Meet All That Apparel

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I am originally from a small town in Kansas. My mom and grandma both sewed, however, I did not teach myself until many years later. Many of the prints I buy definitely reflect where I am from. You will find a lot of prairie prints that remind me of the wild flowers and farms. I also cannot deny a granny chic quilt pattern either. :)

How did you get your start?

I began my business by making leather earrings out of scraps from a handbag company. I just needed to make something with my hands. Over time that slowly grew into garment making, and now that is primarily all I do.

What is the hardest part of your creation process?

I think the hardest part is getting out of your head and your own way. I know for me personally, imposter syndrome can get in my way. Being self taught sometimes used to make me feel like I am not qualified to call myself a designer. Thankfully that has disipated over the years and I am more comfortable but fear and doubt really love to create a challenge. 

What’s your favorite item that you’ve created, and why?

I am currently obsessed with my main product, a reversible jacket with pockets on both sides. One side is always a print and the other side a solid. I am very passionate about sustainable fashion, which is why I only use deadstock fabric to create with. As a result, I can often only make one garment or sometimes a few. After my families home burned down a few years ago, I had to completely start my business from scratch because I lost all my inventory in the fire. It  forced me to create all new products. I struggled for so long with zero direction. Having to go through the process of getting my entire family full wardrobes of clothes, I realized I wanted to create garments with multiple looks, so you need less in your closet. Ultimately, I am promoting slow fashion, not fast fashion. Not only does this tick off my sustainable approach to fashion, but it also gives the customer a one of a kind look. 

shopping clothes

Absolutely love that perspective. What do you love most about Pasadena?

I love the charm of Pasadena. The quaintness makes me feel like I'm back home. 

What is a fun fact about yourself that others may not expect?

I can wiggle my ears. 

Obviously I just tried & totally failed... Where do you see yourself in five years?

I might cry if I think about this for too long because my twins will be out of the house by then. As hard as that will be, I do believe it will also allow me more time to create opportunities to grow my wholesale business. I can see me scaling All That Apparel into international markets. 

Any advice for someone just starting off on their own?

Ask a lot of questions and try many things. You have to fail to evolve, and even sometimes your failures become happy accidents. 

Asking questions is such a key to success! Anything special you’d like to share?

I am a super duper proud mom of three teenagers. It's challenging to juggle all of the things in life right now, especially as I travel more. But I know my family is proud of me rebuilding my business to be the most successful it's ever been. 

Absolutely love that!

Find All that Apparel at Jackalope Pasadena on November 15th & 16th.

Website: www.allthatapparel.com/

Instagram: @allthat.apparel