Meet Sloan Symington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sloan Symington.

Hi Sloan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I always loved fashion, growing up, I’d practice draping how my designs would look with any fabric that could “work”. I’d use bedsheets and bath towels and drape/ wrap them around my body and evaluate in the mirror how I could gather the fabric to make elegant evening gown.

Fast forward to college, I went to school for fashion design – I learned everything from sewing to pattern making. After college, I felt it was a more strategic decision to work on the business side– I worked for a shoe brand and launched their social media accounts and ran their e-commerce business (which at the time was a wildly new concept) as every fashion line was really in big box retailers– Nordstroms, Dillards, Macy, etc. In my career, I took every opportunity to learn about the marketing, sales, and operations – never focusing on the design side.

It wasn’t till I moved from NYC to LA that I started to create some space for myself to really be creative and design again. It was then I started to critically think about what was important to me as it related to fashion and design. I always went back to this line that my mom would say when we would go shopping – “How are you going to wear that, and what else can you wear it with?”. It really stuck with me in every shopping experience since and so it only made sense to carry it over to my designs. Every piece I make has to be utilitarian, versatile, and comfortable.

Today, I design every piece myself and wear test it extensively to ensure I’m creating something that I want to wear again and again and that it’s actually comfortable. Once I get a sample in a good place, I go to Downtown LA and work with an incredible sewer, Maria to create a production-ready piece. It’s a slow process, but one that I have learned so much through.

@sloansymington

Every piece is made to order and sewn by this angel, Maria in Downtown Los Angeles. 😇 #allblackoutfit #madeinlosangeles #dtla #momsoftiktok #momtraprenuer #fashiontok #howimadethis #fashiondesignerlife

♬ original sound – sloansymington

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road so far has been long and winding. I still work on my line on the side of working full time– so I am constantly trying to balance being a mom, working full time, and dedicating time to this dream. The bumps along the way have been made up of figuring out how to respond to the craziness of what TikTok has brought to my business. It has really changed the trajectory of the business. I get instant feedback in the shape of orders and comments. It’s created a space for me to test out a lot of things and learn quickly where the flops are in how to talk about my pieces and show them to people.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make elevated, everyday essentials. Think of the pantsuit you can wear from work to a night out or the little black dress you can wear countless times and know that every time you put it on you’re put together and chic. I’m after the idea that clothes can be made to be chic, comfortable, wearable, and don’t have to cost a fortune. Every piece I’ve designed is $125 and under. I want these pieces to be accessible to people. I don’t think fashion should be limited to those who can afford to spend hundreds of dollars on one dress. To top it all off, it’s all machine washable and wrinkle-resistant.

My piece that has gone viral a few times on TikTok is the Muscle Tee Pantsuit; it’s a wide-leg pantsuit with pockets that is universally flattering. With lots of feedback from TikTok, I’ve launched Tall inseam and have plus size coming very soon! Fun fact: I wore the same one before I was pregnant, while I was pregnant, and now after.

https://www.tiktok.com/@sloansymington/video/7236428118247132462
https://sloansymington.com/products/muscle-tee-pantsuit

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
What has felt like the biggest “risk” for me has been putting all of this out there and having it go nowhere. To some that may not be a risk, for me it feels like everything. It’s taken me a long time to get out of my own way and to just keep going. I’ve learned the biggest risk is not trying.

Pricing:

• Every piece is $125 and under
• Dresses are $75

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sloansymington.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/by.sloan/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@sloansymington