When Vanessa Requesens decided to escape the cold winter temperatures, she had no idea that her quest for warmth would spark a business. A few years ago, Vanessa and her best friend, Karina Gerszberg, chased the Mexican sunshine and creative freedom by spending time in a small town by the Pacific Ocean. During their trip that was simply meant to be a winter getaway, the first pieces of what would become IMRAMA began to take shape.
Karina had been talking about designing a clothing line that was feminine and different from what they were seeing in stores. Vanessa, who has always used fashion as a form of self-expression, immediately connected with the idea.
They began working with local seamstresses, producing small batches of handmade skirts and tops. Their designs quickly gained attention, with strangers stopping to ask about their outfits, eventually leading to their pieces being sold in high-end coastal Mexican boutiques. “They weren’t just clothes,” said Vanessa. “They were made by Mexican hands and seamstresses.”
Eventually, life happened, as it always does. The friends were pulled in different directions – Vanessa to Montreal, Canada and Karina to Poland. Despite the separation, their Mexican foray into the fashion world stayed with Vanessa, who decided to relaunch the business from Montreal. Karina has since rejoined the project, supporting the brand by managing IMRAMA’s social media channels.
She began thinking about how fashion could serve a bigger purpose. As an immigrant from Venezuela, Vanessa had a firsthand understanding about how isolating it could feel to build a network and career from scratch. Through her business, she wanted to produce something that offered both opportunity and connection and so was born IMRAMA.
A word from old Irish tales, imrama describes a sea journey into the unknown in search of a purpose or destiny. For Vanessa, the word resonated so deeply, she used it when relaunching the clothing business. “I’ve always felt like my life has been about crossing oceans and starting over,” reflected Vanessa. “When I found the word imrama, it just clicked. It felt like my story.”
I’ve always felt like my life has been about crossing oceans and starting over. When I found the word imrama, it just clicked. It felt like my story.
Vanessa Requesens
Having launched at the end of November 2025, IMRAMA operates through two collections. The Dream line features handmade pieces created by immigrant women seamstresses in Canada, while the Success line prioritizes women-owned suppliers and Canadian or handmade goods. At IMRAMA’s core is what Requesens calls a woman-to-woman philosophy. “Less business-to-business and more woman-to-woman,” she said. “Stop the rivalry and collaborate. If one woman grows, we all grow.”
Upholding quality standards while staying true to her values proved to be one of Vanessa’s biggest early hurdles. Committed to working with women manufacturers and ethical suppliers, she quickly discovered that sourcing wasn’t as simple as placing an order. Many suppliers required large minimum purchases without guaranteeing quality, forcing her to invest carefully and learn through trial and error. “Sometimes you don’t even know the quality of the pieces,” she said. “I really want to offer something that resonates and has the quality that I’m looking for.”
She began ordering samples first instead of full batches and took time to research shipping, customs and import processes, systems she hadn’t navigated before. With a background in marketing, Vanessa was a one-woman show when it came to establishing IMRAMA. “It was a big learning curve,” she said. “But it’s part of building the business the right way.”
Another roadblock Vanessa faced was securing early-stage funding. DELIA, Nventure’s national women entrepreneurship loan fund, provided more than just capital for IMRAMA. “They offered me the possibility to start my own business very quickly,” Vanessa said. “It was a quick answer and something that reassured me that what I did was valuable.”
With the support of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada), DELIA provides loans of up to $50,000 to women-owned businesses across Canada. This funding allowed Vanessa to cover crucial early costs, from inventory and supplier sourcing to marketing and operational setup, giving her the runway to focus on building IMRAMA with intention rather than compromise. “I needed someone who really believed in me, in my capacity and in my project,” she said. “Thanks to DELIA, I was able to start from scratch and really give the business a chance.”
Today, she continues to grow IMRAMA with the same focus that started it all: women supporting women. Through ethical sourcing and women-led partnerships, Vanessa is building more than a fashion brand, with her vision extending far beyond clothing. She is building a sisterhood, a space where women can connect, access mentorship, resources and support one another as they find their footing. Through IMRAMA, she hopes to create not just a brand, but a movement that empowers women to build their futures – and look good doing it.
To learn more about DELIA and apply today: https://www.nventure.ca/funding/delia
