Meet Shadi Karbasi

We recently connected with Shadi Karbasi and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shadi, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Growing up in Taiwan, not only did I not look like my peers, but I also did not dress like them. At a young age I realized that people can be so afraid to be different and tend to follow trends to be accepted, scared to be judged or bullied for being unique. That was very much the case for me because not only did I look different being half Taiwanese and half Persian, I also would dress differently. Though it was quite harmful at the time, as I grew up it showed me how impactful being yourself can be because not many people feel comfortable doing that because of the fear of outside opinions. With fashion and starting a brand, I knew that I would face negativity, but the positivity from doing what I love would always surpass any hatred I could face. I learned that confidence is such a key to being happy and negativity often stems from insecurity. That is why my target market and people that support my brand are often other confident, empowered, and successful women, not scared of standing out and beautiful in their own ways.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My name is Shadi Karbasi and I started my clothing brand in 2021. I started sewing for the first time in 2019 when my roommate in college suggested that I should try re-working some clothes on her sewing machine. During covid I was sewing a lot of face masks and that really helped with practicing my sewing skills. In 2021, I decided to design and sew my first collection and the rest is history. I have learned to work with different fabrics and materials and creating different pieces is such a motivating process. I see fashion as a way to decorate yourself and often express my personality and emotions through my designs. I love to make 1 of 1 pieces because it gives me so much creative freedom and not having to make the same thing twice.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Passion is the biggest quality that has kept me going with my journey. If it wasn’t for my love for fashion, I don’t think I would’ve gotten to this point or even started creating a brand. Being unafraid of the journey is another huge quality that has helped me because I always knew that there were going to be struggles along the way and I know there’s going to be more struggles in the future. Trusting the process and believing in my work keeps me going because these pieces I make and my creativity is something that can never be taken away from me.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

I would say business and marketing is my biggest challenge. This is something that I’ve never really learned or had a strong suit in. Since I handle all aspects of my business, it becomes difficult to juggle the creative and then the logistical sides. My priority for this year is to learn more about marketing to build my brand outside of where I’m already at and reach a broader audience that would appreciate and support my brand. Learning more about other clothing brands similar to mine or brands that I look up to are some ways I hope to be able to grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shadikarbasi.com
• Instagram: shadibyshadikarbasi

Image Credits

Photo Credits : Tim Wothy