Angela, I’d love to capture your story in a way that highlights both your legacy in fashion and the unique consciousness behind Lav and Kush. These questions are meant to bring out the heart of your journey and also, why it matters.
1. “You’ve spent over two decades connecting brands and boutiques through Saks Sales Agency. How did that deep industry experience shape the way you approached creating Lav and Kush?”
Being a wholesale agent for so long really gave me a unique perspective into the land of retail and fashion buying. It allowed me to see what buyers were seeking, how they approached sell through, consumer trends and budgeting in the fashion industry. Fashion wholesale is very tough and in the current economy, it’s very challenging for Canadian made fashion brands, who are working with pretty slim margins. Fashion stores often create large purchase orders only to cancel later in the season or go out of business within your manufacturing time. This challenge solidified our intention to focus our distribution on BTC. 2. “What personal moment or realization inspired you to move from selling fashion to designing your own line, and what did you want Lav and Kush to represent that you felt was missing in the market?”
I still run Saks Sales agency but I sell dancewear and active brands as well as kids dressup so quite different than ladies fashion now! A pivotal moment for nailing down Lav and Kush’s design aesthetic was when my babies were little and I truly need comfortable, versatile yet chic clothing to suit being a working mom from home. Functional by fashionable. I always cared about environmental sustainability so utilizing natural fibers was a no brainer! The benefits of our bamboo are so beautiful. I really wanted women to experience extreme comfort while wearing clothing they can wear throughout their day- meetings, office, patio and play!
3. “You describe Lav and Kush as comfortable, versatile, and consciously made. If you could distill your design philosophy into one guiding belief, what would it be?”
Lav and Kush strives to design clothing for women that empowers them to feel and look their best by utilizing ultra luxe materials, superb craftsmanship and versatile designs for all day every day 4. “Your pieces seem to evoke calm, confidence, and softness. How do you hope women feel when they wear your designs?”
I want them to feel beautiful inside and out. I want to calm anxiety, self doubt , encourage confidence and have them radiate joy. As we expand into a new collection called Globerry, this will be a line specifically for tweens/teens, and will consist of “first bra” options and short sets in our signature bamboo and Tencel Modal fabric. Very excited to bring the beauty and comfort of Lav and Kush to the new generation of girls!
5. “Sustainability is often talked about, but you’ve lived it through local production and thoughtful materials. How do you balance conscience, beauty, and practicality in every collection?”
This is such a compliment, thank you! We work with wonderful Canadian suppliers who source Oeko tex fabrics ( 3rd party tested to ensure no harmful chemicals used in the making of the fabric) So even though these fabrics are milled outside of Canada, they are high quality, ethical and environmentally superior than your typical synthetic materials that are commonly used in fashion fashion brands. I also use myself as an inspiration as well as other busy women I know for what qualities we are seeking in clothing. Comfort, flattering, machine washable, versatile are all super important considerations when designing. 6. “Having seen fashion from the wholesale floor to design studios, what shifts do you believe are most needed for the industry to become truly sustainable, not just as a buzzword?”
It’s very challenging to be honest, and one thing I’ve learned is there is many levels and definitions to “sustainability”. Every brand should exam what level of sustainability they will choose. The overconsumption from people and landfills full of clothing is extremely alarming. Things need to change now. A brand could choose sustainable fabrics for example, produce locally and make only what their customers will order, strive for zero waste, give back, plant trees, but the best practice to be honest is to encourage people to buy thrifted clothing. Unfortunately for clothing brands, the world does not need more clothing.
7. “What lessons have you learned about patience, growth, or integrity from balancing two businesses, Lav and Kush and Saks Sales Agency?”
That growth takes time, slow growth allows more time to learn, and hopefully make less costly mistakes ( although this is not always true!) If you love what you do, then think of your career as a marathon, not a sprint. I’m very thankful that I have both businesses because repping is less risky than selling my own brand, but the passion comes from the riskier endeavors. So they kind of balance each other! Also the sales part of my business has definitely helped with making retailer contacts. 8. “When you imagine the future of Lav and Kush, what kind of legacy or movement do you hope your brand leaves behind?”
I really hope the lasting legacy is one of providing superior comfort , lasting designs, and empowerment for women while offering clothing that is a bit less harmful to the Earth. A brand that truly cares for it’s people, planet and animals ( we aim for vegan fabrics, no wool, leather or furs) One of the most wonderful things I’ve heard from a customer who bought a romper for her daughter was “ My daughter said she feels so beautiful in her Lav and Kush, she simply won’t take it off!”. My job is done.
