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

Hi Naseim, can you share the most important lesson you’ve learned over the course of your career?
The most important lesson my business has taught me is that you’ll never truly know until you try, and you won’t learn until you fail. When laying the foundation of a company you often hear the importance of a complete business plan, market research, and marketing strategies. While all of these are important, from time to time they are overwhelming and may leave you stagnant. Many people get so caught up in perfecting these decks, market analysis, SWOTs, etc., that they never actually start. The reality in life–not just in business–is that you have to be willing to take risks, experiment, and adapt. Trying different approaches allows you to see success and failure. When you fail–which is inevitable for all of us at some point–you will have gained invaluable insights with experiences that no business plan can teach you. Every setback is a stepping stone that may help you move forward with greater knowledge and confidence.

What should our readers know about your business?
Project Marque is an apparel development company that manages apparel brands bringing intangible thoughts to tangible assets. Our key separators from the industry is our flexible collaborative process. Many companies within the industry have strict processes that force clients to submit fully developed concepts, while we are open to working closely with our clients to refine and sharpen their ideas, even if they are not fully polished. We know that creativity and business management do not always go hand-in-hand, and we bridge that gap, acting as a strategic partner and handling backend operations that provide support for the brand to thrive.

Our journey has not been an easy one–I always like to tell people we have climbed to the bottom of the mountain. We have faced countless challenges, but have hit them head-on, building effective strategies and operational procedures that have allowed us to blossom. One of the most important lessons learned is not to fear failure but to embrace and learn from it. I entered this industry after a failed attempt at launching my clothing brand. That experience was not easy to deal with, but I now look at the glass half full, gaining invaluable insights and knowledge that I could not have gained otherwise. It is that experience that drives Project Marque to help others who were once in a position similar to mine–to develop amazing pieces of apparel and build infrastructures that are meant to last.

What I am most proud of is our ability to create products that truly resonate with the audiences of brands we work with. Project Marque is more than just an apparel development company but is a platform designed to empower creative entrepreneurs, handing them the tools and support they need to succeed in an ever-evolving industry. Our mission is to give a helping hand to brands and not only create amazing apparel but also build a foundation for a legacy that will endure.

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?
If one of my good friends were to visit LA for a few weeks, I would try to give them the best experience this city has to offer by splitting their stay between the Westside and Eastside. LA is a big place and it is not easy to get through, especially with the traffic in this city, so by dividing their stay, hopefully it will limit the traffic and give them an experience they can appreciate.

A day on the Westside would start at Gjusta in Venice with a spread of baked goods and coffee. After we finished we would go check out the shops and galleries at Abbot Kinney. Later, we’d head over to Brentwood for a hike. After a bit of downtime and depending on where they wanted to eat, we could do Cobis in Santa Monica for Southeast Asian Cuisine or Cafe Brasil for a laid-back Brazilian meal.

A day on the Eastside, we’d swing by the Silverlake flea market, followed by a visit to No Maintenance. For lunch, I would take them to Sushi Gen in Little Tokyo to show them some of the city’s sushi scene. Then we would go to The Broad Museum to see some contemporary art, and walk around the Arts District after. For dinner we would go to Spina in Atwater village. Afterwards, we would then go walk up and down Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, heading into different spots to dance, enjoy live music, and soak in the local energy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Family has been the most significant source of support and the fact of the matter is that I would not be where I am today without them. On its own, starting a business is mentally exhausting. Now, adding life on top of that leaves me speechless as I try to describe the severity of my mental exhaustion. I have been fortunate to have my family by my side through this journey. Whether it be my mother, father, brother, or sister, I never hesitate to reach out when I need someone to talk to. No matter the problem or whether or not they can solve it, just knowing someone is behind me to catch me in case I fall makes an instrumental difference–which is something that not everyone has. I am deeply grateful to have a loving family behind me to encourage me and give me unconditional support throughout my journey.

Website: https://projectmarque.com

Instagram: Project Marque

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naseim-jabr-392a6b261/

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