What is your product(s)?

Cosima is a women’s fashion brand inspired by my family lineage of artists and designers. Each collection is designed using prints that began as original artworks, painted by people I love.

The women in my life who inspired Cosima were enterprising and resourceful out of necessity, and this is the way I’ve approached ethics and sustainability for Cosima. For example, many of the trims used in my Spring 18 collection were deadstock. In fact, the buttons on the Sunsoak Top were originally used to lace up Victorian boots!

Something I’m very excited to be working on right now is an upcycling program for my leftover production fabric. My goal is to help a specific community in the process, and I can’t wait to reveal more details as it begins to unfold in the coming year!

All of Cosima’s fabrics this season were digitally printed using OEKO-TEX certified inks. All gift bags and shipping materials are made of recycled paper, and I had the manufacturer bulk-pack my production order instead of using individual polybags. So far, I’ve incorporated steps that I feel are both impactful and cost-effective for a start-up brand, with the intention of taking larger leaps toward becoming a more conscious fashion brand with each season.

Where were you with your idea or business before joining Factory45?

If I remember correctly, I think I used the word “stuck” in my application for Factory45! I had the concept for Cosima, and I’d handed off technical sketches to a sample maker. But at the time I applied for Factory45, my sample maker had taken three months and still not completed a first round of protos for me. My prints were lost in a black hole at the printer, no one could tell me when I would see a strike off. Plus, I had no idea how to tackle the branding and identity for Cosima. I felt totally overwhelmed, but determined to make it happen somehow. That’s why Factory45 appealed to me so much–I felt that the program would offer a clear path to launching my brand.

How did joining Factory45 help you?

All of the sudden I felt empowered, instead of stuck. It was a relief to have a comprehensive and organized plan with action items that were moving me forward again. As I’ve said before, I’ve worked as an apparel designer for 10 years, and I’d never received the in-depth information Factory45 provided.

I used Shannon’s Production Partners database to find an awesome samplemaker’s studio. Then I found a great printer that a fellow F45-er had posted on the group Facebook page. On a personal level, Shannon’s videos, emails, and her “Real Talk” messages were like a daily vitamin that kept me energized and excited about what I was doing.