Meet Chantal Clarke | Owner & Content Creator of Chantii Kouture

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chantal Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chantal, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started by business at a very uncertain time at the start of a ragging pandemic in May 2020 in Jamaica. I knew it was going to be challenging because people naturally were cutting cost but I wanted to put forward a business worth making the extra effort to purchase from regardless. So i decided to start a Sleep & Lounge wear brand called Chantii Kouture. I thought it was important to move with the times and pivot quickly to make a name for myself as well as make sleep & lounge wear fun an exciting incorporating bright vibrant colours reminiscent of my beautiful island Jamaica. And just recently we Launched Chantii Kouture Men YEAAHH!!!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always been a creative at heart and it has always taken its own journey in and around the Fashion Industry, but I have always stayed true to that and evolve with it. I started out selling costume jewelry, then my own t-shirt line, had an online boutique selling cocktail apparel and now my very own clothing brand designing Sleep, Lounge and Resort wear made in Jamaica. So I just continued to try different things until I found what I truly loved which is what I am doing now. It has been an amazing Roller coaster is what I like to call it because It has been so much ups and down and for sure challanges to which I can say the biggest challenge is balance. This is because its a one man show and I wear many hats operating this business additionally I am in my final year completing my marketing degree and a full time job as an accounting clerk so its ALOT!. But It exciting at the same time so many amazing bonds formed, amazing customers both locally and internationally being able to partake in amazing interview oppourtuinites such as this one. It has been truly a blessing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well Im Jamaican born and raised and the island itself is a fascinating one filled with adventure. But what you might not see alot of is the Parish of St.Elizabeth which is were I am from which is truly a treasure on the south coast of the island. My parish is also called the bread basket parish of Jamaica which means my parish is primary known for farming fruits and vegetables all year round like cucumber, watermelon, thyme, tomatoes to name a few. So with most if not all local dishes which is primarily seafood fresh vegetables is always served with it. As for places to visit there are many firstly The Appleton Estate Rum Tour. Appleton Rum is Jamaica’s national spirit, produced only in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. You can Spend the morning here on there two-hour tour learning about how Appleton is manufactured. It’s really interactive, and you’ll be able to taste sugar cane, press your own sugar cane juice, and sample the molasses used to manufacture the rum while learning about the process. The tour concludes with a sampling of three different Appleton rums, all of which are large pours. The next recommendation is the Callaloo Butik Store in Treasure Beach St. Elizabeth which is a popular tourist boutique their which offers locally made items such as clothing, cushions, art work and tons of other locally made items. I must mention Chantii Kouture items are now available in Callaloo for sale so there amazing store is a must visit and and amazing opportunity for my brand.  The next recommended place to visit is The Black River Safari ( which is attended the Black River High School just five minutes away). Yes we have crocs in Jamaica and they mainly live in Black River. You can see them on the J. Charles Swabys Black River Safari boat tour. The tour lasts one hour which many crocs to see and feed. The guides are excellent giving the history also of Black River which was the first place is Jamaica to get electricity, even before most of the US. Additionally I know most tourist are widely familiar with the famous Dunn’s River Falls but in St.Elizabeth there is YS Falls There are two swimming pools there, one heated and one with natural spring water. You can climb up the waterfall, walk across it, swing into it or even zip-line across it. I have been there personally many times and it is alot of fun.am so excited for this venture. The next recommended place to visit is The Black River Safari ( which is attended the Black River High School just five minutes away). Yes we have crocs in Jamaica and they mainly live in Black River. You can see them on the J. Charles Swabys Black River Safari boat tour. The tour lasts one hour which many crocs to see and feed. The guides are excellent giving the history also of Black River which was the first place is Jamaica to get electricity, even before most of the US. Additionally I know most tourist are widely familiar with the famous Dunn’s River Falls but in St.Elizabeth there is YS Falls There are two swimming pools there, one heated and one with natural spring water. You can climb up the waterfall, walk across it, swing into it or even zip-line across it. I have been there personally many times and it is alot of fun.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would definitely say my Family, Friends seamstress and customers deserve all the praise I certainly could not have gotten this far without them. They tirelessly push me to excel and always encourage me to never give up even with things are challenging. When I launched my Cousins (Sandra & Shanice) were the two first international purchases and that meant a lot to me. Also my cousin Sashana helps me with the accounting side of things and that has helped me to grow and stay as accountable as possible even when I get discouraged. She is a huge part of this journey and I’m so happy she is in my life.
My seamstress Miss Ledia no matter the design she always works with my ideas and that helps to boost my design skills. I have learnt so much from her as she is like a mentor to me teaching me about different fabrics, finishes etc. Its a constant learning process for me but I am excited and motivated by it.
My friends more specifically Crystal, Faith-Ann, Brandian and Mishka, have been there from day one they were all models in my first shoot and since then have modeled for me and assisted me in social media marketing. That is a huge deal to me because I could not have done this without there support as well as my other friends who pitched in an helped me along the way I appreciate all of you!
My Customers! OMG My amazing customers. even when their are delays to launch new items they wait patiently and still support me. I have so much local and international repeat customers and that means the world to me that they decided to join me on this journey and rock with me no matter what.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/chantiikouture?utm_medium=copy_link

Twitter: Check out Chantii Kouture (@ChantiiKouture): https://twitter.com/ChantiiKouture?t=yYuZwJmxDRdROf3IQ8xcrQ&s=08