WE.AR: THE BLOG

We catch up with a pioneer in futuristic British fashion, Sadie Clayton, to talk about where she draws her inspiration from and the biggest challenges new designers are facing.

www.wearthewalk.co.uk

Where do you find the inspiration for each collection?

I have two main themes that run through my collections which are head space and time.  As we are all incredibly busy people trying to fit masses into our days it is difficult to manage our time and create moments for ourselves to be creative in any walk of life.  These 2 concepts become reality through my 3D cut outs in my bombers and some of the hems on dresses or skirts, or even in the embroidery and embellishment I work with.  I am also inspired by chrystals, they are a big part of my life and from a design perspective are often reflected in some of the more sculptural shapes.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your fashion company?

I have learnt that there are a lot of amazing people out there who want to give emerging designers such as myself a voice.

What kind of women do you dress for?

I dress a woman who does not follow trends and enjoys fashion as an expression of her personality not as a representation of how others may expect her to dress.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is everything, it is art, it is a life.  It is a way of bring people together and yet also apart, a passion that has no boundaries to race, culture or background.

How do you manage a work-life balance?

Through my filofax

What do you think are the biggest challenges for new designers starting out today?

Investment and being seen.  I have been very lucky but there are lots of obstacles for young designers to get distribution and grow their brand awareness due to the trends of fast fashion and the pressures on the retail industry as a whole.

Which designers have been the biggest influence on you?

Thierry Mugler, John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Dries Van Noten, Martin Margiela, Comme des Garcons

Who: Sharea Samuels

What: Founder of Chilli Jam Company, Aunty D’s Kitchen and actress.

Where: Portobello market

Wearing: Krasimira SS17 short hair jacket.

Instagram: shareasamuels / auntyds

How and when did you start the chilli jam company?

Chilli Jam has been on quite a journey! 2 years ago at Christmas I wanted to get all my friends presents, but I was absolutely broke, so I thought why not make something, hence I made everyone chilli jam which they all LOVED

Then my friend was opening up a popup shop and needed something for her fritters and it went down a treat! However after breaking my ankle I had to take a break from it for a while but I was always keen to get it back up and running.

So this Christmas I reminded people that it was coming back by sending out samples, through instagram, and word of mouth. But that just didn’t work. And now I’ve been doing Portobello Market for 7 weeks and it’s the best outlet for me. For me doing Chilli Jam is great because I don’t need financial resources to do it, but what I do need is time.

What advice would you give to Inspiring female entrepreneurs trying to break into the product space?

I would suggest going to talks, they help, I knew nothing about numbers and percentages or the facts. It is not going to help people buy your product, but it will help you gain insight.

What I would say is be the person that’s selling your product. After all it is YOURS so only you will be able to convey your passion through it.

TOP TIP: if you’ve got a product using fruit and veg go to the wholesaler and make friends, cerate a relationship, once I got a whole box of avocados!

Where do see the chilli jam company in 5 years?

I would love to have it in supermarkets in bulk, but then again I'm not sure – don’t I want to be a bit more exclusive? And just sell it in Selfridges and Harrods. I wish I could just cut out the middleman – go straight to the customer and have them come straight to me.

What would you say inspires you every day?

My sister is a massive inspiration; she runs a business and has 2 kids. I watch her go through it all; being a single mum, spending time with her kids, working for a corporate company and running her own business. Like wow. She’s got the struggles and she still manages to do the school run.

How do you manage your work life balance?

Jam time blends into everything I do. I also act so I juggle running to get stock, going to auditions, taking phone calls on delivery times, but that’s the life of a freelancer and actress. The only set routine I have, and that still changes sometimes is, on a Saturday I'm at the market. Then Monday and Tuesday I HAVE to make chilli jam. But having said that if I get called for an audition on Monday then I just have to accept that I will need to make enormous amounts of jam on Tuesday!

Do you use the digital landscape in you business or do you prefer the offline, face-to-face interaction?

If I didn’t have social media I wouldn’t be able to create the amount of awareness I have from just being at a stall because from that I only gain footfall attraction. However no one wants to watch me making my chilli jam on a Tuesday morning, with my cereal bowl in the background do they?

The truth about digital media is though; people fake it till they make it!

How do you find being a woman in a male dominated working environment?

I have never felt a personal disadvantage with Chilli Jam due to being a woman, perhaps due to the size and area of my business. Men aren’t really in the baking/cooking environment, unless it’s as a chef.

