Meet Shani Brown | Fashion Designer

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

Hi Shani, what role has risk played in your life or career?

In a world that is constantly changing, risk-taking enables us to find opportunities for innovative ways to grow our business. Not all risks will produce the fruits needed to grow your business, but calculated risks can fertilize the soil to produce a thriving fruitful business.

Taking a risk to achieve a goal requires courage because you are facing uncertainty. I launched my business in the summer of 2019, and 2 months prior to my launch, I resigned from my leadership position within the organization I worked for 12 years. There were a few factors that led to my resignation but having the ability to run my company Craving Good Vibes full-time was very important to me. I honestly did not have a strategic plan in place that I felt was solid enough for me to make such a risky move. But what I have learned along my journey is that sometimes you do not need to have everything in complete order for you to take a risk. Taking the risk to walk away from financial security was one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken in my adult life. But as I look back at my life and how things have always been aligned to get me to the next level of my life, taking risks is a key factor when trusting and believing in the power of GOD and his purpose for our lives.

The ability to be a fearless risk-taker requires faith, trusting your intuition, and understanding the laws and orders of how the universe works. Once you are able to understand how being a risk taker works, you will understand that some of the biggest risks will also return some of the biggest blessings.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

The journey in manifesting Craving Good Vibes was not done overnight. I initially started the journey a few years prior to my website launch in Summer 2019. I had a specific vision for my brand and it required me to do a lot of researching and finding the right people to network with. It was not easy finding quality resources but I was determined to execute the vision into reality.

The things I enjoy the most are traveling, amazing foodie experiences with like-minded people, and satisfying my craving for catching the next amazing vibe.  As a young teen I was exposed to many of the things I truly love today.  During my younger years, my mother and I did a lot of traveling and I frequently visited back home to Jamaica during school Christmas holidays. I remember being exposed to great food and having an appreciation for fine-dining  as a young kid. There was this one particular time when I was around 10 years old and having my first whole lobster meal was super cool to me. I was never a happy meal type of kid, I wanted what the grown-ups would eat. My mother also always made sure I was in the latest fashion. Growing up, it was very easy for people to compliment me on my style because I would stand out.

My appetite for good style and good food has been embedded in me since I was a young kid and has continued into my adulthood.  I have traveled to many places but being fortunate to travel to Egypt in 2017 and Japan in 2019 took my traveling to the next level.  Being able to experience different cultures authentically, creates an appreciation in my soul for this world’s diverse beauty.

My exposure to great style and great food is the foundation for my brand. As I continue to authentically emerge myself in this lifestyle, I find myself continuously being inspired to create art from my experiences. I wanted to create a fashion lane for myself and like-minded others that embodies my sincere love for good style, good food, and good vibes. Each shirt collection is inspired by my own personal experience and each shirt is made from the best quality fabric that gives you a good vibe feeling when worn.  I am most proud when I hear the amazing testimonies about the quality of my products, and when I have successfully completed a new business goal. Having my loyal customers and  new customers be a part of  my #stylefoodvibes movement is a great feeling.

As I continue to grow my lifestyle brand, I want the world to know this is the tip of the iceberg for what’s  in store for my brand. Throughout all the amazing next level ideas I am manifesting, CGV will be a brand that isn’t afraid to not follow trends but to always create our own trend while promoting a good vibe.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I am originally from the Caribbean island of Jamaica but lived most of my life in Chicago. Amongst many islands throughout the Caribbean, I believe Jamaica is the most vibesy of them all. The one thing I absolutely love about my culture is that Jamaican people are as authentic as you can get. We are proud of our culture and we know how to have a good time.

The island is filled with so much beauty. From world class beaches, historic landmarks, and an abundance of delicious Jamaican food, Jamaica will not disappoint you when visiting the island.

