Meet Munisa Khuramova | Fashion Designer and Founder of Munelle De Vie

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

Hi Munisa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It all started when I was a little kid, and I always loved the fashion industry. I read fashion magazines that portrayed a confident, graceful woman with a powerful walk in beautiful garments. In the beginning, it was a hobby that brought me joy and inspired me to become who I am today. I created clothes for my Barbie dolls at the age of five and later attended a school for drawing and painting. With some items that required more knowledge, I would ask tailors or my family to help me create the clothing for myself and the dolls that were not available in stores.

Growing up, I was trying to find myself , who I was, what values mattered to me, and what I was ultimately passionate about. I tried many roles in the artistic world, such as modeling, painting, styling, shopping, assistant of production in a clothing brand, knitting, debates, fundraisers with fashion shows, model management, and many other roles to understand what I would do for the rest of my life. I enjoyed the thought of having the freedom to create what I wanted in life and what to wear and share it with people around me (Freedom is a big word for my life as I was born July 4th and it has been the theme of how can I free myself and others.).
I also enjoyed the business aspect of things. Coming from the Silk Route where all the businesses evolved – I grew up seeing many entrepreneurs in markets/bazaars, high-end boutiques and I found it attractive to be on the other side of the scene that does business and creates revenue.
In high school, I was a part of many fashion fundraising shows. It was always fun to offer modeling coaching for fashion shows to the communities I was tied in at the time. National Honor Society was my first community in high school that accepted the idea wholeheartedly and it was an amazing team to work with as we were great at sharing responsibilities and getting things done. I was responsible for models and styling. When senior year in high school approached, I decided, very firmly, that I needed to go to school and learn how to design garments. I studied at the Istituto di Moda Burgo where I learned my basic skills and my designs were showcased in Milan Fashion Week.
In 2015, I was hired to design evening dresses for a private boutique in Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey, and this was my first professional paycheck.
Later, my education continued in the United States with technical studies. I established my business at the age of 19 and built my first website. In 2016, my first collection was showcased at Kansas City Fashion Week through 2018, Omaha Fashion Week in 2020, as well as my designs were graced by socialites while residing and studying in Kansas City.
I had the pleasure of building teams for many photoshoot collaborations and got invited to be published in various magazines such as Vanity Fair UK, Moevir Paris, Elle Bulgaria, Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, Cap74024 New York, and others. I had the opportunity to showcase my garments in stores such as the Studio Store in Dallas, TX inside the Statler Hotel and Flying Solo SoHo, NYC in 2020.
Officially, I dedicated full time to my fashion brand “Munelle De Vie” when I was going through a divorce during the COVID pandemic in 2020 . At the time, I did not want to work for anybody else because I enjoyed being creative and being able to heal through it by sharing my gifts with people. I wanted everyone to have a garment made by hand because it was made with love and care. I invested my last savings into my business in the Dallas Farmers Market where I showcased my work at the market. I met new people, new clients and opportunities that led to my first workspace and showroom in the Industrious Farmers Market.  I became highly focused on building myself and my business to put all into my childhood dream.

What is the success behind your brand or what makes it successful?
My business success is that I always work and am always on my feet. Even if I leave to socialize with people, I still work and speak about my brand and what I get to create. My line of work consists of creating garments, measuring my clients/models, sketching, communicating via email, website building, social media management, photography, engagements, events, volunteers, interns, workers, suppliers, courier work, and everything from the financial decision to the creative direction, showcasing and selling at the Dallas Farmers Market. Staying in the heat or cold weather presented art in all the highest forms that were challenging and some health issues with vision and body pains started to occur with numbness. Not to mention that I would sometimes go without a meal while completing tasks for many things and I did not sleep at times either. However, with the business getting busier, I started to travel to New York to meet clients, potential businesses, creatives I connect with, and get to direct photoshoots. In Dallas, I perform all the hand patterns, cut the fabric, sew, fit my clients, do samples, corrections, and final garments for the clients that we present for, and watch their reactions to the design received. I also give back to the community by training interns, volunteers, and creatives sharing my knowledge of selling, design process, and mentoring. I give back by speaking in front of the students at Design colleges as well as interviews I share with magazines, speaking at events for women empowerment, and sharing my expertise in my work. In the fashion brand, there are 50+ roles that should be fulfilled to create a successful brand. Currently, all of those roles are fulfilled mainly by me, a single person that strives to create a massive structure and business. My success lies in the fact that I am the engine of the organization that is fast, creative, logical, and entrepreneurial, where I have to make decisions and there is no time to wait because the effect happens quickly and you are onto the next project. All of the funds always go back to business and I hope that more people get to continue to support Munelle De Vie in becoming more successful.
All of the tasks performed above in business are what makes it successful because I am the heart of the brand.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I enjoy Bishop Arts as this is where I started my journey in Dallas, TX. My current favorite spot is Written By The Season. I enjoy going to Black Swan Yoga for a powerful flow and then try the “black bean bowl” from Tribal Caffe and a beat juice.

Dallas Farmers Market area where is the home for me and my brand and my pet Leo. We enjoy the Indian cuisine, and seafood, and support all the entrepreneurs under The Shed at the Farmers Market every weekend such as Vegan Vibrations and ourselves, Munelle De Vie.

I enjoy my Rigatoni Pasta at the Monarch Restaurant downtown paired with their delicious Crudo.

As well as visiting Highland Park for luxury shopping and inspiration.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother, Nodira Davlyatova for believing in my dreams and investing in my talent from a young age such as art schools, dancing, modeling, sewing instructor, language instructors, fashion schools and just being a friend and most believer.

My sisters, Gulnoz Khuramova and Nigora Khuramova, for believing in me and helping along the way with designs, photoshoots, social media, marketing, and family support and love.

All the people that have been supporting my brand from the ground up purchasing, buying, wishing well, shooting, modeling, producing, inviting to speak, hearing my story, believing, watching, liking, etc.

The life that has given me an opportunity to embrace my personality and change the world to become a better place in our communities.

Website: www.munelledevie.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/munelledevie/

Twitter: Munelledevie

Facebook: Munelledevie

Yelp: Munelledevie

Youtube: Munelledevie

Image Credits
Evens Léandre – UNIK Studio Dallas, TX Alan Shindelverse – New York, NY Munelle De Vie Pop Up Showroom 2021 Kansas City Fashion Week Media The Bachelor Season Season 26, Sierra Jackson TV Series