Today we’d like to introduce you to Corinne Clegg.
Hi Corinne, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started Petites Reveries in 2020. I had been working in the fashion industry for about ten years and was eager to bring my creative vision to life. When the world stopped due to to covid in 2020, I found that this time was the perfect opportunity for me to finally take that leap. Having learned about all the waste and fast fashion produced in the industry, I knew I wanted to create with an artisanal and sustainable approach. I really was inspired to learn how to make clothing sustainably with my two hands rather than outsource the work so I could feel really in touch with my creations. Starting a business and learning how to hand make an idea into a physical garment was something new however that I had to face on my own.
Quite unique, humorous, and contrary to LA’s fashion industry today, I taught myself how to learn from white haired women who were three times my age. They taught me how to make my own pieces from the ground up. We became friends, had plenty of laughs and soon I was learning to create patterns, sew, crochet, and knit. Bucket Hats were the first piece I made simply because it seemed easiest for me to learn. Sweat outfits were next as they were the perfect outfit to spend all my days lounging at home. It kind of took off before I knew it after having had shared the pieces with my friends and family. Soon enough, I was in business!
As for the French brand name, I regret to inform you my French is limited. In love with the way Europeans seem to tap into a simpler and romantic way of living, you can often find me listening to old jazz & songs in French. Being raised in Southern California I have an affinity for all things my homeland has to offer from coast to countryside: surfing, snowboarding, camping, dirt-biking, etc! I draw inspiration from both the countryside and coast and design my vintage -esque garments to embody the timeliness of a daydream. Nevertheless, the name I coined for my design page is ‘Petites Reveries’, French for ‘Little Daydreams’. I incorporate a Parisian twist in my brand and a hint of coastal cowgirl!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel grateful to have finally kickstarted my dream and to have turned it into a reality, but I would say that starting your own business is nothing but overcoming challenges and constant learning. The retail industry is a difficult line of work; there are so many moving parts which makes it extremely important to stay in a positive mindset through it all. Handmade pieces are a whole other labor of love in itself. I love being creative but figuring out the financial and logistical side of the business is definitely new to me. Relying and taking a chance on yourself is something I have to muster up the courage to do every day. My marketing assistant Julie has played an integral and supportive role in Petites Reveries growth. I couldn’t do it without her! Support is so huge when it gets tough, and I’ve really found that other small woman owned brands help lift each other up. It’s been so beautiful to find camaraderie and support in one another there. Petites Reveries started completely out of love for creation and expression. If we don’t follow our ‘petites reveries~lil daydreams’ how can we encourage others to? Having had a dream to launch a brand earlier in my life, it’s weird and exciting to look at myself and think: ‘I’m here, I’ve actually created my own business and I’m going to keep following this dream!’
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We specialize in creating sustainable clothing handcrafted solely for our consumers. Specifically, we are known for our hand crochet and knit pieces although I hope to expand into some sewn garments as well. Nowadays, so many brands focus too much on distributing and manufacturing product that they fail to account for the waste they’re producing! We want to change the industry and express the importance of slow-fashion. Often people don’t realize one hand crochet/knit piece takes no less than 3 hours and upwards of 40 hours. Slow fashion allows us to produce clothes that are made to last so the product we give out is made out of the highest quality materials. This also allows us to form deeper connection with our consumers and in turn, make unique pieces that are personal to them. We recognize that fast fashion brands put too much focus on their products and not on their consumers. At Petites Reveries, we want to build relationships with our customers because we care about how our garments make them feel. We utilize our social media platforms to connect with our consumers and create a dialogue with them. Due to the fact that we are a new business, having a loyal customer base makes all the difference! Our consumers motivate us everyday to keep producing garments and we want to inspire our consumers like they inspire us! We will always push the idea of embracing daydreams because like my dream that originated in a small bedroom in Southern California, any dream can be turned into a reality.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Attract~don’t chase! Every great opportunity, connection, or mentor has only come from when I stepped into personally pursuing what I loved on my own time. Often, I just had to start somewhere, even if It was imperfect. Every one is different but this has been a big truth for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.petitesreveries.com
- Instagram: petites.reveries
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/P.Reveries
