Rapid Fire
I was recently asked a few quick questions by a fashion student and thought I’d share my responses with you. If you have any rapid fire inquiries, feel free to include them in the comments section below!
1) Who was your mentor?
I had an instructor at the International Academy of Design, Ron Catahan. He taught me how to work with leather for the first time and also how to make my very first coat and tailored jacket. After graduating, I tutored his students and despite his sudden passing over a decade ago, his calm guidance and encouragement have remained with me.
2) What are your thoughts on sustainability?
I believe the best way to be sustainable is to avoid waste. Buy well-made clothing you love, wear it until it falls apart, repair it, wear it some more, then pass it down to your children.
3) Biggest hardship you face?
My brand doesn’t align with the traditional fashion industry in terms of manufacturing, calendar, or marketing. I am constantly having to push aside advice and doubt to stay on my path and do what I know might not be right for others, but is the only way for me.
4) How did you start your business?
I began with just one jacket design in two colours. I believe the best way to start is small, then iterate upon what you learn.
5) Who inspires you?
The coat my mother made in 1972 and passed down to me hangs in my studio. It and its maker have and always will be my biggest inspiration. Read more about it here.
6) Challenges in sourcing raw materials?
Because we produce made-to-measure, sourcing fabrics can be difficult. We don’t meet most factory minimums, so are often purchasing dead stock fabrics that aren’t reorderable, or paying a premium for small cuts.
7) How did you determine your target market?
I didn’t actually do a target market exercise, but rather created a product I am proud of and stands for what is important to me. My client believes in heirloom quality products and was naturally drawn to my collection.
8) Have you always wanted to be a designer?
Being a fashion designer wasn’t something I thought possible until part-way through an under graduate degree. Despite sewing since age 10 and treating myself to a show on style.com (now Vogue Runway) every time I finished a page of a sociology paper, it just wasn’t a career option in my small town.
9) What are your thoughts on shopping local?
I believe in personal shopping experiences. Having a relationship with the people who make and sell the products we buy is a great way to enrich our lives and foster the community that surrounds us.
10) How did you build up your brand?
My involvement with the PARK organization has been a big part of how I introduce my brand to others, but the turning point for me was definitely when I moved my studio into the cSPACE building. Having a publicly accessible studio has connected clients and those curious with my process and product.
Jacket: Military Motorcycle Jacket
Photos: Ken Heinbecker
Beauty: Sarah Jamieson
