Check Out What A Wonderful Wardrobe By Joy Orleans’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to What A Wonderful Wardrobe By Joy Orleans.

Hi What a Wonderful Wardrobe, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
What a Wonderful Wardrobe started because of my passion for performance wardrobe. I am a performance artist, and I have lots of pieces that are super dramatic, intriguing, and memorable. A lot of these pieces are too distinct to be reworn, but far too beautiful and intricate to discard. I had this large closet of clothing that I was attached to but had no real use for. I wanted to share these pieces again, and at the same time, I had begun reading about how most haute couture high fashion houses are required to craft a certain amount of clothing to maintain their haute couture certification. On the same token, high-end brands protect exclusivity by destroying excess clothing. So the high-end fashion industry plays a huge role in filling landfills and destroying the environment. I decided that I wanted to create a high fashion brand that celebrates fashion and showcases looks that are 100% mine, that are fresh and yet… not new! I am a singer from New Orleans, Louisiana, and so is Louis Armstrong, whose song “What a Wonderful World” is a quintessential brick in New Orleans cultural foundation. When listening to this song, Armstrong describes the earth and all its wonders, the leaves of green and red roses, and babies growing, and it is impossible to listen to it without feeling an overwhelming urge to protect this planet. I want to show the high fashion community that dramatic, bold, and new can be achieved without creating literal metric tons of waste. Thrifting, hand-me-downs, and reuse have for too long been branded as unglamorous, but in the last decade, with the resurgence of appreciation for vintage, clothes well-made enough to be worn and loved by more than one person are understood to be a luxury! So to haute couture I say, reuse is avant-garde!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ethical repurposing has presented some challenges. We committed to not creating waste but part of any creative endeavor is creating and that opens us up for creating waste. Sustainability is a nuanced conversation, especially when trying to break into an industry that is notorious for creating massive amounts of waste and frivolous excess. We don’t want to be just another high fashion brand that strives for renown over substance. So being a part an industry that you are actively trying to revolutionize comes with its unique challenges and obstacles.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What a Wonderful Wardrobe is a fashion brand creating timeless, curated collections. In the era of fast fashion, we style pieces with history and character. What a Wonderful Wardrobe is known for artful, dramatic looks that fit in with the avant garde of haute couture. Our debut at London Fashion Week was sourced 75% from Joy Orleans’ personal stage wardrobe and 25% sourced second hand.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
In the age of social media, do not underestimate the power of real world networking. Always both have analog and digital promotional materials so that you can remain flexible!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://whatawonderfulwardrobe.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatawonderfulwardrobe/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585049992110
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatAWonderfulWardrobe

Image Credits
Stuart C. Wilson