Her focus grew to become clothes that ladies would need to put on now and later. Her size-inclusive traces run from XS to 3X, and her signature cloth is knitted from GOTS-certified (World Natural Textile Normal) natural cotton, which feels good and is nice for the planet.
Lisa branched out to promoting wholesale after native sellers grew to become all for carrying her merchandise. The development occurred very naturally and her dedication to cultivating a mutually helpful relationship together with her retailers has meant they proceed to return again to see what’s new season after season.
Dialog was edited and condensed for readability.
Handshake: Inform me a bit of about Mien Studios.
Lisa: I began the road in 2015, once I was pregnant with my son, my firstborn. Once I launched the model, it was a menswear and womenswear line and it wasn’t very sustainability-focused. It was simply extra drawing from my style background as an attire designer in LA, and was extra trend-oriented. So once I designed the road, it was a very completely different idea than what I’ve now.
After I gave delivery to my son, that’s once I realized that a number of the garments that I used to be designing and even the garments I had in my wardrobe, I couldn’t actually put on anymore. Not simply because it not match, but additionally as a result of it didn’t match my life-style. I wished supplies that had been more healthy, that had been extra well-made for my physique. That’s once I determined to pivot and actually seemed into sustainability and moral manufacturing, after which modified the road to what it’s now. So it was a very laborious pivot in a approach, but it surely labored out rather well and I’m actually pleased with every part we’ve accomplished.
Handshake: What made you resolve to start out the enterprise?
Lisa: I actually simply drew from private expertise and noticed there actually is a necessity for clothes that may be worn all through a lady’s life. If she chooses to undergo the journey of motherhood, I would like one thing that she will be able to put on earlier than, throughout, and after. If she chooses to nurse, it might work nicely for that, too.
It simply appeared actually wasteful that once I was looking for maternity put on, each three months I must do a complete wardrobe refresh as a result of the garments had been so limiting that you would solely put on it for the primary trimester, second trimester, after which the third trimester. I used to be simply throwing away or donating all these garments which are nonetheless completely good. It was additionally actually laborious to search out good supplies in maternity put on, for me at the very least. It was so laborious to search out something in natural cotton. Loads of it was polyester.
I simply thought, “There must be one thing higher.” We’re speaking about giving infants natural meals, beginning their life proper. What in regards to the moms who’re truly incubating a new child? They deserve some love too. So I made a decision to form of observe my intuition and actually attempt to assist, reasonably than actually coming at it from a enterprise standpoint. I used to be it as, “What can I do as a designer to create one thing that can actually assist somebody?” That was my start line. Since that is my very own enterprise, I’ve the liberty to create what I need to.
Handshake: The place do you discover that you simply draw a number of your inspiration on your clothes?
Lisa: I strive to have a look at various things, so I’ll watch documentaries loads, I like interval movies.
Handshake: Oh, me too. [Laughing]
Lisa: [Laughing] I like these Kensington Palace excursions on PBS. I believe the colours, the structure, the style, costumes, these all encourage me. However on the identical time, I must condense all of it after which combine that in with actual life carrying experiences. How can I draw inspiration from all these things that’s very aspirational however make it very reasonable for the on a regular basis girl or the on a regular basis particular person?
Handshake: What would you say makes your clothes higher than others?
Lisa: Nicely, to begin with, our greatest promoting cloth that’s customized knit in Los Angeles with a 100% GOTS licensed natural cotton and I’m actually happy with that as a result of I do know who made the material, and we dye it right here with the native dye-house that makes use of secure dyes. Who cuts it, who sews it, I’ve my hand in each step of the best way. So then I believe that additionally means the product is superior as a result of I actually imagine in it and I’m carrying head-to-toe Mien just about each day. I actually put on the garments myself, and if one thing doesn’t work as a designer, I do know it and I do know precisely what’s flawed with it and we repair it. I believe if a buyer outlets with me there’s only a sense of, “I do know it’s gonna be good. I’m not apprehensive about it. As soon as I get it, if I get the proper dimension, it’s gonna match me nicely, I can put on it for a very long time, it’s machine wash and dry, tremendous simple to look after for a busy particular person.” That’s sort of what I would like. I need to be that model that the client reaches for.
Handshake: So when did you assume, “Yeah, wholesale is the subsequent step for us”?
Lisa: Wholesale was by no means actually a spotlight once I began the enterprise. I actually wished to be direct-to-consumer. In order that was actually the objective, however the line began gaining a following organically. Then different small outlets would discover, after which they reached out to me and requested to hold the road.
So it occurred very naturally, I didn’t hunt down wholesale. These outlets would attain out to me, they’d all the time ship a really private e-mail saying that they actually like what the model is doing and that that’s the form of product that their store is carrying. I believe there actually must be a match in that sense for me to need to work with a boutique. All of the store homeowners which have reached out to us have the identical form of ethos, and it’s a really collaborative and a really mutually helpful relationship. So when that began taking place by itself, and we had been getting increasingly inquiries about wholesale, that’s once I knew that wholesale was one thing we must always in all probability begin engaged on.
Handshake: And the way did you begin placing [that you offer wholesale] on the market after these first preliminary reach-outs?
