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I Am Iman, Fashion Legend

Written by: Uduak Oduok

Article Overview: Supermodel IMAN needs no introduction. There's simply been so much written about her background, model career and marriage to Rock star/Musician David Bowie it would be repeating it heare would be redundant.IMAN has managed to brand her image and name as a fashion icon/legend. It is indeed why we chose to make her our feature during this month of the prestigious New York Fashion Week and to aptly title her feature as “I am Iman, Fashion Legend.” We caught up with the extremely busy Supermodel, albeit briefly, while she was in Canada shooting Project Runway Canada, a show she hosts, to gain a little more insight into her world, especially the Africa side of things.

I Am Iman, Fashion Legend

IMAN'S BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY

LADYBRILLE.com: You've written a successful book, run a successful cosmetic company and recently launched IMAN Global Chic on HSN. What are the three business philosophies you live by that have helped you achieve success? IMAN: 1) Believe in yourself. 2) Don't follow trends but follow your heart; and 3) give back to your community and the world at large.

LADYBRILLE.com: When people describe your legacy, what is the one word you want them to affiliate with your name when they describe you? IMAN: Classic- it is very important to always stay true to yourself and [the fact that I] created the perfect products IMAN Cosmetics for women with skin of color.

LADYBRILLE.com: I have been enjoying watching you on HSN. I love your Global Chic line. Tell our audience a bit more about your new line? IMAN: I designed Global Chic because I believe that the “extras” make an outfit: a cocktail ring, bangle, or bold necklace can completely transform a look. Global Chic is influenced by my travels and sentimental pieces from my husband, David Bowie. Whether you are a business woman, model, mom, or student, Global Chic is affordable and offers chic handbags, jewelry, and fashion accessories for everyday events!

IMAN THE AFRICAN

LADYBRILLE.com: You are the global ambassador for Keep a Child Alive, I am aware you spearheaded the "I am African" Campaign. What does it mean when you say to the world, "I am African?" IMAN: The whole human race is from Africa. . . [It means for me] I am proud to be one.

LADYBRILLE.com: I love your activism, especially your strong stance on the need for diversity in the modeling industry. What's your take on Vogue Italy's July All Black issue? IMAN: I think that Italian Vogue’s All Black issue is very powerful and important to the fashion industry and landscape at the moment. It was an honor to be included with so many great friends and talented professionals: Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Liya Kedebe. I was actually the first to gather African-American models for a photo-shoot with Annie Leibovitz several years ago. It was such a special time to have models from Beverly Johnson to new, fresh faces all together.

LADYBRILLE.com: Family is a big part of the African tradition. What African traditional values did your family instill in you as a child growing up in Somalia and how have they served you as a business woman? IMAN: Work hard and you are as good as your brothers.

IMAN'S VIEW ON AFRICA'S FASHION INDUSTRY

LADYBRILLE.com: What's your take on Africa's fashion industry and what direction would you like to see the industry take? IMAN: I think it is great since it is based mostly on heritage. . . world recognition will be great.

LADYBRILLE.com: You are considered a style icon the world over. What is the best advice when it comes to finding your style sense? IMAN: In a world full of trends, remain a classic.

LADYBRILLE.com: One of the biggest needs for women in Africa, fashion wise, is cosmetics. African women have a challenge getting quality cosmetics and skincare products. I know your cosmetic line, Iman Cosmetics, is in South Africa. Do you plan to distribute to the rest of Africa? IMAN: It is difficult because of price points. The tariffs of [exporting] into most African countries are very high so it escalates the price on the product which then makes [it unaffordable] to a lot of people. . .we are constantly trying to figure out around this.

LADYBRILLE.com: Not to sound patronizing but calling it what it is, you are sexy, fabulous, brilliant, chic and an ageless beauty. How do you stay so relevant and beautiful? IMAN: By taking care of myself, like most Africans, and not obsessing with age!

