Chi Ilochi is a 22 year old Nigerian American from Pittsburgh, PA. Chi is the Founder of “StylingByChi” a fashion styling company that aims to heal, help, and inspire through style. Chi has styled for Fashion Gallery New York Fashion Week, Dress For Success, Reebok, Point Park University and many more.
Chi has also been published in various online magazines; print magazines, websites, and social medias for creatives that include but aren’t limited to; Vogue Italia, Teen Vogue, Sheen Magazine, and Fashion Bomb Daily. In all Chi does, she aims to heal, help and inspire through her gift.
What is StylingByChi all about?
“StylingByChi” is a Fashion Styling company that aims to heal, inspire and share insight through the art of fashion and style. Styling By Chi is a company that’s about changing lives for the better through fashion and style. We help style and provide free clothing to those who are in the workforce; mentally and physically ill, autistic, homeless, and at risk in local communities.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
I separate myself from other competitors by staying true to myself and vision through every step along this journey. What is meant for me is meant for me, and what is meant for someone else is meant for them, and I find peace in that knowing.
What is your definition of success?
My definition of success is peace of mind, it’s reaching a state of pure contentment in what you have, what you’ve gained, and what you’ve lost.
How do you personally overcome fear?
I’m still working daily to overcome the spirit of fear, but what helps me is leaning into it. Fear is defined as “false evidence appearing real”, I can only control what I can humanly control, and the rest I leave up to God. All we can do as humans is try our best, and knowing and believing that is what makes it easier to look fear in the eye and not be fazed by it.
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
My biggest challenge thus far was finding a new reason why. As entrepreneurs we must constantly find new reasons to keep going, keep creating, and keep delivering to our clients. I overcame this challenge by reminding myself of my first “why”. My first “why” for starting Styling By Chi was to change lives for the better through fashion and style. Once I gave myself a brief refresher of my why, it became easier to find a new why to keep going.
What are you learning now? Why is that important?
I’m learning now that rest is a must as an entrepreneur. It’s important that entrepreneurs prioritize rest, because it’s so easy to burn yourself out. The sooner you rest, the sooner you’ll discover new ideas to improve your business.
What helps you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
What helps me maintain my drive and motivation to keep going in my business is taking moments to express gratitude for how far I’ve come. Styling By Chi was just a thought of mine at seventeen years old, so seeing all it has become over the years is reason enough for me to keep going.
What valuable advice would you give new entrepreneurs starting out?
I would advise new entrepreneurs to trust their talents and trust their journeys. When you go into the grocery store you’ll see countless brands of candy in the candy aisle and every candy brand serves their purpose in their lane. I pray new entrepreneurs never forget that there is only one of them, and we need what they have to offer. No matter how many people are in your industry, they aren’t you and they don’t offer what you provide, and that is your power.
What is your favorite quote?
My favorite quote is by the iconic late visual artist Anthony Miller,
“Everyone’s trying to be different but emulates the same version of that difference, just be yourself.”
This quote has changed my perspective for the better and I will always be grateful for that.
What are your plans for the future, how do you plan to grow this company?
Styling By Chi plans to give back to the next generation of stylists and fashion lovers. Styling By Chi will be partnering with “The Style Academy International” to give out our very first scholarship in April to an aspiring fashion lover at “Perry Traditional Academy” and we are very excited about that. The best way to grow our company is to pay it forward to those who will soon be our fellow colleagues.
Who should we interview next and why?
I think “Billion Success” should interview Catara Moore, the Founder of nonprofit organization “Tree to Development”. What this young trailblazer is doing is inspirational and should be shared with those in need of inspiration. Catara’s Instagram
How can readers get in touch with you?
Readers can get in touch with me by checking out my website StylingByChi.com, or emailing me at StylingByChi1@gmail.com
Author Interview: Smart Book Marketing with Christina Del Villar
