Though I’m still a few months out from fully launching, I wanted to give you a sneak peek of what’s to come with my new clothing company Skylar Yoo. Currently, I’m working with around 20 different hand lettering artists and have about 50 completely original and exclusive designs. Though most won’t make it to the site (I’ll only launch 10-20 shirts and hoodies and I’m being highly selective), it’s still a thrill to see the designs start coming alive. I’m working with Big Fan Agency on the brand identity and website. I think they deserve a shout-out. I’ve worked with them before and they’re just an unbelievably creative, efficient and reliable team. I also have to thank Christopher Jobson of Colossal and Jeff Sheldon of Ugmonk for giving me priceless advice on how to run a successful online shop.
Now for the fun stuff: We’ve chosen the colors of the brand – it will be a combination of millennial pink and red. Together, they look bold and beautiful. The tagline of the company is simply “Be Bold.”
Yesterday, I put up an Instagram account (@skylar.yoo) so that you can start seeing some initial designs. Also, because of my love for art, design, photography and powerful quotes, I’ll be including those in the feed. Follow it if you want to see a start-up fashion line become a worldwide brand. (Yes, I’m ambitious and proud of it!)
Which hand lettering artists am I working with? I know it may seem like I’m giving away all of my secrets, but I believe in transparency and openness. Everyone can have an idea, ultimately doesn’t it always come down to execution? Fortunately, my experience in working with artists and my love for art has now found a new home. I want you to feel like you’re a part of this exciting journey. Plus, while working at My Modern Met for seven years, I gained the utmost respect for the creatives in the world. As French artist Henri Matisse once said, “Creativity takes courage.” That’s why I’ll be crediting every artist I’ll be working with both on the website and through all social media channels. The talented artist who hand lettered “Girls to the Front” is Maddy Nye. Tobias Saul is another talented artist who I’m working with for three designs. He just completed two for me and, let me tell you, I was speechless when I saw them. I am working on signing on Luke Lucas and Jessica Hische, who are both rockstars in the art world. It would be a total dream to even be associated with them.
Let me quickly explain why I decided that, in this first collection, I’m only working with hand lettering artists. I bought several books on the art form. It’s like marrying the old with the new. The artists start with a sketch, which could be in pencil, pen, marker, or paint and then they scan their work onto a computer. From there, they use software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop or After Effects to make a refined, and oftentimes colorful work of art. The artist must be adept at both drawing words and using software. Watch this awesome video, by Noah Camp, to see a piece go from a simple marker drawing to a spinning, rainbow colored 3D model. Isn’t it fascinating? If you want to learn more about the art of hand lettering, read In Progress by the queen Jessica Hische.
Why the name Skylar Yoo, you might be asking. Skylar is the name I would have given my daughter if my second child was a girl. The first time I heard that name I instantly loved it. I would have nicknamed her “Sky”. It reminds me of the saying, “Reach for the sky.” To me, it means set very high goals, aspire to be the best.
As I’ve mentioned previously, Skylar Yoo will be a clothing brand dedicated to bold women and girls. The feminists. The ones who stand up and take action. The creative entrepreneurs who pursue their dreams. The women managers and CEOs of this world that work their a**** off to get to where they are. My current rockstars? Tina Roth Eisenberg of SwissMiss, Joy Cho of Oh Joy!, Bri Emery of DesignLoveFest, Jaime Derringer of Design Milk, Chriselle Lim, Aimee Song of @songofstyle,
Gabrielle Stanley Blair of Design Mom and Alt Summit and, of course, Jessica Alba of The Honest Company.
It also includes women that have inspired me throughout my life like my wedding photographer Jessica Claire, my wedding planner Jeannie Savage of Details Details, and my event planner Sunny Ravanbach of White Lilac. These are creative, powerful women who’ve built their businesses from the ground up.
Have you heard about the movie Dream, Girl? I’ve only seen the trailer but it gave me goosebumps. Women are starting 1,200 businesses a day! That’s incredible and inspiring.
Now about Skylar Yoo…there’s more to come! Keep up with “her” on Instagram.
I’ll leave you with this: I just read the book We Should All Be Feminists (yes, there was a TED talk and a book before there was a ridiculously priced Christian Dior shirt) and it explained that a feminist simply means this: Advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men. In this day and age, is that too much to ask?
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