We were lucky to catch up with Charmaine Dantzler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Charmaine, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

The idea for Du Damage Apparel was born out of my personal experiences and observations as a black woman living in Chicago. I’ve always had a deep connection to my culture and a strong desire to see black people represented in a way that exudes power, confidence, and regality. As I walked the streets of Chicago, I noticed a lack of clothing brands that truly celebrated and embraced black empowerment.

That realization sparked a fire within me. I wanted to create a brand that not only acknowledged the struggles and triumphs of the black community but also provided a voice to the voiceless. I envisioned clothing that would incite positive emotions, make a meaningful impact, and empower every individual who wore it. I knew it was time to fill the gap in the market and showcase the beauty, strength, and resilience of black people through fashion.

Inspired by Black culture, history, and contemporary influences, I embarked on a journey to design apparel that would resonate deeply with black individuals. Du Damage Apparel became a symbol of representation, a platform to amplify our voices, and a source of stylish confidence. It was important to me that the brand encompassed not only a royal and powerful aesthetic but also a genuine celebration of black excellence.

I recognized that there was an untapped potential for a clothing brand that went beyond just fashion. I wanted to create a community that united people with a shared vision of black empowerment and social change. Du Damage Apparel became a way to address social issues, advocate for justice, and promote equality and exclusivity.

The logic behind my brand stemmed from the understanding that representation matters. By offering my unique approach to streetwear, centered around black culture and identity, I knew I could make a difference in the lives of those who wore my designs. I wanted to provide a tangible way for individuals to embrace who they are, stand tall in the face of adversity, and radiate confidence. It was this belief and passion that fueled my excitement and conviction throughout the journey of building Du Damage Apparel.

Seeing the impact my brand will have on the lives of its wearers has been incredibly rewarding. Du Damage Apparel will become a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change. It will unite diverse communities under a common purpose and will allow me to contribute to the empowerment of marginalized individuals.

Starting Du Damage Apparel has been a deeply personal and fulfilling endeavor. It has allowed me to combine my love for fashion, my pride in my black identity, and my commitment to making a meaningful impact. I am grateful for the opportunity to create a brand that not only represents black people in a royal and powerful way but also uplifts and celebrates the strength and resilience that resides within us all.

Charmaine, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Charmaine Dantzler, a proud black woman entrepreneur born and raised in city of Chicago. I am the founder and owner of multiple small businesses in the apparel, beauty, and digital product industries. The start of my journey as an entrepreneur came out of struggle, curiosity and trying to find a creative way to put “life” back into my people. My ventures are not just about profitability; they are a vehicle for upliftment, empowerment, and creating positive impact within the black community. Being from Chicago it’s easy to fall through the cracks and go unnoticed and i wanted to use my love for my people, creativity and desire to want to be successful to not only represent for my culture but also empower, impact and uplift them as well and that is how Du.Damage.Apparel, as well as other businesses, was formed.

Through my apparel business, Du.Damage.Apparel, I design and curate Streetwear that celebrates black culture, promoting self-expression and confidence. In the beauty industry, Ilume Bath and Body, I provide bath and body products that cater specifically to the diverse needs of black men and women, encouraging self-care, positive emotion/mindset and embracing natural beauty. Additionally, in the digital product realm, Conscious Soul, I create digital planners and journals that are used as tools to help express, heal and maintain a fulfilling mindset that advocates growth.

What sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by black people and promoting their success. I am deeply passionate about creating opportunities, fostering economic growth, and inspiring positive change within our community.

I am most proud of being able to give back to the community that gave me an open space to express myself, throughout my journey as an entrepreneur, even during the most difficult times, i was received with nothing but the most authentic energy and honest criticism that help me and my businesses to continue to grow.

I would like everyone, weather they support me or not, to know that i will always be authentic, proud and put my all into everything i do and they should look forward to receiving that same love and care as well.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

MARKETING!!!!
Creating a captivating online presence through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok that allow us to not only create dynamic content but also speak to our target audience in a personal and authentic way. We are able to reach the people who our mission and vision resonates with and they become our biggest supporters, advocates and repeat clientele.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One lesson I learned is, “where you start is NOT where you will finish”. I often look back to the creation of Du.Damage.Apparel and realize that I have gone back to the drawing board numerous times because I am always in a learning state of mind so every new nugget of information I learn I always go and see the need to improve some aspect of the business, whether it’s the logo, tagline or brand plan. I always find ways to change something to make sure the meaning and significance behind any creative or operational aspect is greater so that overall Du,Damage,Apparel will always be great.

Contact Info:

• Website: dudamageapparel.square.site
• Instagram: @du.damage.apparel
• Facebook: @du.damage.apparel
• Youtube: @dudamageapparel