Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chantel McDowell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Chantel, thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I came up with the idea of sewing my own custom unique designs years ago after graduating high school. It all started with learning to sew a pair of men boxers in home economic class when I was just 15 years old. I fell in love with everything about sewing, from different kinds of fabric, pattern making, measuring, taking clothing apart and putting pieces back together, adding zippers, straight stitch projects down to the simple things like thread a sewing machine. I enjoyed making my own unique outfits as a teenager. After graduating high school I further my education at Bauder College in Downtown Atlanta and my major was Fashion Design. I learned so much about about sewing and I knew once I completed the program I knew that I would go far with this creative skill and start a custom design sewing business.

Imagine Me Sew is the name of my business, where every stitch is imagined first by me. I love how far my business has come. I enjoy being a vendor at local pop up shops around my home town city of Atlanta. I also have my own online store where customers can purchase my custom sewn pieces. You can check out my online store at www.imaginemesew.com

I knew my talented skill would wow my customers. My custom pieces are definitely for the ones who are all about creativeness and just simply love looking different and showing their own uniqueness. My work gets me super excited when I work on new designs and sewing projects.

What makes my job worth it is when I see my customers wearing my custom sewn pieces, it brings me true joy to continue to spread creative talent throughout my home town and across the world. I am talented, I am remarkable and I am here !! Imagine Me Sew is going places and I am loving my new journey and I am looking for to new designs and working on my new upcoming clothing line.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Chantel McDowell design creativity began 20 years ago. She started with sewing in her tenth grade high school home economics class that cultivated her love for arts. In 2005 she attended Bauder College in Atlanta, GA and her passion for Fashion Design led her into making custom clothing. She’s a mother of five children, CCMA and the CEO & Founder of Imagine Me Sew. She has sewn countless custom tops, hats, scarves, jackets and many more other custom clothing. Bringing her sense of custom creativity, unique, individual designs to her work she creates one of a kind experiences for all her customers. After 21 years of sewing and creating designs are by far the best work she loves to do.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Having the passion for fashion and football as lady I think is a huge gain for me. When I first started my business some people thought my business was ran by a male or men. I think its amazing that my business is female owned and most of my target audience is men but women love my custom pieces as well. My business is for everyone, the young, old and in the middle. Creativity goes a long way and I always put my first foot forward with pleasing my customers especially my custom made orders.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

I work in the medical field as a CCMA. I would always put something towards my business. I never had a business loan. My inventory was built from my hard earned work. It feels good knowing that I can put my money towards my dream. The best part is seeing a full inventory stocked and ready for sells from my own money and creative skills.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.imaginemesew.com
• Instagram: imagine_me_sew
• Facebook: Ladii Sew