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Article Tags: african campaign, business philosophies, business philosophy, business woman, cosmetic company, everyday events, fashion accessories, fashion industry, handbags jewelry, hsn, iman, italian vogue, liya, model mom, naomi campbell, perfect products, talented professionals, tyra banks, vogue italy, woman model



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Re: Fashion - Nana, At you choice you may choose to research the fashion industry a bit more. There is obviously a Business side to it as well as a creative side to it. Find out all the types of roles that exist in the industry. Some that come to mind merchandiser, Window dresser, floor plan organizer (someone needs to determine the layout of a retail store to best sell the goods), fashion consultant (Yorkdale mall has fashion consultants that take you around and tell you what looks great on you - you also get a cut from the sales). This is what I've observed from the business side, you may know more. All these roles I've written about will help you grow as a business person and make the contacts in the industry...possible stepping stones. But further more you'll also notice that you need to develop some business acumen possibly tailored to the fashion industry. When I was at Ryerson I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur someday too. I knew I needed some basic business courses to get a foundation to build from. I was in a Tech/Business Major (I'm sure Fashion has something similar - Fashion/Business Major) and then started to create my own minor. Here are some of the courses I took: Marketing, Law, Entrepreneurial, Management, consulting.. and a few more . Also, I'm sure that within the Fashion Major there are also courses you have to take where you can use your creative side and create designs. Typically within a Major there are focuses you can choose - ask the program coordinator. Your next step is to do some research. 1. Visit Commercial retail outlets like H&M, Banana Republic, or jacob. Tell the Manager your doing some research for University and would like to know what types of Corporate roles exist aside from the roles on the retail floor (like sales associates). If she asks you to elaborate then you can use some of the roles I mentioned above. 2. With this information in hand you can visit the Ryerson Fashion department and inquire with the Program Coordinator on what focus within the Fashion Degree would help you the most. In my program there were 5 different focuses within the Tech/Business program. Just a quick aside. A good friend of mine too has a dream of fashion. he want to create a niche fashion line tailored to skinny men (I can't mention the style). He's in Business school but not in the Fashion program... He's in International Business but all his Minor courses are tailored to running a successful business ... similar to the ones I mentioned above for myself. I have no doubt in my mind he'll make it 'cos his vision is that strong.
Profile: Essie Weingarten, creator of Essie Cosmetics - Pop culture has its share of dynamic duos: Batman & Robin, Dolce & Gabbana, Brad & Angelina, and, as devotees of Essie Cosmetics' nail polish know, "Baby's Breath" & "Ballet Slippers." And what's Essie Weingarten, creator of Essie Cosmetics, wearing right now? Why it's "Mademoiselle" paired with one coat of "Pink Glove Service,"of course! It's this playful take on fashionable colors and color combos, coupled with Essie's chip-resistant formula, that has converted beauty professionals and customers into adoring fans and secured Essie Cosmetics' position in the $1 billion nail industry. As a little girl in Queens, NY, Essie was undoubtedly the youngest customer at local nail salons. A manicure was a reward her parents indulged her with on special occasions, and she relished the experience. She did, however, eventually grow bored with the limited selection of nail polish colors, and imagined that other women felt the same way. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology, she worked for Geraldine Stutz, the visionary behind Henri Bendel; Essie admired Geraldine's business acumen and was determined to learn from her mentor. Following a few more years in the fashion industry, Essie decided to address the nail polish niche that still remained untapped. In 1981, Essie launched her business in Queens by introducing 12 new polish shades that have since become classics in the nail industry. Twenty-six years later, she is still on top of her game and has transformed Essie Cosmetics into a $150 million empire. what we learned from essie: You have to find what works for you. You cannot overextend yourself. It's very important that you know exactly what you can handle before you get into it. making moves "I wanted more. My stint in the fashion world was done. It was time for me to move on and do something on my own. I knew I loved nail polish and I knew that there were no groundbreaking nail products out there that promised long-lasting polish, so I decided to run with