitian), he heads one of the fledgling clothing brands based on Haitian culture and heritage. A Business Administration graduate, Dossous isn’t exactly entering into the arena without swords and weapons.

A convo with this entrepreneur about how he plans to grow the Le’w Ayisyen (Lew Ayisyen) brand follows.

Kreyolicious: How did you come to be an entrepreneur?
I have been an entrepreneur since the age of fifteen when I started selling CD’s and DJing as DJ Joune for local schools and parties in Haiti. I am always interested in coming up with ideas, creating things and doing stuff in a new way. When I came here, it was different because I was in a completely new environment so it felt like I had to start from the beginning again. I did not give up and kept grinding until I became known to play in all major clubs in the states and also out of states. What kept me going is the freedom I had to do what I love and the only thing that could stop me is myself. In university, a group of friends and I started a business selling hand-painted hats from Haiti called under the name ArtQuake. That was my first partnership, and I learned a lot in the fashion industry and how to run a business. I also helped a few other businesses such as Gamonde, a handmade jewelry line, by helping them with marketing to promote their products. I also utilize my business major to help the business grow and have learned from all our mistakes. This year, I decided I was going to use what I learned from those business and create a separate new business with a better business model than my first fashion business and still relate to Haiti’s Culture.

Above: A piece from the Le’w Ayisyen collection.

Kreyolicious: Why did you choose to give your brand that name?
I chose this name because it connects all Haitians together. Every time I would have a conversation with a Haitian friend and we are talking about Haiti, I always found myself saying, “Le’w Ayisyen”. So when I was brainstorming for names, I realize that “Le’w Ayisyen”, there something about the culture, stories that will brings us together that we cannot ever forget. I wanted a name that as soon as you say it, you feel connected culturally and I feel Le’w Ayisyen does just that.

Above: A shirt design with

Kreyolicious: Did your educational background help you at all in your venture?
My formal education has helped. Having a Business Administration background helps me run the much of the parts of business people don’t think or know about but having the informal education gained from previous entrepreneurial experiences, definitely has helped significantly more.

Kreyolicious: What’s your biggest challenge in terms of running Lew Ayisyen?
My biggest challenge now is connecting with the Haitian American community, and also to sell to people in Haiti. For now, we are only online. Something we are definitely working on is to have some points of sales in Haiti and stateside in areas with a significant Haitian population.

Kreyolicious: Do you listen to any business podcasts, or have you read any books that have helped you in your fashion entrepreneurship journey?
Yes. I have read dozens of books and I think everybody should read those books regardless if they want to own their own business or not. Some of the books I have read include: Lewis Howes—The School of Greatness, The Richest Man in Babylon, Habits of Highly Effective People, How to Win Friends and Influence People, How to Work for Yourself, The Power of Positive Thinking, The Secret, The Little Prince. I listen to The School of Greatness Podcast, as well as various other podcasts off and on. I listen to Les Brown, Jim Rohn, and Tony Robbins pretty much every day.

Kreyolicious: Where do you hope to take your brand?
I want my brand to become a worldwide known Haitian-owned brand targeting Haitians in various places in this world. I want to elevate the urban Haitian clothing industry where it’s as cool to wear a Haitian brand as it is to wear something from Urban Outfitters or H&M, but better because there is a direct connection with culture, community, change, and love.

Above: The entrepreneur deep in thought, while taking care of Le’w Ayisyen business.

Kreyolicious: Why do you think so many cultural brands like Lew Ayisyen are popping up all over the place?
I think they are popping up because they [the entrepreneurs behind them] want to make a change and not rely on other parties to make a difference. In order for things to change in Haiti, we as Haitians needs to stop expecting change to come from outside first. No, it needs to come from inside in order to affect the outside. I think it’s great to see other entrepreneurs taking this route and helping promote the culture, the country and also be an example to our people and show them that it’s possible. That is why part of our mission is focusing on developing and supporting projects in Haitian communities with part of our profits. Our first project was a partnership with Gamonde called: Loud Art Project. I find great value in investing in the happiness of kids in Haiti. I believe that we can make a great impact in our culture in also in making this beautiful country a better place. Le a rive, Lew Ayisyen wa konprann [The time has come. When You’re Haitian, You’ll Understand].

