Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Jones.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
As a young girl, I was always creative and dreamt of a career in fashion. When I was 13, I asked for a sewing machine for my birthday and taught myself to sew, creating outfits and anything else I could conjure up by putting material together.
I ended up going to school for Business but couldn’t shake my internal craving for creativity and the fashion industry. After years outside of college, I decided to go back to school for fashion at FIDM.
Throughout my experiences as a young woman shopping for luxury shoes, I consistently struggled to find beautiful, quality shoes that were also comfortable. I found myself saving up to purchase a pair of those “luxury” shoes I’d been dreaming of, only to find them to be super stiff and uncomfortable. I would end up looking at them with dread as I let them sit unworn in my closet.
After talking to many women in my life, I found that I was not the only one feeling disappointed in the assortment and practicality of women’s luxury shoes – so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
After a few years of gaining experience in the footwear industry, I was confident enough to branch out and start development on my own brand, Jaclyn Jones USA. Development took some time as I soon realized that making comfortable luxury shoes was going against the grain. With an incredible amount of research, trial and error, and lots of fit tests, I was finally ready to introduce JJUSA in Fall 2017.
Our couture footwear is made stitch-by-stitch by talented U.S. artisans. Our shoes incorporate custom-made insoles featuring 4mm of foam paddling that you won’t find anywhere else in the market, making our shoes undeniably comfortable.
Making our shoes in the USA, especially right here in Los Angeles, allows me and my team the opportunity to be involved every step of the way. We are extremely proud of the details that are hand-worked into each shoe – making each pair a unique piece of art! Since we don’t have to deal with mass production volume that is required when working overseas, and keeping in line with luxury one-of-a-kind products, we make limited-edition size runs (up to 18 pairs per style/color combination), giving our customers exclusive footwear that you won’t see on hundreds of others.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wouldn’t say that the road has been “smooth” – but it has definitely allowed me to learn and grow in unexpected ways. Jumping into a long-standing industry set in its ways and trying to convince people to try something new was not easy. At every turn, I was greeted with, “that’s not the way it’s done” or just flat out “no.” In any industry, breaking down barriers is tough, but I will say sticking with it is important and rewarding once accomplished.
My advice to young women is to be resilient, establish your voice, and never assume that you’re done learning. You will constantly hit bumps in the road, but it’s how you react to those bumps that define you!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jaclyn Jones USA – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
When I started creating my brand, I wanted to tackle the biggest complaint in the luxury footwear market – the lack of practicality in stiff, mass-produced European-made shoes. Understanding what a comfortable pair of shoes can do for a woman’s confidence, I made it my mission to make the most luxurious shoes possible, incorporating comfort, fashion, and premium materials! Unlike the vast majority of the luxury footwear market, our shoes are designed and tested by women, using cutting-edge practices to optimize comfort so that JJUSA shoes are beautiful, luxurious, and most importantly wearable!
Outside of the obstacles I have faced breaking into the male-dominated luxury footwear space, I feel as though one of the biggest barriers to female leadership is lack of confidence. I have realized along my journey that other people will always try to tell you that you can’t do it or that you’re not doing it right. When you become confident in yourself as a leader, you will find that that is reflected in the responses you get from others. Stay clear in your purpose and your goals and you will naturally become a stronger leader and be more successful in your journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: jaclynjonesusa.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @jaclynjonesusa
- Facebook: Jaclyn Jones USA
Image Credit:
Jaclyn Jones USA
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