Meet Cassidy Burel

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cassidy Burel. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Cassidy, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

t’s hard to say whether my mom or dad influenced me the most when it comes to working hard. I remember growing up, for as early on in my childhood as I can remember until recently, almost 30 years later, I don’t remember any days where my dad slept in later than 4:30am and was always working late into the evenings until long after we had all gone to bed. He put in the hours even if there weren’t any more hours in the day. He taught me, that discipline is a mindset and you can choose to have it. Put in the work, and the “luckier” you’ll find that you are as you work towards accomplishing your goals. My mom, was a stay at home mother of 5. So a full time job times five. And then on top of her 5 full time jobs as a mom, she got another as a teacher when we were in highschool AND went to grad school at the same time. My mom, on top of always being available for emotional support, offering advice, and encouragement, taught me how hard you can work even when all the circumstances around you say it’s impossible, you cant do it. She and I sat down and created a 10 year goal of how I could accomplish me dreams of being a fashion designer and ultimately a business owner. I was 18 graduating highschool at the time. Now I am 29 and have had my business for 3 years and counting. I am so grateful to have had two incredibly hard working parents as role models and mentors.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

My name is Cassidy and my brand is CassB. CassB is a fashion atelier based in Kernersville, North Carolina specializing in all things custom for bridal and eveningwear.

I am the owner and lead apparel designer of my business and I developed a passion for fashion at the young age of 9 while playing a game of hide and seek at a holiday get-together. On that winter night, I found myself looking to hide in a wardrobe and I discovered, awestruck, gazing into the wardrobe full of dazzling fur coats and glittery gowns. When the festivities came to an end, the host generously offered one of her precious coats to me to keep. The spark and love for beautiful garments was born. I knew I wanted to bring that same level of delight and confidence I felt when slipping on the coat that day to others. And sooner than expected, that desire became a reality.

I studied at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) and graduated with my degree in Apparel, and Retail Studies with a concentration in Apparel Design. During my time in design school, I explored the different avenues of fashion. Although my love for luxurious coats sparked my original enthusiasm for apparel design, I quickly found my niche in the bridal and evening wear industry. After graduation, I apprenticed with two master pattern makers at a bridal boutique in Greensboro, North Carolina. All the while, I was making a conscious effort to develop and grow intentional relationships within the fashion and bridal industry in North Carolina as well as all over the U.S.

Now, coming up on a decade of industry experience, myself and the CassB team work closely together to bring our clients’ visions for their special occasion to life. Each day is a beautiful day in the CassB studio, filled with delicately crafted custom creations that are designed to make their wearer feel at their best and most confident version of themselves.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Confidence, persistence, and kindness have never lead me astray in my pursuit of success and ultimately happiness. Confidence is different than arrogance. Having confidence in yourself and what you have to offer is key in getting you down the path towards success. Especially in the fashion industry, other than your key supporters like your family and closest friends, it can feel like everyone else is just waiting for you to fail. But your confidence can carry you into opportunities that may not have been possible if you didn’t advocate for yourself to get there. Persistence is the drive that gets you where you want to be. The answer is always no unless you try or ask. When you make a mistake, use it as a learning opportunity that continues to move you forward verses a door slamming in your face. And above all, be kind. The world is a gate keeping, competitive, and more often than not, negative place full of people trying to beat you out of whatever you’re trying to accomplish. Stand up for yourself, yes! But make a point to be kind to those your work with, work for, and you’ll find that that behavior will take you much further than a sour attitude.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Creative individuals have a tendency to devote their all into their work because it’s also what they are most passionate about. We say yes to too many things and work took hard for too long and for too little which so often results in burnout. As an individual in the creative community, I would encourage those struggling with feeling overwhelmed to find an outlet that brings them joy outside of their favorite hobby which is now their job. I design and create luxury clothing for a living but it has always been my #1 favorite passtime anyways. Now that it is attached to my income, it can be stressful meeting deadlines and juggling high expectations. And so, I find so much joy and peace by stepping away and spending a few minutes in my garden. I grew it with my hands, and the fresh air and sunshine almost immediately has me emotionally reset and puts me in a headspace where I am once again creative and energized to get back to what i was working on.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Veronica Mossed
Liana Rose
Hannah Booth
Ellie McKinney
Elsa Judkins

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