Photo Credit: @_gamonde – Trish Augusting (Loud Project Pictures, Gamonde)

VISIT THE LEW AYISYEN WEBSITE AND SHOP THE BRAND!

Hermanie Pierre is not the type of former beauty queen to sit there and be complacent. The one-time Miss Haiti International penned a self-help business book shortly after her reign ended. And she isn’t stopping there. SXE Fitness and SXE Hair are her entries into the fitness and beauty business realms Follow along as we talk about these ventures.

K. St. Fort: You’re a beauty queen, an engineer, an author, motivational speaker and now entrepreneur. What made you undertake SXE Fitness?

I love being in the gym. The hardest thing about going to the gym is when you can’t find anything to wear. Being at the gym means you want to feel great, look sexy, and be fabulous. If you are trying to feel like that, you must have the gear to help you mentally. The problem I had [was this:] I could not find great workout gym wear that was sexy and comfortable. Once I wore my SXE Fitness clothes I noticed I stayed at the gym longer and felt so sexy that no one in the gym looked better than me. [Laughter] The outfit gave me a boost of confidence.

K. St. Fort: I noticed that the line’s pieces are very stylish. I’m sure that’s not just a coincidence. Do you think that having great workout gear can motivate someone to be more active fitness-wise?

OMG I saw people at the gym wearing baggy clothes! If you watched them closely, they were not as motivated. SXE Fitness clothes are made with 100% supplex material. Supplex material is lightweight, flexible and dry fit. It won’t wrinkle, shrink or fade. Excellent quality. The most amazing thing about our entire line is that it’s available in “One size fits Most” fitting sizes from 0 to 10. It doesn’t matter if you are size 0 or 10. These clothes will fit–and it also give you a butt lift…no surgery, a natural lift.

Most people don’t know that 80% of working out is what you eat and feel. If you feel sexy the chance is you will eat less junk food because you don’t want to mess up that body. Well SXE Fitness helps you mentally with that. Every time you wear your clothes and you feel so sexy, chances are you will not mess up that body. Ten percent is cardio. Ten percent is actual gym work. Well those 20% combination again wearing gym wear like SXE Fitness brand. It will help you mentally stay in the gym longer and motivate you to keep going and reach your fitness goals.

K. St. Fort: Do you have a workout regimen?

My regimen is very predictable and simple. I go to the gym between 3 to 5 times a week. The main reason I go to the gym is to tone and not lose weight. I also have a partner at the gym. Some days we do legs and arms. Forty-eight hours later, we come back together and do the same workout. One day is dedicated to abs and another to cardio.

K. St. Fort: What goes into running your clothing line?

Wow! running SXE Fitness clothing is an around the clock job. Why? Because I am always thinking of what is next, what girls/women will love, what will help them. I also have an amazing team behind me helping me. Our goal is to make sure women feel sexy and confident. What’s best about SXE Fitness we make sure other people have jobs from sewing to packing. While we are branding our line, we are also creating job and give back to the community.

K. St. Fort: Girl, what’s next for you?

The Sky’s the Limit! God blessed me tremendously and I am very grateful for that. I am working on the men’s gym wear line, as well as a plus size line. I keep getting the same questions what about men? What about plus size? Just like I told them. Rome was not built in one day. [Laughter] But I am very happy with the turn out, the feedback and testimonials. I have a lot of happy celebrity clients. My focus now is on the men’s and plus-size lines. Also, a month ago I announced my hair line SXE Hair. I carry all types : Peruvian, Malaysian, Brazilian and Cambodian-straight, body waves, curly, kinky…you name it!

All are grade 8A-the best hair quality you can find. I believe everyone should look gorgeous in however they define their beauty. My goal is to make sure they have what they need. I also provide beauty on the budget-a-lay-away program where you can buy whatever you want hair or gym wear with a $50 deposit and pick up your items when you pay your final payment. Your items are guaranteed to be available.

All photos courtesy of subject.

Would you like to get yourself some SXE Fitness Gear? Of course you would!To all Kreyolicious readers please use code “LPH10” for extra discount and free priority shipping.

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