Hello fashionistas!
It has been about 1 year since I wrote to you about the production progress at our favorite fashion company and there are a lot of developments to share. 2019 was a big year for us for many reasons. Here are the highlights:
- I decided to make my dream of owning a fashion company a reality
- I created Mercury Clothiers, a vintage-inspired fashion line for professional women
- I paused production and took a step back from the company
- I regained a work-life balance and ready to advance Mercury to the next level
Do you remember when I visited Portland, Maine last March? I flew there to meet with our designer and manufacturer. It was a great trip. I was able to feel the fabrics and see the designs on real women. It invigorated my passion for starting the company.
If you missed it, read about it here: How to Start a Clothing Business: Pt. 2 Fabrics, Fittings and Fashion Design
Shortly after that visit, I actually stopped active production on the line! Gasp, I know! That was obviously a huge decision and one that I did not make lightly.
Why did I do it? To understand, I will take you back a year.
Fashion Company | A Year in Review
As you know, Mercury is the start of something new in my life, but while I work hard to get it up and running, I still have a day job which naturally occupies most of my time.
The year 2019 brought a lot of ups, downs, and readapting. In late 2018, I relocated my family back to the U.S. after many years of living abroad. Because of that, there were quite a few things to get used to again, i.e.: a commute to work, home renovations to our aging house, and living with a teenager trying to navigate a new life and new school system. All brought some big adjustments.
Added to that, we faced a significant health crisis in our family, leaving me quite stretched mentally and emotionally. It was a challenging year.
Halt Production
Despite working with a great team of designers and sample makers, I still needed to be very hands-on to push towards production which demanded more mental and emotional energy than I had to give.
“After some considerable meditation and soul searching, I realized I could not fully be present for all of the steps of launching a clothing line into production.”
Therefore, in April 2019 I made the difficult decision to pause active development of the line.
Regain Balance
I continued to work behind the scenes, researching and gathering inspiration, but I reserved the necessary time to resolve our health situation and find equilibrium. There were some heavy, intense months.
I took the time to meditate (hurray for Stop, Breathe, & Think) and reflect about what was most meaningful and where I saw myself in five years.
Have you ever done this? It is freeing to be able to put thoughts to paper and plan out your ideas.
I also listened to some great podcasts, including: How I Built This, Being Boss, and Oprah Super Soul Conversations.
Admittingly, it still feels scary and at times overwhelming, but this is a dream I cannot let go.
Next Steps for my Fashion Company
Your life experiences provide you the tools for new phases in your life. I have met so many women on this journey, both to start Mercury and in life, who have had third and fourth acts in their lives that on the surface seem completely different than the acts before.
These women are my inspiration. Both for reengaging actively in producing a clothing line, but also the clothes themselves. These are clothes for dynamic, iconic women. Women who are unafraid to know themselves and to support other women.
I am now in the process of identifying a company who can take Mercury’s first line to full sample production and from there embarking on the process of raising capital for the first run. It will continue to be an exciting adventure.
If you’ve been on the journey with us so far, keep riding, the fun is just beginning!
Related blog posts:
- We are Mercury Clothiers (Part 1)
- How to Start a Clothing Business: Pt. 2 Fabrics, Fittings and Fashion Design
- What Message are Your Clothes Sending?
- Downton Abbey Fashion: 10 Style Tips You Need to Know
- What to Wear in Summer: Tips for Career Women
- Work Clothes for Women: 5 Ways to Transform Your Workwear to After-Workwear
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