We were lucky to catch up with Alyse Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alyse, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Growing up, my parents instilled in me the importance of education, respect, and a relationship with God. They encouraged me to learn new skills and explore my talents through various activities. Our travels exposed me to diverse environments, teaching me how to relate and communicate with people from different ethnic backgrounds.
As a minority, I often find myself outnumbered in spaces aimed at advancement. This was true in retail and property management before I encountered it in the apparel industry. Understanding what I was up against, I observed how those in authority responded to different races and educated myself on industry terms and culture. This helped me learn to overcome objections.
My strong sales background translated well into this industry. By combining my knowledge, confidence, and passion, I realized my worth. This self-awareness empowers me to enter any room with the understanding that my unique experiences and perspective are my strengths. Knowing that there is no one else like me makes me powerful and effective, even when I am the only one who looks like me in the room.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
We specialize in providing adaptable and efficient product development solutions for apparel, accessory, handbag and shoe brands. What truly sets us apart is our dedication to maintaining close connections within our supply chain. This ensures seamless collaboration with our expert design team, enabling us to swiftly introduce trendsetting products to market for our clients. Our client base is diverse, ranging from established labels to emerging designer brands. We take pride in offering customized services that align perfectly with each brand’s unique vision and requirements.
We recently started preparing for our upcoming Garment Factory Tour scheduled from July 25-27th in Los Angeles. This immersive experience was created to provide an insider’s view into fashion production. Participants will visit 15 reputable wholesale locations integral to the fashion industry’s product development and manufacturing supply chain in the US. Each stop on the tour was carefully selected to showcase the entire spectrum of fashion production, from initial design concepts to final manufacturing stages. Attendees will gain invaluable insights into industry best practices, the latest technologies, and emerging trends directly from seasoned professionals.
We firmly believe that this tour offers an unparalleled opportunity for fashion entrepreneurs to deepen their knowledge of garment production. Beyond knowledge enrichment, it promises invaluable networking opportunities and firsthand exposure to the operational dynamics of most successful wholesale businesses.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Looking back on my journey, three qualities have been impactful for me: adaptability, industry knowledge, and building meaningful relationships. Adaptability is crucial in fashion manufacturing, you have to be able to pivot quick in response to trends and client needs, it also keeps us competitive. Deep industry knowledge is foundational, it guides so many of our decisions and allow us to provide valuable insight to clients as they build their business. Building strong relationships with clients, peers, and industry professionals has opened doors to lasting partnerships and more for us.
My advice to anyone on a similar journey would be to embrace continuous learning, develop strong adaptability skills so that you’re open minded when change happens and just prioritize networking the right way. It’s all about cultivating genuine connections with people on mutually beneficial terms.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Of course we are always interested in connecting with designers, brands, and industry experts who are dedicated to pushing boundaries and creating impactful products. We are also actively seeking partnerships and collaborations to enhance our garment factory tour experience. We are particularly interested in connecting with fashion colleges, universities, and educators who are passionate about providing practical industry exposure to their students. This could include educators, professors, counselors, or department directors focused on fashion education, as well as industry professionals who are eager to share their expertise with the next generation.
Whether you have a bold new concept or are looking to enhance your production capabilities, we are eager to explore partnerships that leverage our expertise and your vision. If you share our commitment to preparing students for careers in fashion, we invite you to reach out to us. You can connect with me directly via email at [[email protected]] or by phone at [323-704-5484]. We would love to discuss how we can collaborate to provide real-world opportunities and enrichment experiences for aspiring fashion professionals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alyyoclothingco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyyoclothingfactory/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alyyoclothingco/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alyyoclothingcompany/
Image Credits
Alyse Brown, Rosario Vital, Claudia Lara
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
