Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Uberreste.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was obsessed with clothes from a very early age. I started sewing around the age of five, with my mother and both grandmothers being very adept at sewing. I started with Barbie Doll clothes and matching outfits for my brother and I, then in High School, I started modifying clothes and trying to make things from scratch. I remember I made a pair of pants out of pieces from a backpack. I sold it on eBay for over a hundred dollars. But back then, eBay was much more eclectic. After High School, I attended college with a major in Chemistry. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in Minnesota, and most people didn’t consider fashion a “real job”. I didn’t know any better so I pursued something else. I still loved sewing in my spare time. My family always encouraged me and told me that I could do anything I wanted in life.
But, it wasn’t until I met my husband, Forest, that I really considered a career in fashion. When we got married, he suggested moving out to LA so I could go to fashion school. We did and I ended up tiring of it very quickly. Most of the schools I interviewed were only in it for the money. I felt I wasn’t learning anything, but I was paying out lots of money for it. I ended up seeking out a company I always had a fascination with, Lip Service. I boldly walked in and asked for a job. The lady I spoke with actually laughed in my face. Then, she offered me an internship, which I promptly accepted. I ended up investing so much of my time there and I felt like learning from experience was benefiting me so much more than my schooling, so I quit.
I ended up working my way up to a Designer position, taking every opportunity to learn more or try something new. What I really loved was that everything was so hands on. I wasn’t just sitting in a cubicle dictating my ideas to other people. I got to present my concepts, shop for my own fabric, develop my own patterns, work with the fit models, and travel to speak with actual customers. That really laid the groundwork for starting my own label later on. After I was there for quite a few years, I had many people around me encouraging me to apply for Project Runway. I thought it looked really fun, so I did. I auditioned a couple of times and finally was chosen! That experience also encouraged me to step out on a limb and start my own business.
Meeting other designers from all walks of life and experiencing the competition sparked something in me. After the show, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I interviewed for a couple of jobs, but it didn’t feel right. It seemed like most companies just knock off other companies all for the mighty dollar. I wanted something more. I had always wanted my own brand but I had no idea to start. It was definitely a steep learning curve. It’s true what they say, that you need to fail a million times before success. It happens that way more often than not. It took several years for it to take off and grow organically but it finally did. It took awhile for me to reinvent myself and define who I was apart from someone else’s label.
You can still definitely see influences from Lip Service in my work, it’s very recognizable, but it’s definitely me and it only reflects my history there. I’ve finally gotten to the point where my husband has quit his job to come and work on the label with me. I hope to grow even more and start hiring employees at one point. Everything I set out to do, I have done, and I am so grateful. The key is to never stop trying. Even when things looked hopeless (and still do sometimes), I have to keep pushing. Nothing is free. If you get kicked off the horse, you have to get back up. Even if it happens a thousand times.
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?
Obviously not. I think I am both logical and artistic. But, most artists want to focus on their art. The business side is very difficult to manage especially while trying to create.
Starting from scratch requires patience, trial and error. It’s frustrating trying to be a designer, patternmaker, sewer/cutter, salesperson, accountant, brand manager, and tech support all at once. Sometimes, I think I wanted to succeed so much that it was really just a detriment to myself. I put the pressure on myself, no one else does it, but I feel that drive. I feel like it’s a calling, and I feel I’m the one responsible to accomplish that, no one else.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Michelle Uberreste is a fashion brand that is inspired by the possibilities of the future.
Whether that is a technological utopia void of human suffering, a post-apocalyptic landscape as the result of the conflict, or anything in between. Even the near future or our own personal journeys resulting from choices that we make. The line is characterized by unique fabric choices, unusual texture combinations, and strong silhouettes.
What were you like growing up?
I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere. My family was very close knit and creative. My dad worked at an art store and would bring home discontinued supplies so we always had things to work with. Both of my parents were very resourceful and entrepreneurial.
My little brother was always around to play with, and we would do fashion shows and make home movies with our friends. I was always very headstrong. My parents always tell me they knew that about me from before I could even talk. I wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone and I was very curious.
My brother and I were always encouraged to try new things, and I feel that helped me understand different aspects of life. I was in ballet, I played basketball, did gymnastics, I was also in Science Club and took advanced classes just for fun. I have always felt that learning was fun. I never wanted to stop learning just for the sheer enjoyment of it. I also learned how to handle adversity from a young age. We lived in a floodplain and it was three or four times that we had to leave our house on short notice.
A couple of times the house was destroyed and we had to rebuild. My family has struggled together my entire life, and I believe that’s what created the deep bond we share.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.michelleuberreste.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @michelleuberreste
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelleuberreste
Image Credit:
Ashley Joncas, Ty Pleas, Forest Uberreste, Shaina Lavine, Elita Reign, Angela de Pietro, Jinjutha Makeup, Steve Lucero, Britten Faith, Wilson Huang, Wes Butchko, Sergio Paez, Nova Renay
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