Today we’d like to introduce you to Nghi Nguyen.
Nghi, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
While being a fashion and merchandising student at Houston Community College, I started NEEWIN toward the end of 2019. It’s the result of years of planning and persistence. I grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, surrounded by the sound of sewing machines, sergers, and scissors cutting into fabric. That experience influenced me a lot. My brand is currently focused around modern womenswear.
As you know, our community locally and internationally has been severely impacted by the pandemic. At NEEWIN, we brainstormed ideas that could help the community of Houston while also keeping things running on our end. Our latest project is making reusable, breathable, and fashionable face masks. We chose a local charity (Houston Food Bank) that is doing good work during this difficult period and we are donating a part of our proceeds to them. Many businesses are not doing well and some are forced to close – which means many workers are out of work. That sometimes means they can’t afford food for their family. For that reason, the Houston Food Bank is a big help. Our masks also raise the general public’s awareness regarding the critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
NEEWIN is locally owned and operated and it has not been a smooth road. We are growing and learning along the way. When I first started the online store, I was solely responsible for everything – gathering resources/permits, marketing, research, branding, and financial management. I was, and am, doing all this while maintaining full-time enrollment in school. My schedule is hectic and I often stayed up late. During the day, I get to learn from the amazing faculty in at Houston Community College, then at night I dedicate time to work on my business.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about NEEWIN – what should we know?
I think the thing I’m most proud of is applying the ideas I learned in my courses to NEEWIN. I think the path I chose – dual focus in fashion design and merchandising gave me a foundation on which I built NEEWIN. We specialize in womenswear for women 18-40 years. Our goal is to provide women with fashionable clothes that make them feel confident, lively, and energetic.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My biggest supporter is my partner in life and business. She’s been a major moral support for me since well before this brand started. I usually ask for her opinion/advice on projects and her feedback is always valuable.
I also want to thank the NEEWIN customers because they support what we do and make it all possible. Every experience we’ve had with our customers have been wonderful. Hopefully, we’ll be able to see more of our customers in a physical setting. More to come on that later!
Contact Info:
- Website: WWW.NEEWIN.CO
- Email: NEEWIN.OFFICIAL@GMAIL.COM
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/neewinofficial/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/neewinofficial/
Image Credit:
Nha Tu
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