Member Profile for June is Kayley Reed!
Bio / A bit about your professional background:
I’m from a small town in Alberta (everyone thinks I’ve traveled the wrong direction, but I honestly love Fredericton as a place to grow!). I just graduated from the University of New Brunswick’s Renaissance College program with a B. Phil in Interdisciplinary Leadership Studies (I know, it’s a mouthful!) and I have a passion for everything expressive! I’ve been modelling for about 5 years now as a hobby, and have been really pursuing it more the past year - I was signed with CITY Models in Halifax last year, and have walked Atlantic Fashion Week among other shows and modeled across Atlantic Canada, in Calgary, and Toronto. This past year I also began fashion styling and writing for magazines and blogs. Since January, I’ve been published in New York City, Toronto, and Vancouver. Now that I’m done school I’m starting to really focus on fashion and am trying to gain traction, all while learning as much as I can!
~Tell us about your business and how you came up with the idea:
So in January 2014 a close friend, Kyle MacNevin, and I came up with this idea to merge the worlds of fashion and mental health. We were both struggling with personal mental health issues, and both found bliss in fashion. The idea soon turned into a project, which is now an upcoming social business called Wear Your Label. We’re a conscious clothing line that uses positive designs, carefully chosen styles and textiles, to reinforce self-acceptance and awareness of mental health. We’ve been researching, developing, and pitching to various audiences/investors/mentors for the past few months, and are now very close to launching our first summer line! All garments and packaging are eco-friendly, we use certified suppliers that enforce fair worker treatment, and a portion of all sales will be donated back into mental health research & organizations.
www.wearyourlabel.ca.
~Where do you look for inspiration?
Travelling is one of my biggest inspirations. I spent last summer travelling Europe for 5 weeks, and then spent 9 weeks in Rwanda. Learning from other people, pushing my limits, seeing new sights, and experiencing new things really keep me going. I also draw inspiration from young people around me; especially those who are working hard to make their passions come alive. Some of my best friends are also my role models.
~How do you get yourself inspired?
Self-care is something super important that we’ve basically mandated while working on Wear Your Label. Taking personal time to just reflect and recharge, playing my favourite music, and going on walks with no destination gets mentally prepared. You can’t help others without first helping yourself.
~Who are some of your favourite artists in your field?
Gabrielle Coco Chanel is hands down my favourite designer of all time. Not just because of her designs, but her counter-culture spirit. She paved the way for women couturiers of the time, and she didn’t take no for an answer. She did whatever it took to change the status quo for women’s fashion, and the introduction of the jersey dress was a complete culture shift. It’s exactly what we’re trying to do with Wear Your Label - change the perception of mental health from a negative to a positive one, through fashion. It’s two industries that clash naturally but we’re determined to make our mark and create a legacy.
~What project have you worked on that you enjoyed most
and why?Modelling for Atlantic Fashion Week and the Heart Truth Fashion Gala were amazing experiences; I love doing things that hold significant meaning to them. AFW is about showcasing local talent, and the Heart Truth benefits the Heart and Stroke Foundation so I got to meet some amazingly strong women. BUT (and I’m biased) working on Wear Your Label has been the most enjoyable so far. Working on WYL has been my saving grace while recovering from an eating disorder, and has given me the opportunity to share my story and help others… all within the realms of fashion!
~Do you use Social Media for your business? How has it
impacted your business? We do! As young entrepreneurs it has been really helpful to use social media platforms that our potential consumers are already using, and it’s also been an awesome way to connect with people and spread our message - whether or not we’re selling something, it’s been rewarding just to share mental health facts and inspiring stories. You can follow our social media at:
www.facebook.com/wearyourlabel
instagram:@wearyourlabel
tumblr:wearyourlabel.tumblr.com
~As a member of FFC, what do you hope to see the council
achieve?I would love for FFC to become the ultimate platform for all things fashion! I think we’re on the right track, but I hope to see more connections built and more collaborative events happening in the future. We have so much talent here and it’s about time we start honing in on it!
~What’s next for you?
This summer I’m working out of UNB’s Summer Institute, Foundry program which is an accelerator for entrepreneurs. We’re launching the summer line in the next few weeks, and continue to grow from there. I hope to keep modelling, styling & writing and just get myself out there as much as I can. To see my work or to get in touch, please visit my page:
www.facebook.com/kaylizbeth Best,
xo
Kayley
photo credit: Allie Beckwith
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