Meet Imani Lia: Clothing/Accessory Designer & Style Maven

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

Hi Imani, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was to make people feel their best by looking their best. I care about how people feel and I know their are people who love my style and point of view but only want it for themselves in small doses; it’s like helping a person be their best self with a tiny bit of me thrown in.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The thing about art is that it is ALWAYS personal. There are a million (not literally) unfinished pieces in my studio and they are there because they were designed as fillers. As what will sell fast and kind of be me. Those pieces hardly sell or even get finished.

I have been a creative my whole life as young as three I was begging to choose my clothes and mix and match “wacky” colors and prints. I am thankful my mother embraced my shenanigans. Because of my creative nature as a child at about 10 I knew I wanted to design clothes which was a gift and a curse. To know all you want to be so young in some ways maybe sniffles you because you don’t acknowledge other things you could be or that could help you. Also because what I do is an art form and is so close to my heart it has gone through many iterations and is on it’s umpteenth iteration right now. My brand and art is a labor of love though so I am going to make it work and it will all work out.

Along the way I have learned that things grow and change and that’s okay. Also, recently I realized that as multifaceted as we are as a people is as multifaceted as a brand can be. No one person fits in a box but brands and companies always want to do so. I am actively working on making my brand as multi faceted as I am.

ImaniLia Fashions, LLC is a black woman owed brand that is about luxury, glamour, comfort, quality and you being your best self from the inside out!! I am ALWAYS here to cheer my clients on.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m from Harlem; we are a loud and proud bunch (but what New Yorkers aren’t right? Lol) Well if we weren’t in a pandemic I’d take them around Harlem. My studio is in central Harlem near the Apollo and many other milestones so the 1st thing they’d see are the highlights of Harlem. I love to eat and their are so many great neighborhood restaurants we could go anywhere: Amy Ruth’s, Melba’s, Corner Social, Harlem Tavern, Lido, Cantina, Dinosaur Bar be Que… I could go on. Tourist always love to visit 42nd street (no true NYer does but I’d take them. I LOVE BROADWAY!! I dabble in costume design and a musical and a good costume always excite me. If they are into it we’d catch a show.

There’s so much in NY their are museums like MOMA, The MET, Brooklyn Museum. Art installations. I don’t have a best friend so no one person comes to mind but it’s New York City we can go anywhere and catch fun!! In the spring summer you can easily walk up on a block party or something of the sort. The city and it’s people are ALWAYS an inspiration.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Whew! There’s constantly someone or a group of somebodies. 1st I’d say my immediate family and dearest friends, then my girl Angela Hadl of BB Bombs who recommended me for this; she is always showing love, throwing gems, and being the example because she is making it work with a husband and 4 kids. I was a part of various business chorts because you have to stay on your toes and in 2019 I graduated from The Lillian Project which was run by Harlem Business Alliance and Gina Ramcharen. I keep in touch with most of the women who are all business owners and mothers. It is empowering. I also have a few friends in media that always put me on when they can. It 110% takes a village and it’s still far from perfect but I am thankful.

Website: www.ImaniLia.com

Instagram: @ImaniLiaFashions

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/imani-whyte-anigboro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ImaniLiaFashions