We recently connected with Chloe Lind and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Chloe, thanks for joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
Chloe Lind Customs stemmed from an initial mission to provide a safe space for everyone to express themselves, the same way my parents guided me.
Growing up in a small town, there was a lack of acceptance if one wanted to try out a new style or garment. If you were not in the typical trend of the year, you did not bother having popularity, attention, you know all those things that high school movies glamorize.
As young as I can remember, I’ve always had a knack for fashion and specifically putting together outfits from various styles. My mom used to praise that I would jump from clique to clique comfortably, finding a way to mend friendships. However, my style was not understood and I felt isolated from the rest of the school. There were a select few students who had no concern for others opinions and to their benefit, that lack of concern created a safe space for them personally to express themselves.
With the custom aspect of the business, you are literally able to create anything you’d like! There are no limits. We make pieces for all people, everywhere!
Chloe, 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 originally started upcycling due to growing up in a low income household. As a small child, I spent hours sketching designs, hunting through thrift shops and yard sales looking for the right pieces to work with or deconstruct to my liking. As this passion grew, I became more familiar with different textiles and the idea that I definitely wanted to remain environmentally friendly and sustainable As possible. Chloe Lind Customs came to fruition one day when I found two woven tapestry blankets and quickly drafted some pants. I had never created pants from a fabric such as this and had to really work in the details. To my surprise, both pairs sold online and this is the moment Chloe Lind Customs really began.
The company prides itself on not only being a safe place for everyone and anyone to express themselves through their style, but it is also a place to encourage being mindful of the earth and what Mother Nature brings to us.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Everyone has a different creative process. As I have become a small business owner, and have met others, I have grown to understand the misconception of product quality, time frames, and overall work ethic. When owning a small business, you are choosing to blur the lines between personal and work because of social media, contacting customers on a level that creates a good rapport with them, etc. One piece of advice I have been given is to never apologize, and to rather explain why an item might take longer, or why something has affected the process of an order. Small business owners tend to be a team of 1-5 employees; Chloe Lind Customs being ran by only myself. In order to create the best products possible, we as owners must be encouraged a work life balance as well!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I definitely learned not to overwhelm myself with orders because of the desire to fulfill all customers needs however I had learned the hard way! Initially, I wanted to maintain an affordable and easy to obtain method of listing items, however due to demand and only employing myself currently, I had run behind majorly on orders. Thankfully, customers are angels and if you are open and honest, you can come to a compromise!
Contact Info:
- Website: Shopchloelindcustoms.com
- Instagram: @chloelindcustoms
Image Credits
Dane Perez, Los Angeles, Instagram: @dankydane35mm