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

Jillian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

From a very young age I knew I wanted to purse design, becoming a ready-to-wear designer, however is something I grew into. When starting my brand I knew I wanted my designs and brand to be the embodiment of wearable whimsy. I believe that you should be able to wear garments that are both whimsical and wearable. We should be confident and comfortable in what you wear. I also wanted ethical manufacturing and fabric sourcing to be at the forefront of my brand. I hope that in growing my brand I can fill a gap in peoples wardrobe by supplying pieces that function as versatile additions to a persons wardrobe but also statement wear when styled as such.

Jillian, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been designing for as long as I can remember, I officially started my brand Lillian Jenae Designs in 2019 but have recently presented at New York Fashion Week marking my official launch into the industry as a designer. My brand focused on ready-to-wear womenswear, aims to create whimsical wearable pieces for you to live your best life in. At Lillian Jenae Designs, we prioritize, ethical manufacturing and textile sourcing as part of our design process. Each of our pieces are created to be styled numerous different ways so you can dress it up, or down, however you want. I am currently a student (Junior) at Texas Tech University to my business will grow and evolve as I do through my studies.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

A resource I wish I had known to take full advantage of when starting my journey as an entrepreneur is LinkedIn. I initially thought it was solely a search engine for jobs and internships but it is an incredibly valuable resource for learning new skills and growing a network, which might be the most important thing you can do as a business owner. Additionally scrolling through the feed on LinkedIn allows you to learn from your peers experiences and grow with them.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building social media presence, will not happen overnight, it’s a culmination of perseverance and patience. Working with fellow business owners and fellow creatives if the best way I have found to grow my social presence and audience. Utilizing multiple platforms is very important as well to cross promote your goods or services. Sharing a variety of content types and work hard to make your social presence feel like a personal experience for your audience, and it will surely grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lillianjenaedesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianjenaedesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillianjenaedesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/notifications/

Image Credits
Models: Abigail Ulum Reina Soto Marina Soto Katie Kowalik Photographer: Jillian Hackett