Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Kristin Hardwick-Soriano of Delavan

We recently had the chance to connect with Kristin Hardwick-Soriano and have shared our conversation below.

Kristin, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
Alot of the times, clients don’t see the hard work and dedication it takes every day for each and every piece/project that comes through my door. While it’s a more “behind the scenes” thing, it can be rewarding for the one’s who understand or notice the complexity of certain sewing tasks and/or projects.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kristin Hardwick-Soriano and I am a Wisconsin-based Fashion Designer / Seamstress. I have been sewing for over 8 years already with a bachelor of arts in Fashion Design. I opened up my very own shop in May of 2022 which offers alterations, custom designs, and embellishments. We also sell exclusive “Kristin Hardwick” accessories in our main retail area!
Everyday and every season is quite different for me. One day I could be doing more alterations and the other I could be working on a custom project, the tasks are endless! I am constantly on-the-go, but I definitely wouldn’t have it any other way!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Definitely my family saw my talent within the creative field before I ever could! I knew I always loved fashion, art, and creativity; but it wasn’t until I put them all together I truly saw myself and my passion/calling in this world.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Since opening up my own business, my time is occupied with a lot of different things and it never slows down. What I mean by that is there is no such thing as “free time”. My creativity is still there but can’t always be fulfilled because I am always focusing my skills into client projects (which I am blessed to have); but I do have some “slower” months coming up that hopefully can fulfill my creativity urge.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I try to be my authentic self when I can, but can be hard when you deal with anxiety/depression. I manage it better than how I used to, but the struggle can sometimes be there. As it can be common to feel this sort of imposter syndrome when going through a mental illness and life in general.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I think they would miss the sincerity of a local talented designer. I am from a smaller town and everyone is fairly tight-nit here, so word of mouth spreads quickly. I have made such amazing connections with many of my clients that I wouldn’t trade for the world! They noticed me and I noticed them.

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