Hidden Gems: Meet LaToya Rozof of 79Roze Dress Shop

Today we’d like to introduce you to LaToya Rozof.

Hi LaToya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Driven by a passion to foster body positivity and self-esteem among women, I founded 79Roze Dress Shop back in 2016. I recognized the limited affordable and stylish choices available for women with curves – a demographic often underserved by mainstream retailers who typically cater to smaller sizes – My vision is to empower women to celebrate their figures and reject restrictive beauty standards. #allbodiesaregoodbodies

I’ve had lifelong love affair with fashion dating back to high school. I was president of Fashion Careers Club and attended Kansas State University and received my B.S. in Apparel and Textile Marketing. I started my fashion career at Talbots and Halls which provided me with the skills to run my own store later down the line. I come from a family of entreprenuers so I learned early on the fundamentals of customer service and giving back to my community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Entrepreurnership is hard work! One of the hardest transitions was the pandemic. I’m a behind the scenes type of girl and during the pandemic I had to learn to get comfortable being in front of the camera as I had to become the model and photographer and change my inventory fairly quickly. Current status many boutiques are struggling to keep up with fast fashion models. They can produce mass inventories for cheaper prices making it difficult for local brands as our prices can’t be as cheap for profitability. If you can, always give your local boutiques a chance before you go online or to a big box brand. #shopsmallkc

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about 79Roze Dress Shop?
79Roze is more than just clothes, it’s a movement to empower women of all sizes to love their bodies. We’ve been instrumental in our city in creating space for body diversity in local and regional fashion show scenes. At most shows, the 79Roze segment is the only that includes a range of various body types and sizes. We’ve opened the door for many local models to jumpstart their modeling career including being included in print magazines. We’re taking the body positivity message to the next level. We recently created t-shirts, journal and affirmation cards to help our clients rewire their brains about how they feel about their bodies. You can book us to facilitate a body positive workshop. We also offer styling services for special events. I’m currently working on a certification to be a body image coach. I’m serious about helping women love themselves authentically!

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I absolutely believe that my business journey has been favored by God. Through the power of networking and creating positive community relations and just being a good human, I’ve had opportunities and exposure that would have taken another business years to achieve.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://79Roze.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/79roze/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567176945910
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@79Roze