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

Alright, Lucielle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

In recent years, the fashion industry has made slow strides in sustainability, realizing how unethical and damaging the industry has been to people and the planet. Regarding trends, I foresee the focus on eco-friendly practices to continue in 2023, especially on transparency, on-demand manufacturing and circularity. Since the pandemic, which forced most people to both retrospect and introspect, many consumers are shifting the way they view fashion and buy their goods. If brands want to stay relevant and appeal to younger generations, they must engage in more transparent practices. That includes sharing more details about their suppliers, manufacturing, business model, etc. Many consumers want a front-row seat to what’s happening behind-the-scenes.

It’s no surprise that the fashion industry has been known for being wasteful, and this is why ways to tackle this issue remain at the forefront. Solutions could include opting for on-demand production, which in my opinion, is still in its infancy. It will help the elimination of overproduction, enabling brands to produce when consumers demand it. There are, of course, challenges with this business model in terms of scale and such. But I do believe it’s an area that will only grow and improve with innovation.

And lastly, circularity has grown in popularity in the last few years. It’s a business model that goes hand in hand with waste reduction, allowing brands to continue to innovate and come up with practices that keep systems and resources in a constant loop. As brands ideate new products and designs, they will start to focus on how their materials could be used over and over again.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Being part of the fashion industry has always been a goal of mine since I can remember. The manner of it happening was not linear, but it led me to where I’m now.

To take it back, throughout high school, I knew I wanted to become a writer with aspirations of becoming a fashion editor. I never lived in a so-called “fashion city,” so my path to getting there was a bit unclear. But I had faith in myself and knew that it would happen one way or another.

Straight out of college and with a degree in journalism, I was scarred by the industry after an “unsuccessful” internship. Then I decided to pursue public relations after hearing multiple times I was a natural at it. I worked at a PR firm for two years and then tried the solopreneur route in 2017. I honed my skills in media relations, community engagement and social media management. While pursuing PR, I also had a side gig of blogging and creating fashion content on social media, serving as an outlet to express my passion while pursuing my “big girl job.”

When the pandemic hit, I realized there was no better time to focus on my dreams than now. Although I enjoyed PR and creating content for lifestyle brands, it was time for me to pursue my calling. It was then that I rebranded myself as a freelance writer. And, of course, the industry had to be fashion.

With more free time, thanks to the lockdown, I had plenty of time to introspect, including viewing my relationship with fashion. I noticed how I was consumed by the fast-paced industry and treating my clothes as disposable items, leading me to learn more about sustainability. Through research and online courses on sustainability, I discovered my niche within the fashion industry and what I wanted to write about. I started pitching many magazines, blogs and brands, leading me to cultivate a network. Since then, I have not looked back. I have written for many outlets, including Adweek and Considered Magazine, and I became an EcoCult and Yahoo Creative Studios editor.

I’m very proud of my path and what I’ve accomplished so far. Recognizing that it’s time for change is not easy, and it takes gut and grace. I hope my story inspires others to take a step back when there’s a voice in their head that won’t go away. It’s OK to try something and not like it. It’s also OK to deviate from the plan but get there at your own pace at a later time. Every experience is a teachable moment, leading you to where you need to be. We have to trust the process and not give up.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being a creative is a humbling experience because the more I learn, connect and research, the more I realize there is so much to uncover. I love that I get to challenge myself and write about topics that interest me while sharing knowledge and hopefully sparking change in others.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My continuous efforts to learn and grow within the sustainable fashion industry have led me to search for a community. I was never afraid to join forums, Instagram lives, industry Slack channels, etc. The more I connected with folks, the more exposure I received, and it helped me gain visibility and even speaking engagements. Don’t be afraid to share your work on social media, as it helps boost credibility and online connections.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.luciellesalomon.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciellesalomon/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luciellesalomon/

Image Credits
Sophie Sahara