Since I can’t sew more than a hemline on my pants, I’m always in awe of fashion designers. Melissa of Mountains of the Moon is one of those designers but she’s also a modern entrepreneur who embraces having multiple sides to her business. She was so nice to spend a little bit of time with us this week to share some great words of wisdom.
In case people don’t know about you and your amazing business, would you mind sharing what you do?
I actually do a lot of things these days! I own an eco-friendly clothing label called Mountains of the Moon, run a lifestyle blog called Bubby and Bean, own a small art and greeting card line, and do freelance graphic design and photo styling work. It’s a tough economy for independent businesses, so I have a lot going on. It can be overwhelming but I actually enjoy the variety! My main gigs are the clothing line, which I started 12 years ago and focuses on creating stylish women’s wear from all sustainable materials, and the blog.
You’ve been featured in publications worldwide and even re-designed Clara’s costume for the Joffrey Ballet’s “Nutcracker”. What would you attribute your stellar press to? (word of mouth, purpose, PR?)
Most of my press for Mountains of the Moon is a result of being very active in the local (Chicago) fashion scene. Admittedly, now that I’m balancing several businesses, I’m not as active as I was a couple of years ago, but I used to participate in a lot of events, and still try to as much as I can. The independent designer scene is incredibly nurturing and we all help each other out to spread the word about our business. I’m also a member of the Chicago Apparel Industry Board, and they’ve been able to provide connections and opportunities for me over the years.
When did you first conceive of the idea of going into business doing what you loved?
I was attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison, getting a degree in threatre (acting). We were required to take a costume design course, and I absolutely loved it. I’d been sewing since I was a little girl, but learning all of the other aspects of design in that class resulted in sort of an epiphany for me. I decided that I wanted to be a clothing designer rather than an actress, and that was that! As for the eco part of it, I’ve always been somewhat of an environmentalist, and I’d learned a lot about the wastefulness of the fashion industry. At the time, most of the earth-conscious clothing I’d come across wasn’t the most stylish, so I decided to try to create a line with designs that were fashion-forward but still sustainable.
Your blog, Bubby and Bean, is a huge success! What led you to write a blog about things other than Mountains of the Moon?
Awww, thank you! I love working on the blog so much, and I feel very lucky that it’s progressed into something that I consider part of my career rather than just a hobby. I’d never really read blogs before I started it, so I didn’t really know what I was doing. I just thought it would be fun to post about things that inspired me from time to time. I’d also just started my art line and figured that it would be a good way to promote my businesses. Over time, it became more of a little online magazine/journal where I rarely even mentioned my businesses. I started reading other blogs, spent more and more time working on posts, and it went from there. I wouldn’t mind blogging full-time one day, if it became a possibility. It’s probably my favorite of all of my businesses.
Do you have any advice for someone considering launching their own fashion or accessory line?
Even though I’ve been working in fashion for a long time, I still wouldn’t consider myself an expert in terms of the business side of it. I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way! It’s hard work, but if you are committed, it can be a wonderful career choice. If I had to start over again, I’d make a solid business plan, get a loan, and do a lot of research before jumping in. It’s important to learn how the wholesale end of it works, because having stores carry your designs is an important way to get your name out in a very competitive field. Showing at fashion weeks (I used to do Chicago and Portland every year) and participating in events is crucial as well. I’d also say “don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” With all of the fast fashion and inexpensive chain clothing stores these days, it’s a huge challenge for small designers to make a living. All that said, the most important thing is to have your heart in it. If you are willing to work really, really hard, and it’s something you feel you’re meant to do, you’ll be successful.
If you’re looking for great fashion gifts this holiday season, don’t forget to take a peek through Melissa’s shop!
**Know someone you’d love to see interviewed here? Have business advice YOU want to share? Send us an email at [email protected]. We’re always looking for amazing entrepreneurs.**
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