Today we’d like to introduce you to Clare Herron.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I first learned to sew in 6th grade – I will be forever grateful that I grew up during a time that home economics classes were still taught in school. The joy of selecting fabrics and trim and mixing colors and textures still feels the same to me now as it did when I sewed my very first project: a duffle bag. Later on, when I was about 15, a relative who I had never met passed away and left behind a sewing machine, sewing kit, patterns, dress form, and a handful of unfinished garments. Remembering my interest in sewing, my dad brought those things home to me. I had that machine for years, not knowing when I first received it that it would be the tool that would help me launch my business.
The seed of my work was planted pretty early on. When I was in high school, I initially began altering thrift clothing and sewing pieces for myself for fun. I had a strong interest in lingerie and it became an obsession and a source of empowerment for me to create and sew my own pieces. I went on to attend Parsons School of Design, where I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want to major in just fashion design, so I chose a major where I could create my own curriculum. I’ve never wanted to choose just one thing – I’ve always seen myself as a multi-disciplinary creative type and more of an artist than a designer. I was collecting vintage fabrics from the linens section in my hometown thrift store in Philadelphia, lugging contractor bags full of fabric up to NYC, using them to stretch over canvases for paintings, and creating illustrations based on vintage textile designs to create silk screens in my printmaking classes. It was in my silkscreen class that the idea for Clare Bare was born.
As I began experimenting with printing my own fabric to sew, I was struggling to think of something I could sew that fit within the constraints of the 23″ x 31″ image I was printing. My friend suggested that I sew lingerie and call it “Clare Bare” as a clever play on words. In that moment, it truly felt like maybe I was born to do this!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My brand has grown slowly and steadily over the years. It initially started as a side project while I was working other jobs. Right out of college, I worked as a muralist/teaching artist, creating both painted and mosaic projects for a public art organization in Brooklyn. During the five years I worked there, my business slowly grew until it became more of my main focus. When that shift happened, I began working during the days on Clare Bare and bartending nights to make ends meet – to me, this felt like a safer bet than to take out a business loan, although in hindsight burning the candle at both ends for so long definitely took a toll on me.
It was only until after I moved to Los Angeles that I was able to work full-time on my brand and personal work. I found an incredible sunny studio space in the Fashion District where I was able to meet and work with so many talented models and photographers and develop a network of friends in my creative community.
Mistakes are helpful lessons to learn from, and naturally I’ve had my share over the years. It took a while to figure out the right way to delegate certain aspects of pre-/post-production to assistants and some terrible experiences with outsourcing manufacturing to get to a point where things run relatively smoothly.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I create lingerie made from upcycled vintage and new sustainable materials. My signature styles mix soft pastels and floral prints from the 60s-80s mixed with a modern contrast of black lace-up and strappy details. I like to use colors and prints outside the range of what you would expect of a sustainable fashion brand. Rather than neutral tones, I gravitate toward pops of color and utilize botanical dyes to transform my raw materials into something more eye-catching.
It’s my ongoing goal to evolve with the fashion industry as innovations in sustainability are made. Currently, my main focus is to use what’s already available rather than create demand for new material production. There is a seemingly endless supply of vintage fabrics and materials begging to be repurposed before they end up in the landfill. As small as I am, and I take my carbon footprint very seriously and utilize production methods and design processes that minimize waste. I feel that my fabric choices and design ethos are what set me apart.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve had many assistants over the years, and can’t imagine what my work would be without them. Both the production help and the camaraderie of like-minded people I’ve had in my circle have been equally important aspects in the evolution of my brand. I’ve also had the joy of seeing them branch out into their own creative endeavors – some of them going on to create their own lingerie lines too. It’s been really rewarding to have symbiotic relationships like these.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://clarebare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clarebarexo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarebarexo
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/clarebarexo
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@clarebarexo
Image Credits
Jordana Sheara Anna Demarco Simone Arasimowicz Angela Izzo Beautyofbaphomet Collibrina Boho Bunnie Ananda Joy Elisabeth Lambos Baby Outlaw
