We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mona Moumen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Mona, thanks for 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.

Five years ago, I took a leap of faith and started my own business, turning a lifelong passion for fashion into a reality. Growing up, I always had a creative streak, constantly designing clothes for myself. I would sketch outfits in notebooks, mix and match fabrics, and imagine how I could bring my ideas to life. Fashion wasn’t just something I liked—it was a way to express myself and dream big.

From a young age, I was fascinated by how style could communicate personality and evoke emotion. I followed trends, explored different styles, and immersed myself in the ever-evolving world of fashion. But even as I admired the work of designers, I always had the desire to create something uniquely my own.

Starting my business was the natural next step—both exhilarating and challenging. It wasn’t just about selling clothes; it was about bringing my vision to others, building something meaningful from scratch, and doing what I truly love every day. Fashion is my passion, and every piece I create reflects the dreams I nurtured as a child. Today, five years later, I can say that following my heart has been the most rewarding journey of all.

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

I started my business in the middle of the pandemic—a time when the world seemed to stand still. No one was going anywhere, everything was shut down, and uncertainty loomed everywhere. Despite all the chaos, I saw it as the perfect moment to bring my dream to life. It took courage, but I knew this was the time to finally launch my first collection of women’s clothing.

In a way, the quietness of the world worked in my favor. With everyone at home and major retailers like Neiman Marcus closing many locations, I felt no societal pressure or competition weighing me down. Instead of rushing or worrying about external expectations, I could focus entirely on refining my vision and creating pieces that truly reflected my passion.

The slower pace allowed me to dive deep into every detail of my designs, experiment with new ideas, and grow without distractions. That freedom gave me the space to improve, take risks, and do what I loved without hesitation. Launching my collection in such an unusual time wasn’t easy, but looking back, it was exactly what I needed to build something authentic.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Two years after launching my business, something incredible happened—one of my designs made it to the Miss Universe stage. It all started with a simple email exchange, the kind of outreach that you send off with hope but no guarantees. But the universe had bigger plans than I could have imagined. The contestant representing the USA went on to win Miss Universe, the exposure and opportunities that followed were beyond anything I had dreamed of.

That moment taught me a powerful lesson: that God’s plan is always greater than our own. We just have to trust the process, put in the effort, and stay open to possibilities. Success doesn’t always arrive when or how we expect, but when it does, it can exceed every expectation. That experience showed me that hard work and dedication are always rewarded in ways that can surprise us.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Two years after launching my business, something incredible happened—one of my designs made it to the Miss Universe stage. It all started with a simple email exchange, the kind of outreach that you send off with hope but no guarantees. But the universe had bigger plans than I could have imagined. The contestant representing the USA went on to win Miss Universe, the exposure and opportunities that followed were beyond anything I had dreamed of.

That moment taught me a powerful lesson: that God’s plan is always greater than our own. We just have to trust the process, put in the effort, and stay open to possibilities. Success doesn’t always arrive when or how we expect, but when it does, it can exceed every expectation. That experience showed me that hard work and dedication are always rewarded in ways that can surprise us.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.ramona.designs
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ramona.designs?igsh=YWEwNzhhM2x3OXZ5
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083024010152&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits

Miss universe 2022
Rbonney Gabriel