As an influencer and actress trying to make it in the industry, I regretfully have to admit that I have collaborated with companies in the past that didn’t totally align with my values. Honestly, it was out of necessity—to make ends meet. And I have always tried my best to make each collaboration as meaningful as possible by promoting lines that used recycled fabrics and/or that gave back to the community. But in the end, the companies and their questionable reputations wore away at my conscience.
I started asking myself what brands actually do align with my values, and the truth was… not many. There were only a handful I’d be truly proud to work with. That’s when the idea of starting my own clothing company came to mind —a brand I could be genuinely proud to represent. A supply chain I could trust, and that others could trust too. A company that gives back, is free of forever chemicals, and empowers women to feel confident doing what they love—moving their bodies, staying healthy, and following their joy.
Starting this company actually brought me closer to something I’ve always wanted. I’ve always dreamed of having a clothing company of some kind. When I was a kid, I used to hand-sew outfits for my Beanie Babies—lol! Over the years, I tried making jackets, and I’ve sketched designs (including parkas!) for over 15 years. I loved hand sewing, but every time I touched a sewing machine, I’d jam it and end up spending hundreds of dollars to get it fixed. Eventually, I gave up on sewing.
But now, as I’ve aged, I’ve realized I don’t need to do the sewing myself to bring my ideas to life. I can lead the design process and creative vision while empowering other women—who are amazing at sewing—to thrive doing what they love, while I do what I love. And that has been a beautiful process to be a part of!
I’ve been involved every step of the way. From the initial vision, to sourcing material, and producing a physical product. I’ve been hands-on all the way— with the help of my team of course! Including; Brittany Burr, the Analog Digital team, Andrew in business consulting, Alejandra, my team at RedPath Talent, and ‘The Cut’ Design Academy. Together, we’ve created something I am truly proud of. Every part of this journey has been full of intention. It feels like every day I have been forced to problem-solve and do things that I’ve never done before. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this project, and honestly, it’s felt like the longest creative birth of my life. It’s pulled me out of my comfort zone in so many ways, and I’m so grateful for everything it’s taught me.
From creating the Pinterest inspo board, to incorporating the business, aligning with the wrong professionals, letting them go, and starting over—it’s been a journey, to say the least. So many ups & downs and times I’ve doubted myself. More than once, I was encouraged by investors and advisors to manufacture in China. At one point, my advisor found a fair trade-certified manufacturer that was as ethical and sustainable as it gets in China. We got close to launching… but it just didn’t sit right with me. I wasn’t excited. I felt mentally drained, and deep down—I knew it wasn’t the path I wanted. From the beginning, I wanted to be as sustainable and ethical as possible, and manufacturing in China just did not sit right with me. That advisor didn’t want to be on the project unless we were manufacturing in China, but I was firm in my decision, and now I was left to my own devices. We were three and a half months out from launch, with no product—just a Pinterest board of inspiration and back to square one… But! I trusted myself, I got creative, and I was determined to find a local team in Canada who could help me bring this project to life.
The day I parted ways with that advisor, I was walking my dog through Vancouver feeling defeated but determined. That’s when I passed ‘The Cut’ Design Academy. I had walked by a dozen times before, but today, out of curiosity, I finally went in—and to my surprise, I found the most incredible opportunity. I met a group of inspiring women and teachers who have since helped me bring these products to life.
Throughout this journey, I’ve had to trust myself—my intuition—more than ever. I’ve had to keep pushing forward, even when it felt impossible. There have been so many moments where I wanted to give up. But I didn’t. And I’m so, so grateful for that.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day.” and “Anything good comes with time.” are two phrases I have had to keep at the forefront of my mind through this process. I have learned that sometimes you just have to keep moving forward—even if you have to take a couple of steps back to get on track. It’s just like anything in life.
Now here we are, finally at launch!! and I’m so excited to see where this journey takes us! There are so many exciting things on the horizon. So stay tuned!