Creating a Custom Fabric: Starting a Fashion Brand with Melissa Calamia

[@ag5415]

This product would really do well in markets like Hawaii , where people literally go to the beach after work before going home, to go surf , do some laps etc. Really interested in seeing this product out there.

[@Everywhere2]

Fascinating discussion, thank you. I'd definitely LOVE a series on how Melissa's start-up evolves.

[@sewingincubator]

Wow!... You really made my weekend with so many "Truth bombs" 🤩 1) The reality of sustainability (instead of pontification by the purists) 2) What really goes into creating a product 3) How the lexicon is changing and the issues it can cause 4) The importance of social media as part of the journey 5) Addressing the myth of "starting a brand without money" I can't wait for the next installment of Melissa's journey! 😍

[@prophetessoftroy]

Boosting for the algorithm (but also because I’d love installments about the brand journey!)

[@jakedoheny3336]

I was just wondering zoe , did you ever think of making a podcast and interview people on various fashion topics? If it's gonna be an hour long video it might as well be a podcast , like i can see myself listening to all this on radio

[@Rog_Sterling]

I concur!

[@JillianSiobhanMal]

That’s a great idea! I feel like with the magazines disappearing even with influencers/social media and maybe a few blogs still around media is majorly missing fashion coverage.

[@zoehongteaches]

Yes, and I've decided not to.

[@jakedoheny3336]

@@zoehongteaches That's okay , at the end of the day it is your channel , it's just a friendly suggestion 😁

[@SachikoMiwako888]

Good day, Madame Zoe Hong & Madame Melissa Calamia... Hello, good folks!!!

[@sierrasukalski2133]

I appreciate the gems like the part about labeling laws, and different ways companies try to get their products seen, and taxed by the powers that be, in different categories. Great interview! I'm excited to see where this project goes! The idea of this multi-use skin adjacent layer is exactly the kind of thing I hunted for, what seems like my whole life. That comes in the form, the last ten or fifteen years or so, from a desire to have the perfect travel, adventure, hit-the-horizon-and-don't-look-back wardrobe. But for longer than I've had words for it, it was also the instinctive quest of my neurodivergent self. Something comfortable, minimal, and adaptable in many circumstances, so it can be equal parts uniform and touchstone, without fuss, or comment... Yes, that has been a neat package for my most extravagant desires. Now, however, I am more a snake shedding my skin, and I have no internal use for underwear... But if I ever go looking for a swimsuit, and end up with a multi-purpose garment... 😄😉 Life is good. I find, however, that I have gotten less keen on fitting in, especially when superficially appropriate, and I have a particularity for certain colors. They speak their own language in relation to me, and the world. Anyway, I mention myself, because if you do manage a comfortable base layer, neurodivergent people may be very keen on it. And a note on color, just my two cents... I have olive skin, and none of the neutrals are neutral on me. Dark blue is more than passable, and has been a mainstay in my wardrobe, but true neutrals are more in the green family, and complex mixes of warm, and cool tones at that. Trying to find ethical green dyes on natural fibers, that suit my purposes, has been a challenge. I understand at least some of the great difficulty that goes into finding the dye, the color, the technique, that will come together to make just one version of what you need. That said, just from my own perspective, my two cents is that neutrals are not neutral on everyone, and skin color is a wider range than perhaps you might imagine. It is very wise to ask for feedback on the colors, from your audience, very, very wise. Bliss Foster was narrating a fashion show, where he had the realization that bright colors were looking absolutely fantastic on dark skin, and he had the realization that so much of fashion has been designed for only light skin in mind... Because of the colors, and not the flesh tone ones you might imagine. Somehow I had it in my head for what seems like slumbering, cursed centuries, that neutrals were neutrals, and somehow they worked neutrally with the skin, as a base... And it was never true. Now when, and if, I reach for black, and white, and grey (brown and beige are a whole essay), I think of them as the very deliberate statements they are. For underwear, I probably will never wear black again. Why? Because for me, black requires texture to look like it belongs. Anyway... Peace.

[@borokakovrig9524]

Thank you so much, Melissa and Zoe! 🥰

[@supr_be]

Thank you for such an amazing and insightful video - great interview too!! I started a swimwear label and the discussion on pricing /colours was very helpful. Trying to be sustainable is not easy as prices can be double for eco-friendly fibres. So trying to be sustainable has to also come from other sources or phases of the process as otherwise the business itself cannot be sustainable itself. Thanks for pointing this out.

[@walterw9829]

The discussion about the intersection of Fashion and Small Business is always fascinating. I always learn something new from your channel.

[@basimarazak4954]

Thank you for all this information. Very helpful. And I love your energy, both of you 😊

[@oscarzepeda1558]

Always Love Your Rants Zoe !!!

[@SierrasStitchSanctuary]

Absolutely loved this video. Thank you so much to the both of you, for letting us peaks into your beautiful brains for a bit. Cheers and much love to the both of you, and I'd LOVE a series on Melissa's journey

[@christiebecerril8113]

This is great! I loved listening to Melissa talk about her journey and process and all the things she takes in consideration for making business decisions. Super interesting and informational also I love the rants

[@LisaBhullar]

Great questions Zoe thank you so much and oh my goodness this was very high on my list of information. I wanted to understand better. THANK YOU!!!

[@clairmclaughlin8315]

Fab interview! I'd love to see follow-ups & more interviews. Thanks!

[@veru_es]

Thank you so much, this was so insightful and interesting! Knowing now the product/background, it would be interesting to hear about testing fabric durability/determining how to take care of it. I imagine having one piece that covers work out, swimming in a pool/sea and having it also as a piece of underwear can have impact on longevity of the thing? Anyways, I am curious to see how this journey evolves and I wish best of luck to Melissa!!

[@michalinkazofia]

This conversation is great!

[@chelseysaindon3645]

What an insightful interview! So much useful information and a lot of topics of interests to investigate further that I wasn’t aware of. Really enjoyed this.

[@AngelaWoolsey]

Great Content, Thank you! I love the story of “first name last name” I need one of those friends! 😂

[@verityundefinedhunt8085]

❤So, loving your content! Cheers & Thanks.

[@AsoumahKesselly]

Thanks sharing ideas fantastic video

[@moonsr1v3r50]

More q&a’s with Melissa pls!

[@loribledsoe2795]

thank you for sharing

[@ayf449]

Pro tip: saying you work HR also would stop people from asking, but some will give you that ohh.. that translates to "You're one of THOSE people.."

[@zoehongteaches]

hahaahahha~

[@TheQwuilleran]

Does Melissa have a any other SM? i don't do instagram or ticktick

[@iancpowell]

The Converse thing was reported on Market Place and used more than once as an example on import & labeling laws. MPR wouldn’t keep repeating it as a reputable journalism organization that gets interviews with Nike and other business owners if they were misrepresenting things

[@zoehongteaches]

Oh dang.

[@polyesterbebe]

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[@JoshLathamMVC]

hmm, does she have plans to move into the male market? I know lots of men who wear basketball shorts/ swim trunks as underwear.

[@zoehongteaches]

I'll let her know!

[@andyynu]

I love you Zoe thank you for teaching me so much as a beginner to fashion design. you have helped me dipped my toes into so much knowledge im excited to hear more from you🫶🏾