Having said that in my acting world I experience it all the time – not just men and woman but also the fact that I am mixed race. In the U.K film and TV industry is still extremely white dominated.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

My sister once said ‘’nothing is going to get done unless you do it ‘’

And it’s SO true. I have no one to wake me up and say its 9am get to work, I just do it and no one if going to do it for me. People say “I got you babe’’ but don’t rely on anyone. Don’t wait around for the man with the truck to drive you to pick up stock, find a way to do it yourself.

www.wearthewalk.co.uk 

www.auntydskitchen.com

With a Pakistani kitchen and a New Orleans bar, the restaurant promises to bring a new foodie experience to Hackney. Opening 29th April, Empress Market is the brain child behind street food trader Bun Kabab and drinks pop-up Sister Slush.

https://www.empressmarket.co.uk

How do you manage your work life balance?

S:  I recently started running at 5am because it’s the only time I have to do that.

N:  Right now I have no balance but I have started block working, it’s hard to switch off, but you have to learn to say this is company time and this is time to be with my boyfriend.

S: Whether it’s running, meditation, cooking a nice meal you need your way to escape it.

N: The first summer I started the business I participated in a mindfulness app, which helped me get out of my work head.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

N: Identify your audience and stay relevant to them.

Also, this is not going to be easy, constantly be ready. You are going to have to work 24/7 so be prepared for it.

S: Expect mistakes, they are going to happen. Don’t let them stop you, they will happen! Don’t take them personally on yourself, get up and move forward.

Do you guys know who your customer is?

N: Yeah, definitely. Our customer is one of us!  We pride ourselves on creating spaces and places that are personal to us and want them to be special to our customer too.

What’s the plan for Empress in five years time?

N: Empress market is going to be a space where everyone feels like they belong.

A space where every background, upbringing, culture and ethnicity can come together. 

A space where women, especially can meet, interact and share passions.

A space to hold events and workshops.

S: We have our own products and although it is important to have a brand identity.

Alike London we want to bring different products from different people all into one place.

https://www.empressmarket.co.uk

Numra and Sara wearing Sadie Clayton from www.wearthewalk.co.uk

In the run up to our Pop Up Shop at Pärla from 4th May at Boxpark in Shoreditch, we sat down with the jewellery owner, Erin O’Connor, to discuss what it’s like to start your own business.

• What advice would you give to aspiring female entrepreneur?

Collaboration is key.  There is an amazing network of emerging female designers and business women in London so get out there and work together!

• Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

I would love the Pärla team to grow and develop with a stronger online presence and a few more stores.  I want Pärla to be known as the place to go for your jewels!

• What favourite quote/mantra do you live by?

Go with your gut as it's usually right - I never do though!

• How do you manage a work-life balance?

I run (a lot) which is a great way to wind down and take time for myself.  It might not be the most relaxing way to spend my free time but it gives me space to think through ideas for the business or just completely switch off.

• How do you use the digital landscape within your business?

Instagram has been an amazing way to reach out to a wider community of followers and Pärla Girls.  It's great to see customers coming into store who discovered us on Instagram.

• Fashion wise, do you have a favourite jewellery designer, or one you’d love to work with?

I admire and love to wear each of the designers we have in store.  It would be impossible to pick just one!  In terms other designers, I'm in love with Holly Ryan and Sadie Perry (By SP) at the moment.

• What does fashion mean to you?

I think fashion is a really exciting industry to be a part of at the moment.  It has become so accessible thanks to social media which has given young designers the exposure they wouldn't have received previously!

• What is the best piece of advice you've been given?

My mum tells me this a lot: Life isn't a dress rehearsal.  You've only got one go at it so give it your all!  

• Which of your projects are you most proud of?

I think our Shoreditch store and it's evolution over the past three years.  Sometimes I have to step back and remember the first day Pärla's doors opened.  So much has changed between then and now- all for the better.

Wear the Walk will be hosting a 4 day Pop Up Shop at Pärla from May 4th - 7th 2017. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1469987723032373/

We sat down in Notting Hill with the co-founder of NAMA, one of London’s only Artisan Raw Food restaurants, to talk about being a foodie entrepreneur and the rise of the ultra healthy Londoner.

Quote 'WEARTHEWALK' to get 10% your food bill at NAMA Foods until the end of June 2017!

How do you use the digital landscape within your business? 

We use digital for social media mostly at this time to keep in touch with our lovely customers all over the world.

What advice would you give to aspiring  entrepreneur? 

Research your market carefully and make sure that what you plan to offer is exactly what the market needs. Some businesses fail not because the idea or product is not good, simply because the market is not ready for them.

Where do you see NAMA in 5 years’ time? 

