Today we’d like to introduce you to Illiana Esparza.
Hi Illiana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It all started in the summer of 2020.
COVID was spiking and safety protocols were in full swing. I had just had a baby in April and I was finally getting into the swing of things as far as navigating postpartum and this new disease goes. I was up one night after feeding and started making a list of things I wanted to start doing now that life was not so hectic. Among that laundry list of items was exercising.
I knew I needed to start a routine but I also knew none of my clothes fit anymore. Anything pre-pregnancy was way too tight and any item of clothing I acquired during pregnancy was too big. I thought about shopping but I did not want to have to brave the stores with my little ones and risk any one of us catching the virus.
Moreover, I didn’t want to have to go through the motions of going to a store, trying something on, looking at myself in a fitting room mirror, and hating the way the clothes fit on my body. I first contemplated online shopping and began looking at local small activewear businesses but I soon got discouraged knowing the clothes would not fit on me the way the clothes fit on the fitness models.
Thus, IJE Essentials was born. I wanted to create a brand that complimented bodies like mine. I quickly started looking into manufacturers and fabric blends. Because my newborn kept me up at odd hours of the night, I was able to communicate with foreign businesses during their operation hours with ease. My oldest, Jeremiah, who was also up with me some late nights, would help in selecting colors and cuts for several of our initial designs.
After a long couple of months, we’re able to launch Labor Day Weekend of 2020 with six different active sets. We have since expanded to include active accessories and loungewear. It has definitely been a long, slow journey. We are now in our second year of operation and have addressed issues with sizing, variety, and quality.
I pride myself on providing affordable apparel that is not only complimentary but functional and I am so grateful to our customers for giving our small brand a shot.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building the brand has come with some difficulty. We hit some quality issues early on with respect to proper fabric and sizing. Because we utilized a manufacturer overseas, the planning and design stage was extended due to swatches and samples being delayed at customs because of the backlog caused by the pandemic.
Moreover, once we were able to launch, I encountered issues with marketing. I had zero budget to hire someone for the job so building a website and a social media presence was a challenge for me. Perhaps the biggest obstacle, however, has been making sales.
We are very much a small brand and operate solely online; thus it’s difficult to bring in new customers when most people only stumble across us when scrolling on Instagram. Because our following is so small, I think people are wary of placing an order, understandably so. I must say though that we have been so lucky to have the people we do.
As I mentioned, I had zero budget for marketing or anything of the sort when we first launched but luckily I know wonderful people who agreed and volunteered to model and test our pieces. I was wonderfully shocked to find a local photographer to offer his services, as well.
I did not plan accordingly for launch and looking back at it, there are more things I did wrong than right so I am so grateful that I had/have the support I do.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
When I created IJE Essentials, I had just finished my first year of law school. Now, I have graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law and am studying for the bar in July. Beginning in August I will be representing undocumented individuals arrested at the border through Operation Lonestar.
My goal in life is to do work that touches others. Advocacy and social justice have always been passions of mine so this job is something I am very excited to begin. I hope to continue building my clothing brand while pursuing my career in law. I want my babies to know that they do not have to pigeonhole themselves into one field and can pursue whatever they choose to.
I am most proud of the fact that they are very active in my career development. As I mentioned, my oldest Jeremiah is very vocal in the design process for our brand. He loves choosing colors and cuts and states he cannot wait to start making his own “merch.”
Elijah, my youngest, is not very involved in the brand but he often listens to lectures with me and enjoys it when I read case law aloud. They each bring something to the table that I would not enjoy otherwise and it makes this journey so much better.
What does success mean to you?
Success, to me, is doing good work for the good of the people. I read somewhere once that when you have more than you need, you should build a longer table and not a higher fence. Success, to me, is doing just that.
It may seem silly, but I see that purpose in IJE Essentials. A large factor that contributed to my starting this brand was body image. I did not want to go through the motions of putting clothes on my body that made me feel bad about myself nor did I want to compare myself to the fitness girlies with the same result.
I wanted to wear clothes that complimented me and I figured others did, too. If our brand is able to provide that to people and make them feel confident in their bodies, then I feel success has been achieved.
Pricing:
- Sports tops do not exceed $25
- Leggings do not exceed $25
- Intimates do not exceed $30
- Loungewear does not exceed $35
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ijeessentials.shop
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ijeessentials?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IJEEssentials/
Image Credits
Roger Duran
