I love when I can feature young people doing their thing. In the past, I've showcased students who own their own clothing lines, artists breaking into the game, and collegiate entrepreneurs. Proof, that college students don't have to live by the "broke" stereotype. With hard work and dedication, one can turn a simple passion as designing handbags into a business. This was the case for Sonique O'Neal. Check out her feature below:
Sonique O'Neal decided to attend Albany State University to major in Business Marketing at the College of Business. She is now an Albany State University Alumna and has been in a many of organizations and has accomplished many of her goals. She was Miss Phi Beta Sigma 2008-2009, she founded and became President of her own organization PhreshLyfe, and she began her own handbag line BellaDonna in July 2009. Ms. O'Neal has been a member of SIFE, Holley Ambassadors, SGA, Pre Alumni Association, and Rely for Life. She also was Albany State University's' Student Ambassador for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in 2010 and in the same year she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated.
1. Your handbag designs are to die for, what inspired you to begin Bella Donna and designing handbags?
Thank you! I got the inspiration through shopping for a bag for a vacation I was planning to go on. I couldn't find a bag was that was colorful yet trendy enough to travel with so I made my own. I got a cheap bag at goodwill and decorated it with fun accessories from a local arts and craft store. Although the bag was cheap and it was handmade, everywhere I went people would stop me about it. I eventually began making more for customers in my community and it took off from there. I had no idea BellaDonna would have been this major but I am blessed to be the designer.
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2. How important do you feel entrepreneurship is in the fashion world?
Entrepreneurship is everything in the fashion world just because fashion is constantly changing and to change with it you have to be able to adapt and to have tough skin. Entrepreneurship teachers you this. It allows me to be creative yet the captain of my own ship. It also allows you to network and connect with other entrepreneurs whether they are in fashion or not.
She traveled to Paris, France the summer of 2012. She learned about France's culture, she networked with other students and Paris residents, and she was exposed to a global perspective of art, education, and fashion. Some of her long term goals include becoming a celebrity stylist or image consultant, a creative director for a major fashion company, and traveling the world while working in the field of fashion, art, and design.
3. How was running a business and going to college? Did you face many challenges?
I love this question because no one ever asks me and its always something I just have to bring up in all of my interviews. Running a business and going to school is very challenging. It's almost like have a business and working a 9 to 5 job. If you don't study you don't pass, if you don't promote your business you don't eat. It's way more challenging than what most people think. Sometimes you want to do work for your business but instead you have to be a good student and do work for a class. Your customers don't care about your classes and you professors don't care your customers. In college you have to find that happy medium that pleases everyone including yourself to the best of your ability. Although it is sometimes very hard balancing you business and school it also makes you very organized and responsible. It taught me about prioritizing and it made me skin much thicker.
4. Now that you're a graduate, what are your plans to expand your endeavors?
Now that I have graduated I no longer have to deny invitations to fashion shows, photo shoots, and industry mixers. I have time to nurture my business and brand. Although the "real world" is here I am so excited for my future. New things are getting added to BellaDonna and I will be expanding my website and its products into a one stop shop. I want my customers to be able to purchase an entire outfit to match their BellaDonna bag from my website. I can now expand and promote like I want to because I have graduated. I look forward to expanding really soon.5. Any advice you'd like to give to "broke college students"?
The biggest advice I can give to students is to network and to never burn bridges. Networking is not just about meeting as many people as you can but its also about keeping in contact with these people. Branding yourself is also very important because people will want to invest in you. Although broke college students are dying to graduate and take over the world, I advice them to stay focused on their studies because the faster you graduate the faster you do what you REALLY want to do.
6. Where can my readers find your designs?
All of my work is on BellaDonnaHB.bigcartel.com and customers can contact me by emailingbelladonnahandbags@gmail.com
Personal Twitter: @DamierHippie | BellaDonna Twitter: @BellaDonnaHB Instagram: DamierHippie | LookBook: Sonique | Facebook: Sonique O'Neal | Pinterest: Sonique O'Neal
Be sure to order your own one of a kind handbag from BellaDonna and check out Ms. O'Neal on the links above!
