We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cassie Lopez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Cassie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

Although I learned how to sew and started making custom pieces for friends in my late 20s, Casstastrophe wasn’t really born until 2022.

I was working a dead end job at a car dealership, and I was miserable. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew that wasn’t it. It was time for a change.

One day, I decided that it was time to live my childhood dream. It was time to start a real clothing line. On my day off, I formed my LLC and got the ball rolling. For almost a year, I spent my workweek at the dealership and my weekends sewing.

Part of me wishes I had started sooner. That I learned how to sew as a teenager, or that I went for fashion school instead of getting a degree in Anthropology. Sometimes I wish that I didn’t have to learn all of this by myself.

However, I think about all of the things that wouldn’t have happened if I started sooner. I wouldn’t have learned about running a small business from the boutique owner who eventually became my best friend. I wouldn’t have learned what I DON’T want to do from working at the dealership. I wouldn’t have the incredible connections that I have now.

Would some things have been easier if I had started sooner? Sure. But things happen exactly when they’re meant to. I wouldn’t change anything about this journey.

Cassie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Several years ago, I was working for an online boutique. Our seamstress left, and we needed to figure out what to do. Fast. I had never sewn before, other than hand stitching holes in old clothes, but I told the owner to buy a sewing machine. I decided to teach myself how to use it.

I didn’t plan learning how to construct garments. The owner offered to pay for sewing lessons, but I told her that I would just use YouTube to learn the basics. Less than a week after that sewing machine arrived, I ordered one for my house.

I guess you could say that my style is…unique. Yes, there are some brands that I absolutely love, but as a midsize girly with odd taste, it can be hard to find things that work for my body. Learning how to sew opened up a whole new world. I started making my own clothes.

I knew there were other women like me who have a different kind of style, and can’t always find clothes they love. I couldn’t gatekeeper this, so Casstastrophe was born.

When I worked for the boutique, I quickly learned how difficult it is to keep pieces in stock. Things either sold out immediately and were unavailable to reorder, or they didn’t sell at all. To make things easier on myself and more special for my customers, almost everything is made to order. Because pieces are made to order, fabrics and sizing can be customized. My favorite pieces are listed on my website, but I also take custom requests.

I’m so happy to serve girlies who are a mix of Lisa Frank and Wednesday Addams, or Dolly Parton and Elvira. Casstastrophe isn’t just a clothing brand. It’s a community.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Back in December 2022, my life was turned upside down. I was stuck in a job I didn’t love, but the pay was decent and I loved most of my coworkers. I had already started Casstastrophe on the side, but it was far from my main source of income. Everything changed when the GM hired a racist misogynist for my office.

After being treated horribly, I brought my concerns to HR and upper management. I quoted him word for word, multiple times to multiple people. I let upper management, the GM, and HR know that he made me feel unsafe and uncomfortable. I was initially told that it would be taken care of, and he was moved out of my office. Later that week I was told that I would still have to work closely with him. We were a team, and I just had to suck it up.

I suppose being a woman of color in the car industry in the South, I shouldn’t be surprised that they took a white male’s side over mine. He had years in the industry to support him, even though my product knowledge and customer service skills surpassed his.

I couldn’t allow myself to stay in such a toxic environment. On my next day in the office, I went to work in my best mourning outfit, emailed my resignation to management and HR, said goodbye to my friends, and walked out. I walked out to an uncertain future.

I took my love for style and dove head first into Casstastrophe. I spent time creating new pieces and finding new fabric sources. I improved my skills and increased my in-person reach. I’m still finding ways to grow every day, but I am so proud of how far I’ve come.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Social media and ads are great, but nothing beats good old-fashioned word of mouth. My friends and family have been incredibly supportive. Most of my early customers came from the boutique I used to work at. I gain some new followers from posting on social media, but most find me through mutual friends or from the local shop that stocks some of my clothing and accessories.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://casstastropheshop.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassiedoeswhat/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.lopez/
• Other: Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2316326025328325