MESDRESS - New Orleans Fashion
Molly Stackhouse mesdress@gmail.com
Molly Stackhouse is a local New Orleans Designer who presented her very first original collection in the Spring of 2011. She got her degree from the Louisiana State University. She interned in New York with the Clark Sabbot “Friends With Benefits” Line and at LiaMolly, a New Orleans Design Company. Molly is a high fashion designer focusing now on Contemporary Sportswear and has been through a few tribulations, bringing her to her new line which will be carried in 4 different stores. Many designers know that putting your designs out to four different stores is a struggle, when it is a one person organization. Molly, along with many other new business owners, understands that nothing comes out of the business without hard work, dedication, research and patience… This sometimes means doing all of the jobs of the organization YOURSELF.
Molly explained her take on the New Orleans fashion market to be of a southern charm, dress and event market, more than anything. New Orleans is seen in the eyes of Molly to be a neighborhood community, supportive and considerate, she sees the spirit of the city to be summed up as “Southern Hospitality”.
Molly’s Regrets! She experienced a rude awakening when she designed her first collection, in the fact that she designed based on her creativity, instead of the market she wanted to present to. “It is about putting the right garment on the right person.” says Molly. She then realized that, the rules we all hear about business [know your market, research your competition, etc.] are not to be taken lightly they are to be taken as serious restrictions and goals for a successful business. When she looks at her line now, she looks at who, what, when and where. The products she is releasing have a full production team instead of being hand-made, which increases her probability of success to where she can dedicate more of her time on her clients and her designs.
The general direction of this company is not to be in the “Calvin Klein” Aura, it is to be “innovative but wearable”. Molly’s clean cut designs are brought forth to be more about her garments and the fact that they are not your typical apparel design, she looks for simple crisp photography and comfortable models to show her garments. When I asked Molly if she was interested in going with more artistic avenues of advertisement, she politely rejected the idea for the simple fact that she wants her garments to speak for themselves… And boy, do they!
My Opinion?
I see so many businesses and “Professionals” that think they can come up over night, they are simply stunned when things don’t happen like magic! What people need to realize is that a good idea is nothing, without the hard work that goes into making the sound structure. Molly Stackhouse has gone through all the trials and tribulations of any starting business and now she is ready to step into the scene the right way. She knows her industry and has a great outlook on her design reach. Huge shout out to Molly, let me quote a song for you hunny “Go on brush ya shouldaz off”…. It’s hard out here for local designers when all you need now to sell your brand is a celebrity face. Brands are now built on the person, not as much the quality. Brand Whores Galore, (pardon my French) are in control of this market. But history repeats itself, the little guys will eventually become big guys, and then they will love that “Brand Whore” mentality.
Until Next Time….
Be Sexy!
*Tai Closet*
