Last week independent bag designer Cindy Beck, founder of Alysse Sterling, took over our Instagram to share with everyone a day in the life of an emerging brand. It was so great to get a little peek into her lovely luxury brand.
Cindy is a very talented designer based in Salt Lake City, UT and we’re thrilled to say is a member of the StartUp FASHION community. It has been so nice learning about Cindy’s sophisticated brand and witness her accomplishments; things like exciting press coverage and celebrity placement.
Below is our interview with Cindy, where she shares a bit about her business and lessons learned as an independent and up and coming luxury brand.
There is a saying “you learn something new every day.” The day of your takeover, what did you learn about business in fashion?
The day of my takeover what was made clearer is how important social media is and the impact it makes on a brand. As a business owner and trying to build a brand it is so important to be responsible and promote your brand respectfully.
There are people in the industry who visit various social sites looking for new product and ideas to collaborate with.
What is your favorite photo you took? Why?
This is a hard question for me to answer. The images I posted have different meaning for me. I love the “raw” untouched images of “behind the scenes” photo shoot. It shows beauty au natural.
I also the love the fact the models I have worked with bring different skill to the shoot as well as a unique presence.
Finally the angle of the model and clutch can be so cleverly placed and in just the right light make the image “pop”. To be fair I am unable to choose a “favorite” photo as each image evokes various emotions that I deem “favorite”.
What is the most valuable thing you did the day of your takeover?
The most valuable thing I did during my takeover was to take note of the audience throughout the day on StartupFashion along with any comments posted. It is helpful to get real feedback on my Alysse Sterling clutches on how they are received in the market via social media.
How would you describe your day in three words?
Excited, Thrilling, and Thankful! Thank you for the opportunity for the Instatakeover. It was an honor for me to have the “stage” for the day with StartUp Fashion.
What role has StartUp FASHION taken in your everyday business life?
As an emerging designer StartUp Fashion has provided support in various ways. The website has some amazing tools to assist me; such as the online database, tool kits, and the conversation that sparks amongst community members.
What did you accomplish the day of your instatakeover?
The day of my Instatakeover I was working on the dashboard of my website. With my new 9 piece collection, I had start building some of the records so that I can bring my new pieces live on my website. It is all a WIP (work in process).
If you could give one piece of advice to fellow emerging designers, what would it be?
The one piece of advice I would give fellow emerging designers is not to give up. The journey is a test with mixed emotions and that is to be expected. Believe in yourself and pave it forward. Life can put obstacles in your way but it is only to make you stronger.