Lisa: Actually, it’s simply me doing the wholesale facet. It’s me doing a number of issues as a result of my enterprise remains to be sort of small. I simply attempt to maintain everybody on an inventory, replace them once I can with new gadgets, or they know to succeed in out to me on their shopping for cycles to see if there’s something new.
It’s like I nearly additionally depend upon them to return again to me and say, “Hey, what do you’ve gotten?” With a wholesale platform like Handshake out there, that’s simply been a recreation changer as a result of now I’ve a separate platform, along with Shopify, to handle the wholesale facet, which has a lot potential. Generally it’s not attainable to even be a gross sales rep and that’s not my forte, so a platform could be very useful.
Handshake: Do you’ve gotten any plans to develop to assist along with your wholesale or to assist with the retail facet of your small business?
Lisa: Sure, I’d like to actually discover the total potential of wholesale for us. I don’t know what the subsequent step is, however I’m going to be on a wholesale platform after which we’ll see what that wholesale platform can provide us when it comes to capabilities. Do I simply attempt to concentrate on this platform and get extra retailers via there? Or do I additionally must perhaps rent a gross sales rep after which do the leg work and have them go to folks after which present them the road? I don’t actually know what that’s gonna appear to be but.
Handshake: Did you’ve gotten every other challenges when providing wholesale?
Lisa: To this point I might say we’re fairly fortunate that every part’s been working actually easily. I believe perhaps the problem is simply stock, actually. To maintain issues in inventory and have sufficient for everyone. One of many hurdles is that I may improve our manufacturing numbers, however what does that imply? Meaning I would like an even bigger warehouse, that may imply I would like to rent fulfilment companies. Am I able to take that subsequent step for the model? As a result of I don’t know. Being in California, and LA particularly, how a lot is a warehouse per thirty days? Does that imply I would like a truck supply service? It simply is tied to so many different issues that, that’s one of many challenges with wholesale. It’s like, “When do I pull the set off to step into the subsequent realm?” It’s a tough factor, wholesale.
Handshake: Do you’ve gotten any suggestions for different companies who is perhaps contemplating or simply beginning with wholesale?
Lisa: I believe lots of people, after they begin with wholesale, they need to go for the most important man. I believe you actually need to perform a little homework and determine if that’s best for you. I didn’t know this till I talked to some mates that had been additionally working within the trade, however if you wish to be in sure shops, you pay for placement. There’s a lot cash tied to partnering up with a serious division retailer that you simply actually must assume if that’s the sort of danger that you simply’re keen to take.
In order a small model, I might say begin small. Begin with native outlets or small boutiques that basically admire what you do, you admire what they’re making an attempt to do, after which simply begin from there. It may very well be a very tiny order, however then that might improve your model when you’re in the proper place. I believe it’s all the time safer to do it small, take it step-by-step reasonably than going for the most important factor, after which on the finish have all of it come crashing down and also you fail from the beginning.
Handshake: Do you’ve gotten any recommendation you’d like to supply to different enterprise homeowners?
Lisa: I believe if it’s particular to this time proper now, actually any time for my enterprise, I did a tough pivot. With what’s happening, you simply gotta keep nimble after which simply maintain your eye on what’s happening, what prospects are and what they actually need. Even your self, simply have a look at your life and see, “What am I gravitating in the direction of? Is that this product actually helpful proper now? And do I actually see worth in maintaining one thing like this?” I believe there’s gonna be a shift. Everybody’s residence extra, lots of people are working from residence, and for among the folks, it’s everlasting.
So for me, as a clothes model, the garments I design actually have consolation. We began off with garments which are comfy, so now it’s much more of an emphasis. One thing you possibly can simply throw on since you’re residence, but additionally look nice for a Zoom name. So it’s like it’s a must to consistently take into consideration the way you’re gonna evolve whereas staying true to your model. However survival proper now, I believe is simply most necessary, to begin with. Simply additionally strive to not dilute the model an excessive amount of throughout this time.
Handshake: How would you say your life earlier than this enterprise has helped inform any choices that you simply’re making about your small business now?
Lisa: Nicely, I used to be a designer, designing for different manufacturers for a couple of decade, and I truly additionally dabbled in inside reworking. I labored for a high-end reworking agency, designing kitchens and loos. In order that was a complete department off for a short time. Then I got here again to clothes once more. So expertise undoubtedly helps loads.
Handshake: Is there the rest you’d prefer to share about your small business?
Lisa: My enterprise could be very small. I see that there’s fairly just a few manufacturers, particularly large manufacturers which are making an attempt to grow to be extra sustainable, which is nice. However then on the identical time, to be sincere, I’m fearful. I can’t actually compete on the identical degree that they’re. I’m tremendous small, the place I’m simply making an attempt to seize the purchasers who come our approach, strive our garments, and like it. These are the purchasers that we’re simply gonna attempt to focus, and care for. In order a small model, word-of-mouth is admittedly necessary. I hope that if folks love our product, that they proceed to share. As a result of that’s true for therefore many small companies proper now; we actually want that help.
Mien Studios merchandise can be found on Handshake for buy from $250. Discover the entire vary out there on their profile web page.
