At the age of 24, Antonique Short did the impossible: she lovingly raised 12 kids while caring for her elderly grandmother, all while working full-time. She had 3 children of her own when her mother, who had 9 children, passed away. She and her husband Elijah structured a supportive and safe home where everyone could grow and thrive. Although it takes a village, Antonique was not without allies, including her Aunt Ora and Stepdad Zell, who helped to forge her into the matriarch she is today.
Roles in real estate provided a flexible working schedule that allowed Antonique to successfully manage family responsibilities, while continuing to grow professionally. She earned a Bachelor’s degree, became a loan officer, a mortgage bank director, licensed realtor, and a financial consultant. By harnessing her knowledge and experience of what it takes to make it in Chicago as a Professional, and, more importantly, as a Mother, Antonique instilled a desire for personal and professional growth in each and every one of her children.
With 8 girls in the house, hair care was another skill Antonique mastered. She sparked her youngest daughter, Desma's, passion for hair and beauty; however, Antonique's skills with hair would soon be eclipsed by that same daughter. Desma, aka “Girliee”, is now an in-demand stylist and wig maker with a license in cosmetology. Girliee was mentored by Sharita Driver, a top Chicago hair stylist. She helps her clients feel beautiful and confident by offering luxurious, custom-made wigs made from high-quality human hair.
Mother and daughter joined forces to co-found Vairé - a wig marketplace with unprecedented technological advances that make trying and buying wigs personal, fun, and easy.
We envision a world where women can be who they want to be, look how they want to look, and receive the love, respect, and empowerment they deserve.
We seek to weaponize the wearing of wigs. Hair loss and damage can occur for a variety of reasons: Some may lose their hair to medical conditions, some may lose it to domestic violence, and some may lose their confidence alongside it.
Our mission is to provide a vehicle for women’s empowerment through the weaponization of women’s hair. Many women find themselves experiencing cosmetic issues related to their hair, and their own confidence in their hair. A woman’s hair is her crown; it is a manifestation of her confidence in herself, and we seek to provide the confidence to overcome medical issues, social concerns, or even just bad hair days. Every woman should be entitled to her own confidence, be it dreads, braids, or a bob.
We are leveraging patented cutting-edge technology to revolutionize the wig and hair extension shopping experience. You won't believe how fun and easy it is to find a new you.