Today we’d like to introduce you to Idara Barney.
Hi Idara, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My sister and I started our clothing business, “Bani”, last summer. But before we had our own brand, I had my own business selling items that I’d created using my sewing machine. Throughout the summer of 2020, I filled my time with creative hobbies such as sewing, I began to sell bucket hats, scrunchies, and patchwork pants. I used the money from that to purchase an embroidery machine, from there my sister and I began to create cute sweatshirts and hoodies that we sold on Depop. Our profits, and an investment from our parents, allowed us to begin the process of creating our own brand and since then we’ve been able to drop two collections solely designed by us!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road; we’ve dealt with several disappointments and letdowns along the way. We’ve had to learn the hard way that marketing and consistency plays a huge role in the success of a business, especially an online business. We’ve had to educate ourselves and study marketing techniques that allow us to reach our target audience. That means knowing our audience, our aesthetics, and doubling down on the message behind our brand. Dealing with vendors can also be a demanding task, as it requires a lot of attention and communication however, nothing can prepare you for factory mess-ups or an unexpected rise in the cost of your products. Throughout this past year, we’ve dealt with vendors producing our items with bad material, misspelled words, and even using the wrong color. And there were plenty of times where it felt hopeless, and we began to feel as though our vision would never come to life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Bani is an up-and-coming online streetwear brand for teens and young adults, est. in 2021. Behind the clothing brand are two sisters, Idara (aged 19) and Barnesa (aged 17), and we’re currently located in north/central Florida. I believe what sets us apart from other streetwear brands is that we include handmade items in our catalog and we’ve also invested in sneakers (coming out this August) which is something not a lot of other small clothing businesses do. Something that also sets us apart, and something that I’m most proud of, is our diverse range of clothing, we currently have two collections up on the site right now that are nothing alike. We did this on purpose because one of our main goals when creating this brand was to have a little something for everybody, so we plan to make each collection a different aesthetic/color/style.
What do you think about happiness?
Creative freedom and good company tend to make us happy. We love being able to create new things and enjoy sharing them with others, there’s also a sort of satisfaction in making something and succeeding. As for good company, I think when you’re around the right people there’s never a dull moment and those are the moments, we enjoy the most. It can be with friends and family, or even people we’ve never met before with good vibes.
Pricing:
- Juvenile Jackets are $55
- Nude Antics Jackets $55
- Juvi Beanies $12.99
- Nude Antics Trucker Hats 14.99
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.banitheofficial.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/banitheofficial/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz-nE07COGTwdcDDd5QxAvQ
