Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Sheppard.
Hi Kathleen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Tiller started in 2019 through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign where we created the ability to pre-order our first sustainable swimwear collection. After just three weeks, we were able to reach our funding goal and go into production for our very first collection. Since launching, we’ve created several more collections of reversible, ethically made and high-quality swimwear and this past summer launched our very first collection of sustainable activewear. The expansion into this new category is something that was a dream since launching the brand and came naturally in the performance-wear segment. This has sparked our excitement as a brand to grow into other performance and apparel to be able to deliver sustainable alternatives that meet (and exceed!) our communities standards and ethics across other categories within the sustainable fashion space.
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?
As with any small, fresh business, there have been many challenges along the way! As a sustainable small business, it has been particularly difficult to find a strong balance between scaling the brand and the volume of products I feel is appropriate to create from an environmental responsibility standpoint. With that said, we are currently working through solidifying our production process in our home city of LA to be able to work more closely with our production team and provide ultimate transparency for our customers. We are looking forward to expanding our in-person presence, whether that is through continued partnership with local markets in the LA area or seeking retailer opportunities. Regardless, every hurdle has taught us something important and we look forward to learning more as we grow and expand!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tiller?
Tiller is a sustainable swim and activewear brand that specializes in creating high quality, versatile and ethically made apparel for our community. Many of our pieces are either reversible or multi-wear, which allows each of our products to expand their useful life and serve your wardrobe more thoroughly. Whether you’re a seasoned conscious consumer or just beginning your sustainable fashion journey, we’re thrilled to provide you with the best quality swim and active pieces for your next travel plan or adventure!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
As a kid, we grew up sailing in Connecticut every day of the summer with my siblings, parents and friends. We started by sailing tiny one-person boats called Optis at age 7 which gave us autonomy at a really early age. While this was just a summer program, it turned into such a defining overarching memory of my life. Not only did it lead to this importance of autonomy and personal confidence in my abilities, but also for my love for the ocean and the outdoors which lead me to launch Tiller (named after the part that steers the boat!) and curate it to be sustainably centered and as transparent as possible. I’ll look fondly back at my childhood and look forward to continuing creating products that reflect a tiny puzzle piece of what has made me, me!
Contact Info:
- Website: tillerswim.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/tillerswim
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069583220500
Image Credits
Simone Staff Valeria Sarto
