1. What inspired you to begin Studio 15?
After working in the retail/fashion world for 16 years, I decided to follow my dream of starting my own business and dove right in. I had wanted to do this for quite some time. The inspiration came from my very first job. I was very lucky in my teens and got my first job working for two wonderful men who owned a denim company called Below the Belt in Canada and they were such great role models that ever since I worked for them, I had wanted to recreate what they had, with my own business.
2. What gave you the idea to incorporate a non-profit into your business? What made you chose Kleos Microfinance Group?
I love clothes and most aspects of fashion, but the one thing that doesn't sit well with me, is that it can be frivolous. I wanted to run my own clothing business while doing something bigger and more meaningful. This way I can spend my time doing what I love while also helping other people. I chose to work with Kleos Microfinance Group (www.kleosmfg.org) after I took a trip to Uganda in 2013 to see the work that they do. I was so moved by all the people that I met who had received loans from Kleos in the past. I was also moved by how much Kleos had changed their lives for the better.
3. Have you always been involved in non-profit work?
I had not been involved in non-profit work prior to Studio 15, but I have always contributed to one or two foundations on a regular basis. This is my fourth year giving to the Women for Women International organization, which is another great non-profit making major differences in women's lives around the world.
4. Have you always been involved in fashion design? I noticed you worked for many name brand companies, such as Bebe, Guess, etc....did working for these companies help you develop your own brand identity and marketing plan? What knowledge did you gain while working for these companies that relate to your work today?
I spent my entire career up until now working for major brands, so that definitely gave me a lot of experience and I also got to see what works and what doesn't work firsthand, which is very helpful of course. One of the biggest things that I took away from all my past experiences is that you don't need to necessarily sell to your customers, you just need to help them find what they are looking for. Whether that means they buy from you or from somewhere else, doesn't matter, because you gain their trust and they will in turn come back to you anyway.
5. What advice do you have for others who are working towards the development of their own brand or fashion line?
It's definitely more work than you think it will be. So be prepared to spend more time, money, and resources than you planned. That's for sure. And also to have fun while you are working on launching your line/business. It's something that you are passionate about, and that's why you decided to go for it. When it becomes just work and you're not having any fun, that's when you lose your drive for it.
6. What was the hardest thing you encountered during the development of Studio 15?
There were so many difficult things, I had very little experience in web design when I started Studio 15; I had always been on the business development side of things in my career. So when it came time to create a site, there definitely were a lot of challenges in understanding what can and can't be done and how to effectively communicate with the IT team to make sure everything was getting set up the way I wanted.
7. What is Studio 15's goal?
Our goal is to be the dress destination for women no matter what occasion they are shopping for and to give them a unique experience that they enjoy; all while helping women around the world who need it the most.
8. Why did you chose the name Studio 15?
I chose Studio 15 as the name of the company for a couple reasons. First, because I had dreamed of living in New York since I was a little girl and when I finally got the chance to move here, my very first apartment number was 15. Secondly, because we are a studio in many ways. We not only curate a selection of dresses, but we do custom designs as well, hence a design studio. Women can choose a silhouette or even send in a picture of an item they want and aren't able to find and we will custom design a similar item for them. It won't be an exact replica of course, but it will be a one-of-a-kind piece that we will create along with the customer. We are also very photography centric, we usually have a photographer at our pop up events that shoots a live campaign while our customers shop and watch, hence a photography studio. So the word "studio" just fit perfectly.
Modern Clothes for a Cause
Studio 15 was founded by Jia Wertz after a trip to Gulu, Uganda to volunteer in helping local women develop sustainable businesses. The inexhaustible spirit and daring of the women she met inspired Jia to pursue her dream and combine her two passions: fashion and philanthropy.
In the fall of 2013, Jia left behind a 16 year career working in fashion retail to create Studio 15. The company is based on the belief that modern, fashion forward pieces should be reasonably priced without compromising quality or style.
Jia also has not forgotten where the dream of Studio 15 began and donates a portion of each sale to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries through a partnership with Kleos Microfinance.
No comments :
Post a Comment