We aim to grow the brand through our product offering. We are launching some cool new products like raw parmigiano style nut cheese, coconut manna, rawtella etc that we hope will help us develop our business further. We are also working in launching a series of ebooks.

What favourite quote/mantra do you live by? 

“Live and Let Live” - It always has been, but it's also very fitting for a vegan business.

What do you think of the rise in food fads? Is it a threat to NAMA? 

We believe in giving your body what it needs to thrive, and we have been doing this since before healthy eating became trendy. We are glad it has become such a big movement as we think that as a society we do need to address the current general diet, but it is up to each individual how they plan to achieve their optimal health.

Who or what inspires you each day? 

My parents, my kids, my husband and my friends… all of them are simply the reason why I live each day to the maximum. They are what keeps me moving forward and fighting for a better world.

How do you manage a work-life balance? 

At this time I should say this 'balanced' is a work in progress as for general terms. My work life and personal life are intertwined, but it works for me at this time - kids come with me to work on many occasions, but I am also lucky enough that I can work from home while I am with them. Having a great business partner like Rich helps, and he is taking charge of the work on site at this time.

If NAMA could have any celebrity spokesmodel, who would it be? 

Paul McCartney or Liv Taylor

www.wearthewalk.co.uk/

Head to 110 Talbot Road, W11 1JR and quote 'WEARTHEWALK' to get 10% your food bill until the end of June 2017.

“NAMA Foods is the reflection of a fabulous team of individuals that put all their talent out there to show the world that vegan, and particularly raw vegan food, can be beautiful, healthy and super tasty. Our restaurant in Notting Hill is the perfect place to grab a delicious and super healthy meal made only with the best organic produce available and we ensure that we produce all our dishes under 42 degress preserving all essential nutrients and enzymes to give your body the energy it needs to be as its best!”

•   Where do you find the inspiration for each collection?

Inspiration comes from things that are happening around us, our past, our history. It comes from the absurdity that we see in the world or from true nature. From religion, science and the way our society works. I like to distract people from their everyday life and look at it from some distance, to see what is really behind all, what we don’t have time for.

•   What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your fashion company?

I have learnt many things, from business management to marketing, but the hardest and the most important thing was finding the right design. It must be right in the middle – well-designed, but not too avant-garde, well-fitted, with the best fabric available. It’s not easy to make a design that you and your clients would love the same way, but when you get there, you know it is the right.

•   What kind of women do you dress for?

I design for people who want to get things done, because I want to too. I respect people who know what they stand for, what they are worth and those who are in perfect balance with themselves and others. This is exactly the portrait of a person I have in mind when I design.

•   What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is my work, my hobby and my life. I always wanted to say it and now I can live it. Fashion is a never ending process which consists of many processes – design, manufacturing, marketing, sales, and many more in between. So, it is never boring, one has to be familiar with all of these fields to know what and how everything needs to be done.

•   How do you manage a work-life balance?

Managing my own brand means living it, so there is no line between work and life, I am always working even when I am on holiday, writing emails and doing what I can so that my brand wouldn’t stop working while I am off. But as I said before, I don’t call it work. It’s what I want to do everyday.  

•   What do you think are the biggest challenges for new designers starting out today?

I see many of them at the same point where I was few years ago, and they all are trying to make it too soon. Experience and knowledge of business is what you can’t start without. Best is to try to work for some big companies to understand that you are creating for others to wear, to buy, not only for you to like. People are smart and they see all the details, so you should do your best to think about them. Many young designers are starting with a quality of a beginner and with prices that are larger than big local names. They are too confident about what they do, and that is what they do wrong. In the beginning one has to listen and learn, make collections, make mistakes and not wait for a quick recognition. The biggest challenge is to stay patient and never stop reaching your goal, but first to build the experience that your own brand could be built on.

•   Which designers have been the biggest influence on you?

I like many of them for different reasons. I couldn’t say that they are influencing but more inspiring me. I always follow Comme Des Garcons, Rick Owens, Maison Martin Margiela, Yohji Yamamoto, Craig Green, Iris Van Herpen, Issey Miyake, Givenchy and others.

SHARE this look on FACEBOOK for your chance to WIN the Akvile trench for 10 days! 

Naomi is a rare hybrid - part cultural marketeer, part strategist, part account manager - who combines strategic insights, a deep understanding of the media, and a strong interest in the consumer to create engaging ideas and content across a myriad of touch points and platforms.

Where? Shorditch House, London. 

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Patience – something I really struggle with and also remember it’s okay to fail.

