We were lucky to catch up with Maya Ventour recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maya, appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Just starting my business was a risk, I had no foresight of the outcome of my risk but I guess that’s the point. It led to plentiful victories, multiple failures of course, and a lot of lessons learned. I Was 17, not doing well in school, and unemployed. While it’t not as crazy to be unemployed at the young age of 17, it was for me. I had no money, no car or license even, and was just lost completely. My home life wasn’t doing so well either in pretty much any aspect. I wanted so badly to be in fashion and truly start a fashion brand, the way I wanted it. Great, grand, profoundly tiny, kind, fantasy-like, and honest. But I didn’t have any money. I had my old sewing machine from since I was 11 and it broke down every few minutes or so. I didn’t have fabric other than those of scarps from old clothes which mostly consisted of denim jeans that didn’t fit me anymore. I needed to sew the designs I had sketched out in my head and needed to do it well and thankfully, I just so happened to have money from my child-commercial days locked up in an account until I was 18. My mom let me know we could claim it but it would take time + I had to wait until 18. In the meanwhile, I began sewing with my dinged up sewing machine and ended up making myself a dress for my 18th birthday! I ended up posting me in it on my social media only to get comments and messages asking where I got it and if I made it how much it was! I set a price, downloaded a small fashion selling app, and put it up for sale. I didn’t have any more fabric to make more, thread, lace, ANYTHING! But I listed it anyway. I ended up getting multiple sales and used the money from the sales to purchase new fabrics etc.. I still had my old machine but it had to work for the meantime. I started designing new products and ended up listing them as well. Very little profit but I was just happy to do it at all. By this time, my money from my child account was available to me, It was at a very difficult financial time in my family life and also somewhat mid-move. I took the risk in using the money to start my business with no surety if it would pay off. I bought an industrial sewing machine, fabric, lace, ribbon in bulk and by the roll, and even planned a photoshoot initially just for product shots and a collaboration with another artist, but which soon turned into the full launch of my brand and own website. I paid models, photographers, a videographer, set assistants, and paid for a location for almost 8 hours. It was a full production and I used my new industrial sewing machine to make all the pieces of the collection. It was a complete shot in the dark. I had no prior experience of having or running a business of this sort, and had never even been to an actual photoshoot, let alone RUN one! It was a shit show. Excuse my language, but I learned from it, paid my dues, and grew from then on. Regardless, I did indeed get to launch my brand and website somewhat successfully and started the process from there. The first two years were absolutely horribly difficult and stressful due to unstable home life/ living and financial situation and the added fire of the repercussions of my naivete from the initial launch. Even so, I kept going. I still made sales where I could, posted, advertised, and designed and sewed new items as much as I could’ve. Eventually, as time went on, I was able to settle the issues of the past, pay my dues, and organize myself successfully. Only took about three years! It was a struggle completely but I ended up getting to do work along the way for Bridgerton- Series, Allure Magazine, Instagram & Instagram Zine, Genies Avatar Technologies, Playboy Magazine, and Billie Eilish! It wasn’t always financially favorable, but it was always an honor. I ended up taking a very much needed pause from my brand for a few months but am now coming back full force and fully organized and ready for it all!!! The risk paid off completely, I learned so much, I failed an almost insane amount of times, I grew from it, I stood up for myself, I apologized, laughed, cried, I got to work with some absolutely incredibly talented humans, I met so many people, and I got to have a brand at the end of it all. I got to find my true style within it, I got to create a name for myself and I got to be here now, for Canvas Rebel! I am eternally grateful and can’t wait to see the rebirth of my role in the fashion industry. It is only he beginning!

Maya, 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 Maya Magdalene Ventour of Ventour Fashion. My brand is an inspiration of Victorian Era textiles, 19th century Russian fashion, Japanese Rococo styles, and Historical African fashion color, fabrics, and silhouettes. Also with a mixture of fantasy and fictional characters, magical feeling, faery and creature-like beings! I make garments through this divine golden place of heart for everyone!! I have worked more familiarly with Feminine garments and clothing but am now working more with Masculine! I got into fashion at such a young age, around 9 or 10 when I became truly obsessed with making little dresses for my Monster High dolls! Ventour Fashion is a public archive of all of my past selves in the discovery of my own unique fashion outlook and the future of what I want it to become!

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

Honestly, staying consistent and not being afraid to branch out into a new space for new audience. I think it’s been so pivotal and important for me to go new places and either tell people about my business or wear what I make to different types of places. Even vending at the beginning at specific markets like Black Market Flea in LA!! It opens up so many doors to new clientele!

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

I believe my distinct look in my brand has helped me build a sort of reputation that leads back in some people’s minds as a “Bridgerton” or “Victorian” look. Being able to work with the amazing people I have in such diverse spaces where I feel like Ventour Fashion stuck out like a sore thumb really built my reputation as what my brand LOOKED like. Which I love and deeply appreciate!

Contact Info:

• Website: ventourfashion.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mayaventour
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mayaventour?lang=en
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ventourfashion instagram.com/ventourfashion

Image Credits
Ella Valensi Madeline Favereux & Team