Brand Re-launch

Photo: Hillary McCormack // Model: Emily Dickinson // Dress: Lunar Offerings

 

November 4, 2016, I got in a car accident for my first time. I came away from it just fine, a bit of whiplash, but also with a new perspective on what I really want from this short time on this planet. As the car ahead crashed into us, and everything went briefly slo-mo as I saw it coming, I thought, "I hope I am remembered for my art." It sounds kind of cheesy, but because it was the first thing to cross my mind, it made me realize again just how important my creativity is to me. This is the moment I realized  I should focus more on my design work, not just as an art form, but as a serious brand. It was time to start working on making Lunar Offerings memorable.

I am surprised I haven't gone into too much detail about this yet. It took a couple more months after that to really realize exactly what I wanted to do: create a permanent "basics" collection for my brand. And by basics, I obviously mean in a gothy/witchy nature. Stuff I would want to wear every day, personally. Things that you think would be simple enough to find in local shops, but are not. I am also trying to design in a sustainable way, making it so (almost) anything I make falls under an affordable price range. I like to use thrifted, donated, vintage, discounted, and scrap fabrics. This helps me not charge a fortune for my pieces, and helps keep things unique and one of a kind. I also want to try my hardest to do ZERO outsourcing outside of Canada. This might get tricky, but so far, so good!

So I originally launched Lunar Offerings in the Summer of 2011, but because I am me and always have a hundred things on the go, I didn't put my all into it right away. Instead, I put my all in to someone else's business, which was my first big mistake right after school. I would create a handful of looks every other year after graduating for the college's yearly runway show, and if they sold, bonus! I only viewed it as an art form rather than a business. So, I decided a few months back that I wanted to relaunch the whole thing. I started researching, troubleshooting ideas, creating a real logo, etc.  A big part of it is creating a sample line so I can finally start applying for fashion shows that aren't just through the craft college. I want to have a sample line ready and waiting in my design closet at any given time, so I can take part at events on the fly, instant of fretting if I will have enough, scrambling to create looks last minute. A big goal is applying for Atlantic Fashion Week in Fall 2018.

So I am aiming to relaunch Lunar Offerings in Spring 2018. The NBCCD fashion show is April 14th, and I would like to send 8-10 looks down the runway instead of my standard 5, and I hope to have multiple of each item available for purchase immediately after, including different size options. I have been working hard on this line with all the spare time I have since April 2017, and I think this is a perfect deadline to aim for, as it is the 20th anniversary fashion show. No better time to pull out the big guns! I really can't wait for you all to truly see how hard I have been working on creating something that will hopefully live on long after I am gone from this world.


Kayleigh

Transition // Created Here: the fashion issue

 Photo: Holly Bear Photography // Model: Laura Englehart // Clothing: Lunar Offerings

"Transition" was a fashion show held a couple weeks ago at the Picaroons Roundhouse, a beautiful brew-tique located on north side Fredericton. All of the proceeds were given to Women's Transition House and the show went without a hitch!

 Back in the Spring, Dee Wilkie, local textiles designer, said that she was going to have a fashion show in the Fall. I have to applaud her for her networking skills with talents of every kind. This event went so smoothly and stress free, and it was a sold out show at that! A very high level of professionalism went into organizing this event.

I showcased a preview of my line I am hoping to launch in April 2018, 4 looks put together of pieces that will be found in my permanent collection. Robes, harnesses, collars, tshirt dresses, maxi skirts, as well as my version of a bathing suit. I can not wait to share more but I think my teaser was nicely put together. I sent the models down the runway to The Wizard by Black Sabbath. A perfectly bad ass song for the 70s witch vibe I was laying down.

 Photo Courtesy of Jordan Profit // Clothing by Lunar Offerings

 

 I feel this was a very successful night of exposure for my brand. I also had 2 caftans I had made from Dee's silk walk in her runway show, and not only did one of them sell that night, but the other got such a glowing review from a local blogger! I couldn't help but screenshot the love. <3

 

 So this past June, I was asked by Marie-Helene Morell, creator of local artisan magazine Created Here, to participate in a photo shoot for the fashion themed fall issue. The shoot was held at Tin Can Beach in St.John. So my model Laura and I took a road trip to St. John to participate! I wanted to go for a gothic beach babe look, and the atmosphere worked so well with the fog.

 It was announced there that the fashion show (Transition) was also going to double up as the launch for the fashion issue of the local magazine! I can't gush enough about what an amazing collaboration this was. Also, it was an added bonus to see my caftan on the back cover of the magazine, which I didn't even know it was happening until I was meeting the photographer (Stephanie Lane) and she had a copy in her hands, it was a nice surprise to both of us!

The magazine features a wide array of local fashion designers and it just turned out so beautiful! So thankful I got to be a part of it. Copies should be available at Reads Newstand in Fredericton soon! There will be a little launch party and pop up shop at Exchange on Germain in St. John on November 16th, I highly recommend popping in if you are in the area! Heres a little peek at the magazine below.

 

Cover Photo LK Blakney // Back Cover Stephanie Lane Photography

 

 

Photography by LK Blakney

Both magazine and fashion show were great exposure for my brand, and I really can't wait for more collaborations like this in the new year!


Kayleigh

Fashionable Outcast

 Photo: Hillary McCormack // Model, Clothing, Accessories: Lunar Offerings

Fashion is my art form. It is totally okay that not everyone gets what I am doing.  I treat runway shows like a curated gallery of my work. Not everyone is going to understand my references or inspirations. Selling stuff I make has always been like an extra bonus at the end, especially while I wasn't treating fashion design like its a job.

Building a niche brand, by myself, with no real dedicated finances or experience building a fashion brand in the past, makes for a really slow climb. It's hard, and lonely in a way, especially when a lot of your peers in the industry don't seem to get what you are doing, making it feel even more like I am off in my own little world. I feel like the people in the background of my life are just humoring me, or just not taking me seriously. And I am sure most of that is in my head but either way it's stressful.
I have a vision though, and its crystal clear, whether its visible to others just yet or not.

I know its not easy for anyone out there who has built or is building a fashion brand, but some people definitely make it seem easier than others, making it easy to get insecure and compare myself. You have to remind yourself a lot that there is no real deadline, it isn't a race and you can go your own speed. I second guess every decision, probably because the final decision is mine to make, and its easy to get caught up in the little stuff. (like the way people see my logo, har har)

As slow as the climb can be though, I am happy with my progress and I think within the next year I am finally going to have it all the way I want!

Kayleigh