Meet Ari’el Chenise | CEO & Fashion Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ari’el Chenise and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ari’el, what matters most to you?
1.) Determination – Having the power to control whom you will become in this company 2.) Perseverance-What drives us to success and also helps us to overcome challenges
3.) Execution- Following through with action that will lead us to
4.) Accountability- Willingness to own up to errors made and grow from them
5.) Trust- Trusting the process and each other to do our share of the work

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2017 I had just went through a break up and wanted to focus on growing. I already had aspirations to be my own boss but was to0 afraid to actually start something. However, that year I was determined to be a greater version of myself. I used the money in my bank account and purchased my LLC but I had no idea about running a company or even what I wanted it to look like. After researching and sketching my first line I had an idea now but had no revenue to back that idea. It funny how the thing you desire most often is the hardest to touch in the beginning. Anyways I tired to get business loans was told no so many times, I even was trying to get regular loans but that didn’t work out so I kinda just put it aside.
In 2018 I had a t-shirt line idea so but still no revenue, then I remembered that I was still in school. So I used the school loan money to actually launch a small t-shirt line. I had a few orders but the amount of money I needed to keep the website up, pay for the P.o box and advertising was more than the companies revenue. So I had to close down shop. Honestly I was devastated , I thought I had failed, I wondered how was I going to be successful if I couldn’t even afford to keep the company going.
So after years of more research and me really desiring to start my own line, I started looking into wholesaling in mid 2020. I figured that if I could wholesale at a low price and sell at a retail price then I could take those funds and turn it into a resource that I could not only pour back into the company but use it to fund my clothing line as well. So in early 2021 I used my own funds and started purchasing samples. The products that I liked I bought in small bulk and then I went from having 2 products to now having over 36 products and growing. I did well this relaunch and have been able to sustain my site, my P.o Box, and advertising cost.
I learned that sometimes you have to fail, sometimes you have to be told no because that is just going to push you harder. Sometimes you have to try again, not everyone is going to make it their first try. Even now I am still learning how to do things better because I just do not want to be another clothing line. I want to be the reason someone is looking in the mirror and smiling at themselves, thinking I look good. I want to inspire the world to be the best version of themselves and look nice while doing so.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I where to go somewhere it would have to be a downtown Dallas restaurant/ bar in the summer time. Because during the winter its stella rose and a movie at home

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The first person I would love to recognize is my mother she always encouraged me to follow my dreams and taught me that I should never give up on myself. The second person I would love to recognize is my best friend, she is always my first customers and her support and belief in me, truly encourages my heart.
Last but not least I would love to recognize my husband, he has been a part of every business decision, when I was up late working on things he was right there. He tells me to just do it and see what happens. He reminds me that in life we have to be patient but eventually we will reap the reward.
They never shy to tell me how talented I am and when I do not believe in myself they believe in me. I truly do not know what I would do with out them in my lives. I love them more than words can express and need them more than we need oxygen.
Thanks for always being there

Website: www.leiralogy.com

Other: https://linktr.ee/ArielChenise