Where have you come from and where are you going too?

So I was a PR and marketing consultant but I always had a strong focus on PR, which is why I now consult for various brands and start-ups.

In 5 years time I probably see myself doing this but hopefully with more of an entity.

Starting an agency now is so difficult, due to constant changes in the industry would how would you say you are combatting these challenges?

A lot of my traction has come from relationships, connections and being people focused. So many people hold on to their ideas because they don’t want others to take them but I think if you are a real creative and entrepreneur you will always have more so never hold on to these ideas as it can end up being self-destructive.

What is your highest ambition – beyond the scope of an agency?

I’ve always wanted to make a difference, whether it’s through communication, giving advice or connecting people with one another.

What is your favourite area to work toward?

I have such a diverse range of businesses. For example at the moment some run start-ups, others support mental health charities; there is no one area of business I prefer working with however it’s the people who are change makers.

What would you say inspires you each day?

Meditation. When you have a million thoughts it helps you prioritise them, and realise that lots of them are unimportant.

How do you cope with your work life balance?

I don’t believe in 9 to 5, at all. My boyfriend supports me and encourages me to work when I want too and not when I don’t. But if you are passionate about your work they do end up blending into one.  

Although you don’t believe in 9 to 5 are there any parts of your days that remain the same to add routine?

I wake up at 6:15 and go to the gym. I book in an hour each morning doing what I call ‘‘culture reading’’ that can range from reading magazines, to instagram to news.  In the evenings too, if I know I have a hectic weekend approaching I ensure I get my ‘me’ time.

What does the digital landscape do for you and your business?

For me it’s my personal brand: especially Instagram although it is so crowded on there at the moment it is how to make connections, develop your brand and display your interests.

As Women in a male dominated working environment what attributes do you bring to the table?

I am very straight down the line; I have been described as quite fierce, I wear it all on my face – if I am happy, sad or angry it shows on my face immediately. When I was little my mum used to pinch me and tell me to stop making that face so I guess I'm trying to manage my face right now?

What does fashion mean to you?

I defiantly LOVE it though I don’t follow trends I have a really bad shopping addiction so every month I treat myself to one thing! I prefer the analysis of fashion and what it does to a culture as opposed to the style side.

What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?

It’s got to be from my mum, she’s amazing. She said to me  

‘’No one can make you feel inferior about your consent’’ and it’s true they cant.

Which of you project that you have worked on are you most proud of?

A project I am working on at the moment, which I mentioned previously, is called finding a balance it is supporting mental health in young people with an African origin and based in hackney. I know it’s going to be extremely interesting and I love working with someone who, like me, wants to make a change.

Founder: Nicola Rae-Wickham, Freelance Marketing Advisor, Life Coach, Mentor and all round Kick-ass woman!

Interview location: Bermondsey Yard Cafe

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

 Just F***ing do it. I’m not saying quit your job without a plan, but ultimately until you start doing you will never know. Ask yourself what is one thing you can do everyday to get you closer to your goals?

Following on from that, when is the right time to think about quitting your job? Everyone is different. You just know when it feels right, I wasn’t in the ‘perfect’ position but I had momentum around me, and most importantly within myself.  

Nicola Wears: Charlotte Zimbehl Olive Diane Jacket

Where do you see a life more inspired in 5 years?

I take women from DREAMING to DOING, so I dream A LOT. I want to get my affirmation cards into Selfridges, as well as run ‘empowering’ (cliché but true!) workshops and retreats that enable busy women world wide to achieve their goals. 

Fashion wise, do you have a favourite designer or style?

 My going out uniform: an all in one playsuit and heels, but day-to-day I will wear leather leggings, a slogan T and trainers. If there is a slogan t-shirt or jumper I'm buying it!

If you could live a day in the life of one person who would it be?

 Hmmm…if I HAD to pick one, I would say Oprah. I would love to walk around with her mind set for the day.

How do you use the digital landscape in your business?

Oh, it’s EVERYTHING. Although I have a physical product and run workshops offline, social media and the online community is how I have attracted my audience and how I interact with them on a daily basis. Engaging people online can be tough, but I have found that Facebook Groups is the best way to do so on a personal level.

How do you balance your work life with family life?

 As a mum, I'm forced to balance the two. If I weren’t a mum I would be working 24/7, besides sleeping and eating…and maybe talking to my husband! I work 3 days a week and the rest of the time I spend with my daughter, unless she is sleeping, then I am working!

Quote you live by:

‘Enjoy the Journey’

 What inspires you every day?

 Gratitude.

 What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

 FAIL FAST.