so i think i am going to dismantle my 2nd label, shanae. well…dismantle may not be the right word…

i think i am just gonna put shanae back into naKIMuli. had a talk with kelly about this months ago and she suggested that i should just combine them. and ouigi from the brooklyn circus suggested that i just focus on 1 brand. and after months of sitting on it, i think it is time.

i actually started shanae out of fear. fear that people wouldn’t accept naKIMuli, with its bold colors and loud prints. so i took some pieces from naKIMuli (some items that were done in solid colors) + created shanae, my safe brand; the brand that i thought, if naKIMuli wouldn’t sell, then i wll always have shanae, the quiet, “bland” line. except that shanae is not that bland. yes, it was kinda just muted, with its all solid colors. but its silhouettes are still very unique and avant garde, still very naKIMuli. 

and the funny thing is that last year, when i debuted shanae, it called attention to naKIMuli and the sales and demand for naKIMuli increased dramatically. so i think it is time to let go of the fear and move on. and up. to show that i have confidence in myself and in my brand and even in my customers, you funky lil divas. ;)

plus people always call shanae naKIMuli anyway, so it just makes sense. *kanye shrug*

guess i will just use shanae for like my doggie clothing line or something. lol

it’s finally here!

the 3 resort looks that we did for the brooklyn museum are now available to purchase at our new online store. yes, we have a new store. we outgrew our big cartel store very quickly. was very surprised yet thankful to all of you for making it happen. but yea, the new store houses naKIMuli, shanae (my other line), made by ag, and punky tee’s vintage (vintage items) under one “roof,” with more goodies to come.

and plus size gals, your sizes are included in each listing. just click on the size you need and the price will reflect the change.

we are still working on getting the kinks out (on the phone with technical support right now) but you are able to purchase items, as people have already done. (i see some don’t wait for the official annoucement. lol luv it!)

made by ag jewelry will be online tomorrow afternoon.

and with the new store, you can create an acount to track your order and make a wishlist of our products! yay!

hope you are as excited as we are. so head over to the new store! (just click the pic above.)

me w/the lovely ladies modeling the every dress.

last week i blogged about trying to find plus size models for naKIMuli + shanae. well, i am opening it up to sizes 12/14 (size large) to 2X. i really want to keep it plus size but for certain reasons, i have decided to open the pool to size 12. but i need 2 models so one will most def be plus size! all the info is below. so feel free to spread the word. and to those who have contacted me, thank u! we will be getting back to you shortly. ;)

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i am looking for 2 models; one for naKIMuli and one for shanae. really looking for women who want to grow with us as a company, as this will be a ongoing gig.

requirements:

• young, or at least looks around 21-30 (lol)
• fun + energetic
• for naKIMuli, someone who has an “edge” to their style/likes edgy clothing; for shanae, someone with a classy look.
• comfortable with being in pics for our online stores/social networking sites and can take direction well
• must own spanx and trendy heels/footwear (yes i said it lol)
• must be able to travel to downtown brooklyn
• able to do her own hair + light make-up is a plus
• height: 5’7”-5’9”
• must fit our measurements for each size to a tee. see size charts below.

if u or someone u know is interested, email us, along with a full body pic(s), to info@nakimuli.com.

shanae every dress, available at shanae online store

i am one lucky girl. i get to design clothing for every size woman, as the pic above demonstrates.

my mom always says how blessed (and smart) i am to do plus sizes. and she is right; it has boosted my sales tremendously. and that is without even having a plus size gal modeling the clothing. i thank u guys for trusting + believing in me. :)

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so now i need to have plus size models to represent for my plus size gals! i am looking for 2 models; one for naKIMuli and one for shanae. really looking for women who want to grow with us as a company, as this will be a ongoing gig.

requirements:

• young, or at least looks around 21-30 (lol)
• fun + energetic
• for naKIMuli, someone who has an “edge” to their style/likes edgy clothing; for shanae, someone with a classy look.
• comfortable with being in pics for our online stores/social networking sites and can take direction well
• must own spanx and trendy heels/footwear (yes i said it lol)
• must be able to travel to downtown brooklyn
• able to do her own hair + light make-up is a plus
• height: 5’7”-5’9”
• must fit our 2X size to a tee. measurements: bust- 46.5-48.5, waist- 39.5-41.5, hips- 49-51
• we will also consider ladies who are a 1X. measurements: bust- 42.5-44.5 waist- 35.5-37.5 hips- 45-47

if u or someone u know is interested, email us, along with a full body pic, to info@nakimuli.com. 

