Mixing It Up

Tags

#fashionlabel, #fashionstartup, #fitness, #gym, #SkinnyChimp, Fuel4Fashion

How DJ Lady Bex went from DJ to winning UK’s online fashion store awards

Rebecca Goodchild aka DJ lady Bex

Rebecca Goodchild (or DJ Lady Bex as she is known professionally) is an international DJ who successfully launched her own fitness fashion label Skinny Chimp in 2013. Today, Skinny Chimp has made the transition from a niche start-up fashion label into a successful venture. Rebecca, who has been associated with Fuel4Fashion from the early stages of Skinny Chimp’s launch, tells us about her experiences as a rank outsider and entrepreneur in fashion.

Rebecca Goodchild

1) What made you get into a fashion brand?

Pure accident! It once happened that I found a top I loved but it didn’t fit me very well, so with the help of Fuel4fashion I had it redesigned for the perfect fit. Everyone who saw it loved it, kept asking for one, and my fashion business was born!

I have always assumed I wasn’t very fashionable as I never followed the latest trends – I prefer to wear whatever makes me feel comfortable. Now I realize I was helping set the trend, and suddenly I’ve become a designer with my own brand.

British troops sporting Skinny Chimp vests off-duty

2) What was the inspiration behind Skinny Chimp?

I have always been into fitness and I wanted to create a brand that wasn’t so serious. There are many fitness and fashion brands around the world but they all seem so serious, focused on performance, not fun.

On a serious note, Skinny Chimp was a bit of a gamble – I wanted to grow the brand as a credible fashion brand with a twist of humor. My main objective was to make people realize fitness can be enjoyable and approachable.

3) Without a fashion background you have managed to make Skinny Chimp a success. What were the crucial challenges that you faced in the process?

EVERYTHING !! Trial and error, every step of the way. I didn’t even know there were so many different shades of black! Now I know so much more and I’m still learning. I spent over a year searching for the perfect manufacturer, getting samples, finding the right people to help me do this. I was naive when I started out, thinking I could do this alone. I’ve learned a lot along the way – every good and bad experience has its share of learning, so long as you’re willing.

4) How did you overcome these challenges?

Getting help and learning as much as possible! I was lucky to find a few great people along the way, who were patient with me and helped me get over the early setbacks, and sticking with me even when times were tough. At the end of it all, you have to go through the grind, and there’s never a substitute for hard work.

Boy Band Blue seen sporting a Skinny Chimp vest

5) What has been the high point of the Skinny Chimp journey so far?

Seeing celebrities such as Peter Andre, Blue and Mr Universe wearing Skinny Chimp, winning best online fashion retailer 2014 in the Liverpool awards, seeing a celeb wear it on TV, magazine features and being asked to work with Dragons Den in their search to recruit a new Dragon using Skinny Chimp as the product pitch. I treasure all of them, and I know there are many more to come!

6) Why the name Skinny Chimp?

Everyone has an inner chimp – we all have that naughty side 🙂

Skinny – because the first vest was thin with skinny straps and chimps because they are my favorite animal – so full of fun and energy. So, Skinny Chimp! You might say the Skinny Chimp tribe is a family of strong smart animals who have fun and stay fit at the same time!

7) What are your future plans with Skinny Chimp?

A lot has been going on, and without revealing too much, let’s just say that I want to take it into the fashion industry as well as keeping it within the fitness industry. It’s a brand that can go down so many avenues. Spreading geographically is another option.

8) What advice would you like to give to the first time fashion entrepreneur?

Hold on tight. It’s a roller coaster – the downs are as often as the highs (but the highs are soooo good!). Its hard work and its 24/7 – you NEVER stop thinking.  Listen to ALL the advice you can get but don’t always take it. Follow your gut feeling and take risks. Be different and create your own success – don’t copy others. And find people who share your dream – you’ll never go wrong with them around!

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Supriya Ghurye is the founder and owner of Fuel4Fashion, the freelance fashion design studio for multiple product designing in apparels that caters to start-up fashion labels and growing fashion brands with a diverse portfolio of design services. She is a member of the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Women Entrepreneurship Program and has over a decade of fashion industry experience. Twitter , Instagram , Pinterest

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Its all about the Plaids – Trend Alert 2015

Tags

Buffalo plaid, Checkered pattern, fabric, fashion blog, freelance fashion designer, Fuel4Fashion, Gingum Checks, pattern, Plaids, Scotland tartan, tiretain, Virtual Fashion Design Studio

Plaids have a perennial charm in keeping men and women interested for years to have it as an essential part of their wardrobe. Plaid is a tartan pattern consisting of crossed horizontal and vertical bands in two or more colours in a woven cloth. The plaid design originated in woven wool clothes but now is made into all forms of materials.

Plaids have always been associated with Scotland because of the Scottish kilts worn by men in the 19th century and even now, during Scotland’s national festivals. The word ‘Tartan’ is derived from the French word tiretain which refers to a woven cloth. Tartan is often called as Plaid in North America; however, in Scotland plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or a plain ordinary blanket.   (Photo Credits: http://goo.gl/LBTJ4l ,http://goo.gl/o0sse1 ,http://goo.gl/3LgEgM )

Until the middle of the 19^th century, highland tartans were only associated with regional places as the tartan designs were produced by the local weavers using natural dyes mainly for the local people.

As the tartan pattern entered the American market, it became to be known as ‘plaid’, which originated as the Buffalo plaid. The Buffalo plaid was the red and black checkered pattern that was notably seen as an outfit for lumber jacks.

Princes Diana was one of the style icons in the 1980s and her sense of style and elegance also included some of the plaid patterns that became a part of every women’s dream. Michelle Dockery and Gwen Stefani also flaunted their versions of plaid that made less seem more.  (Photo Credits: http://goo.gl/qUb9nV, http://goo.gl/H3TqUf, http://goo.gl/HhVQnq )

Modern iterations on plaid.

Various interpretations of the regular plaid patterns were recently being used by fashion designers for the spring/summer ready to wear 2015 collection. While Creatures of the Wind and Emanuel Ungaro decided to go simple combining the plaid pattern with trousers and flowy skirts and crop tops, Bottega Veneta, on the other hand, gave plaid an unfinished and worn-in look.  (Photo Credits: http://goo.gl/KY1lxT, http://goo.gl/Af6Pkh, http://goo.gl/Y7c027 )

Diane von Furstenberg’s interpretation of the plaids had a charm that comprised of a woman’s appeal combined with her beauty whereas Tsumori Chisato presented an extraordinaire mishmash of colour and checks in varied forms that make us stop, stare and wonder. A more sophisticated and formal way was procured by Altuzarra in his checkered patterns, making it a new office wear trend.  (Photo Credits: http://goo.gl/pfrE83, http://goo.gl/Ek1jR3, http://goo.gl/Jk19ZF )

The origin of the plaid pattern is unknown even now, but its influence is visible all over even in today’s fashion world. Fashion designers keep finding different ways to combine a simple pattern with their flair and inspiration in every show and keep us intrigued and eager about what will be seen next.

Don’t forget to get inspired from our other blogs on Trend alert 2015 – Pocket dresses , High Slit Skirts and Classic polo look .

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Supriya Ghurye is the founder and owner of Fuel4Fashion, the virtual design studio for apparels and surface patterns that caters to new and upcoming fashion design labels with a diverse portfolio of design services. She is a member of the Cherie Blair Foundation’s Women Entrepreneurship Program and has over a decade of fashion industry experience with international labels and start-ups.

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