We recently connected with Keila Sanchez and have shared our conversation below.

Keila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

In 2014, our family went through a time of uncertainty. Our daughter Saila was diagnosed with 4 heart defects, the day after her birth. Within her first 2 years of life, she underwent 5 open heart surgeries, at the Heart Center at the University of Michigan. At that time, I was a high school Spanish and Art teacher. I loved to teach, but it was very clear to me that I had to take care of my daughter long term and left teaching. Without a salary and a terminated teaching position, I turned to God for help. I honestly believe He gave me the talent to sew and I started making baby things like blankets, bibs and car seat covers to help with Saila’s medical bills.
One day, a friend comes over and says, “Keila, you’re making stuff for everybody. What about moms?” I laughed and said, “I’m not ready for fashion.”
I thought about this conversation for hours and thought, “What could I make that women love and it’s one size fits all?” It was a scarf. And not just any scarf….I wanted to create a design that wouldn’t fall off. So, I added 3 buttons and created a versatile scarf in beautiful plaid patterns and coconut buttons. Within weeks they were selling, and this was the start of KozySaila; Wearable Art to Save a Heart. The most heartwarming part of creating these designs was that it was started in my daughters ICU room as I continued to share her heart story through art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Keila Sánchez. In 2014, as a source of light during a time of family uncertainty, I started sewing from home to cover our daughter Saila’s medical expenses. Saila was born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) leading to 5 open-heart surgeries at a young age. Thankfully, these life saving surgeries were a success and Saila is alive and thriving, a joyful, living miracle.

Today, my passion and creativity are the driving force behind the growing brand, KozySaila. The brand features a versatile collection of accessories, designed to be worn many ways, with a playful mix of fabrics including velvet, leather, cashmere and wool, of which will add the finishing touch to any outfit.

Although my degree is in Art Education & Spanish, I soon realized that my true calling is in fashion design. After several years of creating wearable art pieces inspired by my love of color and pattern, as a self-taught designer, in Southwest Michigan, I sought to transform the everyday scarf.

Today, KozySaila’s scarves and other fashion accessories have become a fashion-forward, year-round accessory that has garnered the attention of the fashion world. In 2019 I had the honor of showcasing my first designer collection for Paris Fashion Week and in 2021 & 2022, showcased my designer scarves and masks on the runway for L.A. Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week, all while reaching all 50 states by the summer of 2021 with my pop up masks.

As a designer, I continues to grow my business from my home-studio in Southwest Michigan. My mission is to inspire others through wearable art and continue developing versatile fashion accessories for all while helping families in their fight with CHD. Part of the proceeds go to the Heart Center at the University of Michigan and ADRA global mission projects. KozySaila is truly wearable art that saves a heart!

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

In July 2019, I took the leap of faith and left teaching to pursue my fashion business full time. Within 5-6 months, we were in quarantine and the world stopped. I was scared. I thought my business was done. But here I was again, in a “time of uncertainty” calling out to God for his help and direction. I prayed and said, “God, I will do my part and make the scarves. I just just need you to do yours and sell them.” Things didn’t go as planned… but it gets better. I get a call from a doctor friend saying theirs about to be a shortage of masks in the local hospitals. Then I get messages from friends saying I should make masks for the hospitals, too.
A few days before all of this happened, I had hired a marketing lady to help me with brand awareness and Facebook Ads. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I took the risk anyway!
I made 60 masks for Lakeland Hospital, delivered them to several units and then sat down and posted on Facebook my story and it went VIRAL! I appeared in the local newspapers, Business Insider, Hope Channel, Lake Union Herald Magazine…all because of my masks. Now, the local community picked up on the story and families were begging me to make (and sell) masks to their family. I didn’t know what to do…but my marketing lady did.
She recommended I streamline the mask orders to my website (even though I didn’t think this would last). Within the first week, I had over 800 mask orders. I couldn’t believe it! Where was I going to get that much fabric, elastic? Shipping material? I had to build and organize a team of 16 women (and my delivery guy, AKA my husband). Within weeks we were producing and shipping masks all over the nation for 2 years. This was a crazy journey, but I know that God was providing for my family and the other women in my community. It was such a humbling experience. It was truly a Mission Project.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

They call me “The Scarf Lady!” After my first fashion show invitation, I realized that I couldn’t bring my plaid pattern, fleece lined scarves on the runway. I needed to step up my designs and show them that my pieces were indeed works of art. I began to explore luxury fabrics like cashmere, wool, velvet, leather and silk. Using a mix of those textiles, I created one of a kind scarves that made a statement piece.

The men and women who buy my designs in shows, local boutique or online love the look and feel of the designs. They know they are getting something quality made, but the best part? They get to be part of our story. Each scarf is a conversation piece that continues to share Saila’s heart story with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.KozySaila.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kozysaila
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kozysaila
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kozysaila4889

Image Credits
Emily Jean Russell, Fashion Week Studio Agency