Rising Stars: Meet Zoe Clark of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Zoe Clark

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
California Creative was started unintentionally, it was during the pandemic when I was back in Australia I had started my own brand and was looking for some design work to do while I was investing and building my label. I had someone i knew reach out to me asking if I could help with a new project utilising my design skills, branding and project management background. From there I had another person reach out who wanted to start a sneaker label and had no experience or knowledge of the industry. As I started working with these start up brands word of mouth grew and so did my client list. I moved to LA in early 2023 and set up California Creative and decided to treat it like a business, only recently did I set up social media and am planning to keep growing my client base. My background started as a footwear design, I studied footwear production and design, my first role was with a luxury Australian brand called Mimco, I worked as a footwear designer, I assisted with soft accessories and racewear/ headwear. From there I worked as a designer for another Australian label designing handbags and wallets, my career progress as I designed for different luxury labels within the accessory space. Most of the labels I worked with gave me the opportunity to work across different areas of the business, such a creative direction, graphic design, marketing, and much more. This has given me the experience and knowledge to help brands start and launch there businesses and guide them along the way. I am also a British citizen and in 2018 I went to London to study fashion entrepreneurship, while I was there I managed to get a job working for LVMH as a design assistant in there footwear department. It was amazing experience as I got to work with one of my favourite designers Nicholas Kirkwood. When I returned home to Melbourne in Australia I landed a job with a lady who wanted to start a luxury fashion label manufacturer locally, it was a great opportunity to create and start the brand from the ground up, it was such an amazing experience to be able to build a successful clothing label and teach and guide her how to run it how to save money how to negotiate better deals and how the industry works. California Creative is really utilising my range of skills knowledge and experience working in the luxury high end space and being able to mentor and guide existing and new labels. I offer my services like brand conception all the way into store. I am now moving more towards coaching and creating step by step strategies for my clients allowing them to learn and take action for themselves. I offer affordable solutions and cost saving strategies to maximise their investment funds.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My struggles have been more with my own brand, California Creative has been pretty smooth sailing. The only thing I struggle with is trying to explain to new people that haven’t come to me through recommendation is that I have the skill and knowledge to help them and to justify my rates. What I am learning is you must know your worth and if someone isnt willing to pay for that then they arent the right customer for you.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I mentioned before my expertise is in accessory design, when I was 25 I received some money and decided to create a handbag label, it was just a huge learning experience for me I invested 20k of my own money and I was working a full time job at the time. I was still very new to the industry and it showed as I made so many mistakes along the way. The designs where great but I designed the collection thinking what do people want and not want I was inspired by. As a creative it is so important to listen to your inner voice and follow you creative flow its where the magic happens. I made the mistake of ordering a large amount of stock with no sale strategy or plan, now I will always recommend to promote sell off the samples so you are protected. Years later I decided to try again this time I was going to sell off the samples, I wanted to create a footwear label, I spent month perfecting the collection, and started to build a SM following. At the time I was working with a label and they saw what I was creating and asked if I would design an exclusive design for their brand under my brand name as a collaboration, we had a verbal agreement that I would get a cut of the sales, please know here in lies another lesson. Always and I mean always get every agreement in writing or in a contract. I designed the shoes for her, as soon as she received them she cut all contact with me, she refused to pay me and then started with threats when I sent her a bill for my time designing and working on the collection. It got nasty and I ended up just walking away and learning a hard lesson. After that I felt that the brand was tarnished and I chose not to move forward with it. But through having these firsthand experiences some super successful and other not It allows me to truely help and guide people through the ups and downs of starting and running a business. I honestly wished I had a mentor and coach to help me back them and Im so happy that I can offer that to people now.

What matters most to you? Why?
I love fashion and the whole industry it brings me so much joy and I love being in creative flow. I want to help people and I want to be able to be the support that new entrepreneurs need, when everyone is telling you dont do it or it wont work I can help people not give up be patient and to help them feel supported. I want everyone to follow their dreams and be successful and If I can help with that then I will sleep very well.

Pricing:

• 90 Coaching $750
• Monthly Coaching & Strategies $1200
• Deep Dive Intensive $3500
• New Label – Conception & Strategy (6 Week) $8000
• Existing Label – Review & strategies (4 to 6 Week) $6000

Contact Info:

• Instagram: californiacreativela