Daily Inspiration: Meet Janey Lopaty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Janey Lopaty

Hi Janey, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I always loved Fashion. I went to FIDM and studied design. I had my own clothing company called Designs By Janey when I was 25 and sold too Fred Segal and other stores around LA, NY and Chicago. It was comfort wear. Things that would still be relevant 30 years later. I helped open up stores for people and style. I always loved putting clothes together for people. I was working with a store called Stacey Todd in the Studio City and would bring in celebrities to shop there. One day the Juicy Couture girls Pam and Gela called to see if I could come in and work for them and get Juicy Couture exposure. They just had come out with the terry tracksuits and I had remembered that at a store I worked at Tracy Ross that I used to monogram terry bathrobes. The stylist Arianne Phillips called for tank tops for the backup singers for Madonna and I asked if I could give Madonna a tracksuit and I had Madge monogrammed on it that was her nickname in London.

A week later The London Times newspaper had it on the cover saying Madge Has A Brand New Badge and the line just took off from there. There was JLo, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltrow. You could not open up any magazine without seeing people dressed in Juicy. I would go up to everyone and say I am Janey from Juicy and ask if I could send them clothes and I would build these incredible trusting relationships with the celebrities and their stylists. It was a new way of branding at that time and the first time people were being known for the designers they were wearing for their street style just not only on the red carpet… It helped start a whole change in PR for the future. It was incredible being part of such an iconic brand that will be in history forever. I won Brandweek marketer of the next generation and Ad age the top 40 under 40. After 8 years of heading Juicy PR I wanted to start my own company Janey Lopaty PR so I could work and help a variety of smaller and larger brands. I wanted to work with small brands so they could get the exposure that they may not have been able to get and larger brands like Gap so we could help them bring in a new audience. It has been 15 years that I have had my own PR firm.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There have been ups and downs having your own business. Working for a company you can concentrate on just the the one task that you are hired for. When you have your own company, you have to wear a lot more hats. The pandemic was a challenge because a lot of brands were not getting paid by stores or people were canceling orders so it became a ripple effect. Everyone was in the same boat at the time so we tried to support each other.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My company does brand placement with celebrities, influencers and stylists. I also work with brands in a creative way to help them with styling lookbooks and online photos so that the content that is being put out can not only broaden their audience but showcase the brand in the best way possible. I also help with inspirational shopping, design and consulting if a brand requests. I learn a lot from what people are requesting in my showroom or what I see maybe a hole in the brand that they may have not explored or may be missing in their line and I am able to share that information with them. Coming from a design, styling and retail background, I can see all the different aspects of a brand as a whole and I have been able to help brands in many more ways in addition to the pr placements and see the full picture. I also really make myself available to my clients so they know they are working with me directly.

I think working in-house with Juicy Couture and then having my own PR firm I try to be invested and give the same attention in the same way as when I was in-house to each of the brands. I do think the celebrities, stylists influencers trust my taste and I have built so many amazing loyal relationships with so many over the years. I always try to go out of my way to help everyone out because I know how last-minute everything can be. I do think always having such a passion and love for fashion and working with people has really helped.

What are you most proud of?
I think what I did with Juicy Couture was one of my proudest moments. Helping make that the biggest brand of its time was truly amazing. It was such an iconic brand for the time. Also, I think helping small brands get recognized and see someone that they always wanted to in their clothes or helping a brand gain a new exciting audience from people wearing their clothes. I really love that.  Seeing my dad see me getting awards in marketing and see what I have done has been one of the biggest rewards.

What matters most to you? Why?
I would like to make a difference. I worked with a campaign recently called Smash the Stigma for Trevor Project and Newport Academy. It is about Smashing The Stigma against Mental Illness. I also worked with a jewelry line Awe Inspired that gave a lot back Nami (the National Alliance for Mental Illness) It was nice that I got to use my connections in a way to help spread the word raise money and let people know they are not alone if they are suffering from depression, anxiety bipolar or any type of mental illness. . Depression is something I dealt with and anyway I can help I always will.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: janeylopatypr
• Facebook: janey lopaty
• Linkedin: janey lopaty pr
• Other: instagram janey lopaty pr

Image Credits
Selma Blair picture – Susan vizvary Jessica Alba- Jessica Alba Kristen Bell photo- Ana Ayala Sarah Michelle Gellar photo- Sarah Michelle Gellar Janey Lopaty Photo- Coralia