Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Sonia Dong, co-owner of Henkaa Inc., located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Henkaa is a body-positive, inclusive fashion brand that helps women celebrate life's special moments with timeless, size-flexible clothing that looks and feels great. Each of the dresses, skirts and tops can be transformed into unique necklines and styles, offering women the freedom and opportunity to wear the same dress in many different ways for many different events. Henkaa is based in Toronto, Canada, where our clothing is designed and handmade with love.

The name Henkaa is based on the word 'henka' in Japanese, which means change. As a brand, we welcome and accept with grace the changes that life brings us. And through fashion, we are helping women realize they don't have to change to fit into the clothes; their clothes can change with them.

We answer the question:

What if you could have a few key pieces in your closet you can always count on?

Clothing that: fits now, six months or years from now, you can wear different ways for many occasions to express your personal, unique style. It sounds impossible, but it's not - it's what we do. And our customers know this! They are fun, creative, and imaginative, and they love that we are too. They include: bridal parties with women of different sizes and shapes who are excited that they can wear the same dress and wrap it in a way that represents their unique personal style (and be able to wear the dress after the wedding too), moms and moms-to-be who are delighted to find that one dress can fit them before, during and after pregnancy
women on the go who want to save time and money by having something in their closet they can pull out with a moment's notice, time and again - something they can transform into a professional setting, then wear for date night or travel light

The possibilities are truly endless. Because it's more than a dress, it's a movement. Our customers are saying "No" to wear-it-once outfits that gather dust in their closet and "Yes" to versatile, comfortable ones that can be worn again and again. And they feel and look good too!

Tell us about yourself

Henkaa's late Founder, Jo, came up with the idea for the company at a time when we were going to a lot of weddings, establishing our careers, and traveling. She was buying a new dress for each event and wanted a solution where she wasn't left with a closet full of dresses she only wore once. (If you know that movie 27 Dresses starring Katherine Heigl, you know what I'm talking about!)

Jo wanted something timeless, versatile, re-wearable, and size-flexible. So she made her first Henkaa convertible dress and wore it to my wedding. She had it in a one-shoulder style but soon discovered that someone else had a very similar-looking dress! Instead of panicking, she said 'brb' and went to the ladies' room to re-wrap the dress into a halter style. People saw her and said they needed one too! And, of course, I did too.

It's amazing to see women of different shapes and sizes wear the same dress at a bridal party in the style that best suits them. And it's life-changing for moms to get a beautiful dress they don't have to throw away after they give birth - I know this first-hand because my Henkaa dresses are the only clothes I still have from before my two pregnancies! The dresses represent our values of empowerment, inclusivity, body positivity, and sustainability. These values are why I joined the team in 2012 and why I continue leading this small and mighty business after our Founder, Jo, passed away in 2019.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been helping to create a legacy for our late Founder, Jo. Giving back has been a cornerstone of our business through local charitable events such as prom dress drives, holiday gift boxes for women in shelters, and staff donation programs. I wanted to do something more, so I worked with Jo's husband and the Toronto Foundation to establish the Joanna Duong Chang Memorial Foundation.

Henkaa donates 1% of all sales to Jo's Foundation to help girls and women reach their fullest potential. In addition to our 1% donations, we have also set up donation top-ups at checkout given generously by customers, yearly Celebration Boxes to commemorate Jo's birthday, and sharing of Jo's Foundation to encourage direct donations. We have been instrumental in helping Jo's foundation establish a scholarship at the University of Waterloo to support undergrad women in Math (Jo's alma mater) and donated to support Indigenous and BIPOC women's groups.

I love that I'm able to support and empower women to love themselves and look and feel good on their own terms while also doing good at the same time for more women and girls through Jo's Foundation.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

That feeling of being alone in the world. It's so easy to get caught up in the nitty-gritty day-to-day of the business and focus on the challenges and difficulties instead of the good things that are happening around you. That's why it's so important to connect with other entrepreneurs on an ongoing basis. It really helps to talk it out, give and get advice, and be seen. Being an entrepreneur isn't a walk in the park, but when you have people around you who understand what you're going through, it makes it so much easier to keep moving forward.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know that you'll make mistakes. No one is perfect, there are always going to be speed bumps, and everyone makes mistakes. You've got to try it out before you know what NOT to do. Just learn from it and keep taking action forward.
  2. Keep learning. Things are always evolving around us - keep updated on those changes, and keep up your own professional and personal development so that you can make the best, informed decisions for your business.
  3. Know your WHY and keep coming back to it. If you don't have clarity around your "why," you'll be lost, it'll make it more difficult to make decisions and drive your business forward. Your customers will feel it and feel confused about what you're all about. It's not something you can set and forget. Make it a routine to return to it and review just like you would your business goals.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

To all my fellow entrepreneurs: don't let others dictate what you can and cannot do. Dream big and believe in yourself. Do what your heart tells you, and be proud to show the world your true self. You're here for a reason, and the world needs to see you shine.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.henkaa.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iHeartHenkaa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henkaa/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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