Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittney Garcia.
Brittney, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started with a little singer sewing machine my godmother gifted to me when I was 19. I had always designed clothes while growing up, ripping things apart and hand stitching them back together but this was a whole new level I felt I had unlocked. Especially after having proper lessons under my belt now at an older age. With the help of Instagram, the pieces I designed started to gain some traction so I figured why not start selling them, but alas I was a 20-year-old who knew absolutely nothing about starting a business or properly making a garment that would last. I moved to Los Angeles at 22 and soon after began assisting under cult designer, Claudia Grau, my now mentor, and long-time friend. Her business not only opened my eyes to the world of ethical slow fashion but into a career in creative branding as well. After taking some time to flourish in a marketing career and freelancing as a visual artist I was able to start Wig. My own art project that surrounded sustainable, ethical, slow fashion. I don’t like to call it just a clothing line because it isn’t, it represents much more than that. It is a visual platform and culmination of art, sustainable clothing, and androgynous energy. Where seasons and trends do not matter nor do gender binaries. Each piece is a new painting made with a conscious textile and made for versatility in wear and life. My vision with this project has paved the way for my current path as a freelance art director with my work ranging from prop styling, photography, and more currently: directing.
Has it been a smooth road?
I mean the biggest and most obvious with starting any business anywhere is, you guessed it $$. The word “Overhead” becomes something of a nightmarish trigger following you around for a while. But of course, my struggles, in the beginning, were naivety which we have to go through to learn. That never stops even now with new clients and as a freelancer, every step and every project is a learning process. It does get better and you develop an appreciation for all of it, your mistakes make you and don’t break you because you are surer of yourself and your intentions. I mean its all apart of the journey, not the destination right? Who wants to have it all figured out ever? Seems kind of boring to me.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am known for an earth-conscious, sustainable mindest, with a wide variety of expression in identity. I always want to create with intention and when it comes to visual arts there are so many factors that allow you to do so, from the model to the team to the set and posing. I am most proud of my presence and when people say to me “is this wig” when referring to my clothes and “this is so Wig” when referring to art. I think I am set apart from others because I am my own voice, I create to create it is not just feminine energy, it is a balance, the balance I continue to strive for as a Latinx woman.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
While I love our city the resources for direct to designer textiles and materials is very hard to come by. Plus the vast consumer population here is still largely based on fast instant-gratification and instant to your door fashion. HOWEVER, I can find everything here, while it may not be exactly where I’d wish to source from directly, I can go to my local family-owned store to get supplies for a set design or natural fiber fabrics for clothing and that is fantastic. The city becomes so alive to me when I head to any of the floral, fashion, or arts districts. I would recommend you to go wherever you feel your intuition is calling you, the things you need will come and so will the people.
Pricing:
- Prices for custom clothing start at $200 and up.
- Pre-made designs are made to order and range from $100-$300
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thisiswig.com
- Instagram: @this.is.wig
- Other: www.instagram.com/mbrittneyg
Image Credit:
Benjamin Askinas, Bethany Vargas, M.K. Sadler, Brittney Garcia
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