Meet Véronique Monali | DPT & Swimsuit Cut and Sew Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Véronique Monali and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Véronique, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It’s a quarantine night filled with cleaning out my storage closet. And I notice my late grandma’s sewing machine in the back corner collecting dust. Which sparked my interest to learn how to sew. Thinking it will be an amazing hobby to kill time during quarantine. One day I had a thought about how the only clothes I spend money on is swimsuits. The next day I started my journey of learning to sew, beginning with swimsuits. Which is one of the hardest materials to sew with. It was a journey to figure out the techniques. Once I began to pick up the technique and discovered I had a skill to design and sew any type of swimsuit I could think of. I began to turn my new hobby into a new business idea.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Professionally I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I work in acute care and inpatient rehab. The process to get to this point was a long hard journey of grad school rejections, failed tests and sleepless nights. Overcoming all of those challenges took time to adjust my mindset to not beat myself up and to continue grinding. After 2 years of rejections, 1 semester being held back in grad school and crying myself to sleep, I am finally working in my dream career. Or what I thought was my dream career. I love my job and the impact I make with my patients everyday. However I love having the ability to make a client’s idea come to life. As well as being the reason a customer feels like the best version of themselves on their birthday trip. That is what makes my heart full and brings me purpose. I am determined to expand my clientele and continue making visions come true.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to Houston the first spot we would hit is Mico’s hot chicken to fill our belly’s up for the adventure filled weekend. I would also take her to Killer noodles, Warwick, Drunken Lobster, Honey Hole and Joey Uptown. Day activities would be a spa day at Spa world, and go shopping local at Mala Market. We would spend out nights at Off the Record speakeasy, Root’s Wine bar, and nomad’s. Can’t forget Sunday Funday at Belle Station, Chapman and Kirby and 5015.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give recognition to my late grandma for the existence of Monazé Kini. Her sewing machine is the one reason I started and am currently still sewing. A machine that she used years and years ago to create clothes for my mom. I give her credit because I tell myself I was naturally born with her talent and skills. I pray I am making her proud and able to represent her in the best way I can.

Website: monazekini.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monazekini/

Image Credits
J4fotos on a picture