“stuff happens. we plan stuff and sometimes it goes another way. this is not going to get away from us.

and keep in mind we are doing work that it would take a team of people getting top dollar alot longer to produce the work that either of us has done...

okay (hugs)

You’re doing amazing work…

and you’re are totally kicking ass. who can switch hats like this? Donna Karan? I think not.”

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my friend wrote this to me yesterday when i started to hyperventilate about missing the deadline, yet again, for posting the new naKIMuli spring collection. because of certain things i won’t go into (nothing bad, just stuff), the debut has been pushed back yet again. our original date, april 15th, has come + gone. but i promise u that NEXT WEEK all the new pieces will be up with a couple of surprises. ;)

but in the meantime…

did a photo shoot with my friend candy for shanae, my other clothing label.

now i have been going back in forth with shanae trying to really define it and make a clear distinction between it + naKIMuli. i started out wanting shanae to be more of a dance-inspired line + so i am going back to that. with that being said, some of the items that were in shanae are now (back) in naKIMuli:

mermaid skirt

draped sleeve midriff top

101 dress

cut throat cardigan

each are currently available or will be available soon at shop.nakimuli.com.

and here are the new shanae pieces that will be available tomorrow:

circle skirt- can also be worn as a dress

chillin’ dress

easy dress- can also be worn as a skirt

miss nophi dress- can be worn with v-neck in front or back

the every dress- can be tied countless ways

the every leggings jumper- can also be tied countless ways

sweetie dress- can be worn as a skirt

***each item will be available in several colors + limited edition prints. and we will offer plus size. and they will only be available at our etsy store: www.shanaebytm.etsy.com

one of my customers came from boston this weekend to order a few items. i did the cut throat cardigan for her in one of the new prints i will be adding to the color chart:

i heart the way it came out. kinda reminds me of a kimono.

here are the other prints/color choices i am working on adding to the color chart.

still trying to decide if i will include all of these colors. the floral + leopard prints are a definite though. hoping i can update the color chart soon. (and this is why i need an intern asap…but more on that this week.)

these styles r now available in plus size, 1X-3X:

erica belt $17

3 pack erica belts $42.50

leg warmers $21

closed wing cardigan $90

mambo dress $105

true essence dress $110

new styles coming in late february for both regular + plus sizes. and i will be shooting plus size models for the plus size styles. yay!

just in case u missed it, andrea over at flygirls.typepad.com named me fly girl of the week. what an honor! u can check it out the interview + her dope site here: Fly Girl Of The Week

and another lovely lady named raymonda named me as one of her style inspirations along with solange. wow! it is such a sweet post. touched me right in my lil bitty heart! :) you can check it out here: Fashion Coolness

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UPDATE:

just got 2 more blog posts to tell u about.

style noir did the VERY FIRST blog feature about shanae! yay!!! check it out: Shanae by TM

and kelly over at indie goes pop did a cute story on naKIMuli: naKIMuli I Love You

today is my granma’s birrthday, she turns 82. wow, imagine living for 82 yrs…

i don’t know but i started thinking about my bday this past nov 22. and i remembered that i forgot to post the pics. then i thought, my sis has all the better pics of me + my close friends at my brunch. and of course she still has not emailed them to me! damn her! lol (i still luv u tia!) so i will just so u a few of the pics i have.

my outfit. i represented for both my labels. lol

top: urban outfitters

pants: vintage

shoes: vintage

denim chain: naKIMuli

scarf: naKIMuli

cardigan: shanae

jewelry: vintage + gifts +thrift

and i topped it off with a vintage cape. speaking of vintage capes, have 1 i need to put in the store for sale…

i made everyone who came to my bday brunch cowl scarves in their fav colors.

my girl lori bought me a vegan cupcake. :)

me acting silly. and my sis tia. where my pics at huh? lol

and earlier that day…

uncle jimmy came by + bought me flowers + had a TOTAL stranger sing happy birthday with him. lol gotta luv uncle jimmy…

one of my best girl friends daizy came by with her baby shilo. me + daze go way back, all the way to 1st grade!

daizy + uncle jimmy + shilo uncle jimmy made that shirt w/ a pic of himself + a roller skate. don’t ask questions. lmao

my in front of my house…it was a good bday.