it. I had identified a niche product and market and was excited to make the move." vegas, baby! "I said, 'Where am I going to get the best bang for my buck?' Las Vegas was the quintessential test market. There were cocktail waitresses, dealers, dancers, cashiers. Twenty-six years ago, there were not that many women working together in one geographically concentrated area. But Las Vegas was the exception. I went to all the hotels and casinos that had beauty salons and I left samples. By the time I got home, which was less than a week later, I already had orders. The calls kept coming in. I got calls from women in Florida, New York, California, and Illinois who were in Las Vegas on holiday and tried my product there. They raved that it was still on their nails a week later. I thought, 'My god ... I have a business!'" man's world "Back when I started, there weren't as many women in the workplace. Customers and clients would call up and ask to speak with Mr. Weingarten. I had to deal with chemists, box manufactures, brush manufactures, bottle manufactures. It really was a man's world. I quickly learned how to convert challenges into opportunities. I often compared myself to a bumper car: I hit a wall, turned around, and kept going. I met each roadblock with the following question: "How can I do it better, different, and put a spin on it?" That mindset helped me through it all. If you start to get negative or down on yourself, then you're done faster than you started. You have to keep yourself very positive and very focused." skin deep "Before you can expect anyone to believe in you, you must believe in yourself. It's that simple and that important. If you feel good and secure, you shine. You don't have to be the most beautiful woman in the world to look and feel great. If you put yourself together and make a statement, people respect you. And there is no better or cheaper way to change or spice up your look than with nail polish. I always say we are the cheapest addiction around!" the sweetest thing "Do you have any idea how many doors were slammed in my face? I lost count. Never, ever get frustrated. Perhaps they're not interested in your product or service now, but they will be. They just don't know it yet. When they come back, and they do, you are in the driver's seat. You set your terms. They want and need something only you can give them." networking "Networking to me is the most important business practice. I never burn a bridge. I still network with people I worked with in my first job at Bendel's. Women are an unbelievable resource for networking. They enjoy helping one another. You must have good follow-through, contacts, and networking skills to survive in business." fresh and fun "Every 90 days we come up with six new colors. Every color is very fashion-driven, because we rely on the current trends in fashion and design to inform us of what people will want to wear. If you change your nail polish, you feel like you're always wearing something new. We keep our customers guessing and wanting more. We don't allow them to get bored. Of course there are the classics that everyone goes back to, but change is good. It makes the product hip and makes our customers feel like trendsetters." essie moments "A lot of customers relate our colors to milestones in their lives. I can't tell you how often I've heard "Cotton Candy" and "prom" in the same sentence. I recently overheard girlfriends saying that "Bordeaux" is great for a first date. When I meet people and hear what certain colors stand for in their lives, it makes me feel so good. I love that I can make women feel great and I absolutely love hearing about how the nail colors speak to such personal moments in their lives." essie's tips for longer-lasting nails 1. Don't use your nails as tools. 2. A smoothing hand cream is a must. Essie has several kinds that match specific moods. If you're on vacation, try coconut pineapple. If you're feeling Zen, try the fragrance-free aloe. 3. You must use a base coat. Then follow it with two coats of color. After three days, apply "Good to Go!," a fast-drying topcoat. It keeps the polish looking wet and new and it's also protective for the nails. parting thoughts -"My greatest strength in business is ... I never give up." -"I am happiest when ... the ultimate spa or salon that I've always dreamed of having as a customer calls and becomes a new customer." -"Success to me means ... when you get all the wonderful press and endorsements without paying for it. And when I make people feel fabulous." -"I will retire when ... it's no longer fun. But it's still so much fun, so I don't see when I'll retire." -"I will always think of myself as ... fun-loving." -"I care most about ... making people feel good." -"I care least about ... money." -"The key to being a great boss is ... I don't ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn't do myself." -"Every entrepreneur should ... be passionate." This Featured Lady was profiled by Alexandra Salas, a Buenos Aires-based writer.


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