Life & Work with Meredith Howell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Meredith Howell.

Hi Meredith, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started as a Fashion Textile Design major at North Carolina State University where I learned how to sew and do pattern making in my first 2 years. I soon changed my major to Fashion Textile Management with a concentration in Product Development so that I was able to learn how to manage a fashion business and work within the supply chain.

In summer 2020, I made my first pair of shorts from a handmade tapestry sourced in Durham. I posted them on social media and instantly received offers of hundreds of dollars though, I was not even intentionally selling them.

Since then, I have made shorts, pants, puffer coats, t-shirts that I made in my home studio in Raleigh and have even sold merchandised goods under my brand, Maison de Laflare.

In the summer of 2021, I was able to receive the attention of celebs such as basketball player, Zion Williamson, and rapper, Tia Corine, who purchased custom pieces from designs I created following their direction. I purchased my LLC in October 2021 and since then, I released a line of puffer coats and t-shirts which have since sold out after doing several pop-ups in Durham and Charlotte, NC.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Overall, the road to the success of my brand has been fairly smooth. One of the lessons however that I did have to learn the hard way, was how to separate my business profit and expenses from my personal profit and expenses.

I received a lot of money from 2020 to 2021 from my business. However, I also spent a lot of money from 2020 to 2021 on things outside of my business. Because of this, when I did need to purchase things for my brand, I always had to come out of pocket which as you could imagine, is not a sustainable way to run a business.

Since purchasing my LLC, however, I have been more fiscally responsible with my profit and separating myself from my business which has allowed me to make and keep more profit overall.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I primarily design and make custom pieces from my home studio. My work is a blend between clothing and art. I like to focus on textures and patterns and how clothing makes you feel when you put it, both physically and mentally. I am primarily known for my bottoms and my puffer coats. I have an eye for print and texture as it relates to pants and shorts which is something not as common in the modern fashion world.

I have done everything from denim to trousers to shorts and sweatpants, which have all sold out typically instantly. Recently, I have begun to make puffer coats, which I stuff rather than a quilt. This makes them not only extremely soft but also gives them a sculptural effect. This, along with the standout patterns and textures that I use for my garments, has allowed me to also sell out of every coat I have ever made as well. I am most proud of my celebrity clients. I made a custom outfit for the rapper, Tia Corine’s performance for the festival, Rolling Loud NY. This was a huge accomplishment for me as seeing some of my best work ( a corset and custom pants (that fit perfectly) made out of a blanket) on a huge stage like that was so awe-inspiring for me. My work also went viral when basketball player, Zion Williamson wore my pants to one of his NBA games.

Being able to see my work blow up on the internet was huge for me. This was even more meaningful because I was able to do this with less than a year of real business experience before I even purchased my LLC. I also was able to meet one of my favorite designers, Colm Dillane, from the brand KidSuper, this year. I gave him a piece I had made and he wore one of my custom outfits. This was an extremely beautiful moment for me.

My mind sets me apart from others the most. Because I make all my clothes myself, each piece is 100% authentic and unique. I see my work as play and therefore, a lot of my pieces look like something that you have never seen before. I like to make clothes that provoke conversation and stimulate the mind. I can say that in a room full of clothing, mine will always stand out because of this.

How do you think about luck?
I feel extremely lucky to be in the position that I am in. Given that I did not even mean to start my business rather, I was inspired to make clothes that people just so happened to love, which is a huge blessing.

The celebrity clients that I had this year were an example of extreme luck as not only did most of them contact me first, but they also all paid in full for outfits that were but on a national stage. Going viral following Zion Williamson wearing my pants, was extremely lucky and granted me a lot of opportunities in itself. Meeting one of my favorite designers and having him wear my clothes before even having my LLC, was nothing short of a miracle. Being able to sell out of almost everything that I have ever made is also an example of great luck.

Overall, most of the accomplishments that I have ever had in business and in life have been because of my great luck. I am however very spiritual and I pray over every situation in life and in business. I, therefore, believe that these great lucky experiences that I was able to have are just blessings as a result of my strong faith.

Pricing:

• Handmade Puffer coats are typical $120+
• Handmade Bottoms are typical $100+
• Custom Pieces are typical $150+
• T-Shirts are typical $30+

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: merelaflare.com
• Instagram: @maisondelaflare

Image Credits
@patricksustento (Tia Corine photo) and @Billsmemoir