Negril, which is located in the western parish of the island is known for its seven mile beaches. The beach community offers a lot of bars, hotels, and restaurants. The Seven Mile Beaches is one of the longest and most beautiful beaches in Jamaica. This hip beach strip would be the first stop on our itinerary. My friend and I would soak up the sun, enjoy a few ice cold Red Stripe beers, eat delicious jerk chicken, and finish the day relaxing at the beach with a few rum punches . After an amazing day of relaxation, our evening would follow with a great dinner at the Rockhouse Restaurant sitting along the beautiful night sea. Their amazing seafood dishes ,signature cocktails, and spectacular views is the perfect starter for a night filled with good food and good vibes.

Our trip continues with a full tour of the different parishes throughout the island. We would make our way towards Montego Bay and Ocho Rios for some duty free shopping, visiting historic landmarks such as Rose Hall Great House, Croydon Plantation, Dunn’s River Falls, and Martha Brae River rafting. Along our journey throughout Montego Bay and Orcho Rios, we would also enjoy a variety of local food vendors selling some of Jamaica’s popular street foods such as jerk chicken, pepper shrimp, coal roasted bread pudding, a variety of soups, and fresh fruit juice options. We would decide on either Miss T’s Kitchen or Sharkie’s Seafood for a late dinner depending on what our taste buds are craving for the evening.

We would continue our trip by moving towards the northeast coast of the island which is called Portland, located in the Port Antonio parish. Portland is also known for breathtaking beaches, most notably the Freshman Cove beach. This beach is a hidden hideaway gem that is visited by many tourists, social media influencers, and celebrities. Capturing a cool photo on the signature swing located at the beach has been featured throughout many Instagram worthy news feeds. The abundance of good vibes at Frenchman’s Cove is definitely a treat. After another awesome beach day, we must visit the world famous Boston Jerk community in Portland. Eating jerks from some of the best jerk specialists known within the community and interacting with local residents is always a great foodie vibe.

Our week-long trip would conclude with visiting the capitol of the island Kingston Jamaica. Kingston is as authentic as it gets when visiting the island. Kingston is the largest city in Jamaica and it’s made up of 2 parts: the historic Downtown Kingston and New Kingston which is the business capital of the island. During our visit to Kingston, visiting the historic Bob Marley museum is a must add to our itinerary. This attraction is one of the most popular attractions while visiting New Kingston. Our first stop would be taking a day tour at the legendary Bob Marley museum to learn about his personal life,  his music, and impact after his passing. Another historic attraction is to take a stroll through Emancipation Park . The park is surrounded with beautiful orchids and palm trees and provides a calm serenity. The park is notably known for the 11 foot monument called “Redemption Song “which is a tribute that represents the triumphant rise above slavery and the end to slavery on the island. Kingston is also home to some of Jamaica’s biggest food corporations such as Wray & Nephew rum, Red Stripe Beer co, and Tastees Patties. Most of these companies offer day tours which could be an option added to our itinerary. We would end our amazing trip with a night filled with dancehall music into the wee hours of the night, party hopping with other locals, and eating streaming hot Jerk at 3am after dancing the night away is always the best vibes.

I visit Jamaica at least once and sometimes twice a year. And every year the vibes are always on point. I’ve visited with a few close friends and have participated in the above activities. One thing for sure, no matter what time of the year I have visited the island, the activities and attractions listed above are some of the best ways to show a friend a good time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I remember going back and forth about deciding if I should name my business “Craving Good Vibes”. At the time I was working with Nicole Purvy  and her former company Lidyr Creative Marketing on creating some graphics for my former t-shirt line. The moment I was connected to Nicole, I was inspired by her strong sense of knowing who she was! She was smart, successful in her field of entrepreneurship, and she provided great business and coaching advice. Nicole is the reason I took the risk with my business name. I asked her what she thought about the name change and she said she liked it and thought it would be a great move. Thank you Nicole! You can find Nicole at (@betterthansuccess) on Instagram.

Website: cravinggoodvibes.com

Instagram: @cravinggoodvibes

Twitter: @cravinggoodvibes

Facebook: Craving Good Vibes

Image Credits
Model pink/green Fineapple shirt: Photographer @dioburtophoto IG Model wearing tees : Photographer @kinmiar IG