What was the inspiration behind Lady / Lay?
We both had office jobs once upon a time (how un-millenial of us) and we knew that wasn’t what we wanted for our futures. We both really wanted to create something that we were passionate about and have the ability to be our own bosses. The idea started with our love for the robe life and wanting to reinvent this iconic style. That’s how the ‘bathleisure’ concept was born! Our vision is to create pieces that speak to the modern woman and make it easy for her to be comfy and cute at the same time. Women are multi-tasking machines, after all…and a pair of tight jeans doesn’t always cut it.
How did you two come together and execute your brand?
We met working at a well-known activewear brand and immediately became best friends. Since we had the same style, aesthetic and vibe, the rest really fell into place. We thought of the name, figured out how to take our designs and turn them into samples and final products, made a site all by ourselves (we even learned html, but we still don’t know what that stands for) and now we’re here!
Advice for working with a friend?
Always be honest with each other and communicate if something is bothering you. It’s better to get it out of the way and move forward, then let it affect progress. And remember to have fun and take wine breaks every once in a while! In fact, we’re doing that as we answer this interview ;).
What was the very first product you made for the collection? How did that feel to see your vision come to life?
Since our line centers around bathleisure and lounging in general, our Trench Robe and Terry Wrap Dress were our very first styles. We took two iconic pieces and brought them into the bathroom, because we know every girl wants to look insta-ready even behind closed doors. And, you would think making a robe would be easy, but let us just tell you… it took us a year to get it right and now we’re pretty damn proud of it.
Advice for females that want to break into the fashion industry? Where is a good starting point for experience?
The most important thing is to nail down your brand identity—that means voice, aesthetic, style and demographic. Once you have that, it’s all about the hustle and meeting as many people as you can. You never know what doors will open. Also, remember to just always be nice. It can be a tough industry and a little kindness always goes a long way.
What does Support Your Local Girl Gang mean to you?
We’re a tiny, 2-woman show, designing clothing for ladies who do it all. Take our ’No Bra Club’ tee for example—we didn’t create this tee to be sexual in nature, it’s to empower women to be comfortable and confident in their own skin. That’s really the core of our brand—to help women feel their best, whether they’re running after their kids or running their own business. They’re all #bossbabes in our book!
Shop Lady / Lay and receive 25% off with code GRLPWR25: www.ladylaycollection.com