We were lucky to catch up with Shayla H recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shayla , thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

My story of fashion sparked in my younger years. I realized early I was a different kind of child; I was a child who adored visiting clothing boutiques instead of candy shops and toy stores. My family would always tease me about how when I go in a shoe department I would pretend to be an employee. Throughout high school, I would always fully express myself through my wardrobe and would receive plenty of compliments. I even won “Best Dressed” in high school. Friends and family would gravitate toward me when it came to helping them with their outfits and revealing their signature image. My passion for fashion is what impacted me to execute my entrepreneurship through V Valora Shop. I created the brand idea in honor of my great-grandmother. She was of Bahamian descent and was my role model who adored fashion, fine arts, and spirituality. The letter ‘V’ represents my grandmother’s name, Virginia, and “Valora” means “brave” in Latin representing my leap of faith when I decided to fully submerge myself into this business and brand. The best part and memories about being from her legacy is that after she passed away, I started my business in her home. I laugh now because I understand how my life path has been playing out. I realize it was her spirit leading me through all that has happened thus far. I wholeheartedly believe that my great-grandmother was the rock of my family whose strengths and bravery continues to prevail over them. I honor my great-grandmother through my business because fashion and properly dressing was a big part expressed within our Bahamian culture.

My goal in establishing this company is to help empower women to experience an ultimate style revolution by embracing “her” style language to bring out fashion, confidence, and creativity. My target market consists of professional women such as lawyers, entrepreneurs, content creators, public speakers, and authors. The common denominator between my target consumers is that they all present in front of large audiences. My skills as an experienced stylist help reduce time for them by searching for their proper attire and creating outfits that can be easily optimized.

Assisting our clients with their wardrobes for their memorable events and helping clients uncover their signature style to reveal their true confidence is the catalyst of understanding why we must continue forward at an upward rate.

Shayla , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Shayla H. I am a wardrobe stylist and consultant. I am the business owner of wardrobe styling and consultant company V Valora Shop. Before I was a stylist and a business owner, I graduated from University of Illinois with a Bachelor’s of Science in Molecular Cellular Biology and obtained my Master’s of Science in Law from Northwestern’s School of Law. Shortly after graduating, I went into the healthcare field which played a major role in me entering the fashion industry.

I got into the fashion industry after having frustration with working in the healthcare industry. At the time, I was making $11.00 an hour with two prominent degrees. I wanted to take a talent of mine and create a sense of ownership for myself. I started my business idea on the southside of Chicago while living in my great grandmother’s home .

Founded in 2018, V Valora Shop offers many services including virtual styling, closet audits, closet revamps, and mobile styling for on-set productions. V Valora Shop sets itself apart from other stylists in several ways: incorporating technology, style methodology, and personalized styling based on each client’s unique style. By leveraging technology, we are able to enhance the styling experience for our clients. Whether using virtual styling tools, AI-powered fashion recommendations, or online platforms for consultations and communication, technology streamlines and enhances our styling process.

Having a style methodology in place showcases our professionalism and expertise. It demonstrates that we have a structured approach to understanding our clients’ preferences, body types, and personal style. This methodology helps me tailor styling recommendations and advice to each individual client, ensuring that they feel confident and comfortable in their outfits.

Emphasizing personalized styling is another key aspect that sets us apart. Instead of conforming to the masses or pushing clients to adopt trends that may not align with their personal style, we prioritize helping clients embrace looks that represent them authentically. This approach allows our clients to express their individuality and feel true to themselves, promoting self-confidence and empowerment through fashion.

By offering a unique blend of technology, style methodology, and personalized styling, we are providing a differentiated and customized experience for clients. This approach is likely to resonate with individuals seeking a stylist who values their uniqueness and aims to enhance their personal style.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey with V Valora Shop is truly inspiring! Starting with just an idea, name, and logo, I have come a long way through trial, error, and consistency. It’s commendable that I was willing to learn from previous experiences and adapt along the way.

Recognizing the need to understand marketing and the psychology of sales, I took the initiative to teach myself aspects of social media marketing. This was a crucial step in establishing my presence and attracting clients. As I honed my skills in marketing and selling myself as a stylist, I gained more clarity about my styling company and the target audience I wanted to serve.

Although I initially pitched myself to everyday women and offered free style consultations, I discovered that this particular market loved fashion but didn’t prioritize hiring a stylist. However, through my social media presence and showcasing my work by styling myself and models for photoshoots, I was able to build a portfolio and establish myself as a skilled stylist. This led to opportunities in photoshoots, media production, and other styling gigs.

My story highlights my resilience, determination, and adaptability as a business owner and stylist. It’s a testament to the power of self-learning, consistent effort, and leveraging my own skills and experiences to create opportunities for myself as well as my team.

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

I funded my business out of pocket for the first four years, investing my own money to kickstart V Valora Shop. By hosting events like paint and sip, prom giveaways, and organizing photoshoots, I took proactive steps to build brand awareness and establish a presence within my community.

However, recognizing the need for consistent profitability, I made a strategic decision to obtain a loan. This allowed me to invest in creating an online presence through social media and develop an e-commerce store and website. This move is essential in today’s digital age, as an online platform I can significantly expand my reach and enable customers to discover and purchase our products or services more conveniently.

Investing in our online presence helped me build a broader customer base and increase sales opportunities.

By combining the creative event initiatives with a strong online presence, I have taken significant steps towards establishing V Valora Shop as a recognizable brand and expanding our future business potential.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.vvalorashopllc.com
• Instagram: vvalorashop
• Facebook: vvalorashop

Image Credits
Photographer Refinedyoustudios Wardrobe Stylist and Owner of V Valora Shop Shayla H.