Former Russian Ballerina Twirls Her Way Into Handmade Lingerie Line
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Imagine sourcing hand-sewn original lingerie from the labor of women who work in Ukraine and Russia, and navigating supply chain issues during the ongoing war. This is but one of many hurdles Angelina Mahany, founder, and CEO of Angie\\u2019s Showroom, has overcome in her personal and professional lives.\\xa0
This ex-Russian ballerina studied and worked on three continents before deciding to settle in the U.S. after a two-year long-distance romance with her now husband. Mahany transitioned to life in the U.S., where the culture, people, and food were foreign. She persevered and started an Instagram e-commerce reselling business selling handbags as a proof of concept. Once she realized she could earn money and balance motherhood, she focused on creating Angie\\u2019s Showroom, an online store with hand-sewn lingerie.\\xa0
She is offering SheVentures listeners 15 percent off of any lingerie purchases at Angie\\u2019s Showroom. Use the code SheVentures15 at checkout, good until May 31, 2023, 11:59 PM EDT. Cannot be used with other discounts.
10:00 What it takes to become a professional ballerina, and why Mahany pivoted to economics after a decade of ballet
12:00 How Mahany\\u2019s supply chain dried up in the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war
15:00 Comparing the cost and quality of higher education in Russia versus the U.S.
20:00 How Mahany met her husband online, and how they navigated a long-distance relationship for two years between Cyprus and Texas\\xa0
26:00 Mahany speaks about getting deported after a visa mishap. She and her fiance spent thousands of dollars to get her into the U.S.
32:00 Reality sets in working remotely, newly married, pregnant, and in debt.
35:00 Mahaney\\u2019s first foray into entrepreneurship in e-commerce, reselling and selling handbags on Telegram and Instagram @shopaholic.in.usa \\u2014 and making a profit
37:00 How a bachelorette party led to the concept of Angie\\u2019s Showroom
41:00 The difference between American and Ukrainian/Russian seamstresses\\xa0
43:00 Expanding to consignment in Austin and creating her own lingerie designs
47:00 Plans for 2023: pricing versus sustainability, and finding the balance
49:00 Tips, pros, and cons on Shopify, Etsy, and Amazon Handmade