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Introduce yourself and your line:
Gray Lily presents a collection of fine leather handbags recognized for their modern sophistication, showcasing of a wide range of styles to complement any wardrobe. The line was created by Jasmine Hapgood, and is named after the rare and endangered lily flower, “lilium grayi”, or ‘Gray’s Lily‘.
Describe your line:
The Gray Lily collection was designed with every type of woman in mind. When a woman visits Gray Lily - no matter her taste, no matter her style - she should not expect to leave the boutique without seeing something she absolutely loves! The entire collection is made of genuine leather, and is as lovely to touch as it is to see. Whether it’s a tasteful leather top handle, or a crocodile embossed satchel, you are sure to find your “IT” bag in the Gray Lily collection.
What inspired you to have your own line?
I wanted to build a future for myself that would be totally dependent on the work I put into it, and not the fate and economic status of other companies. Also, God has blessed me with such an innovative mind that it just seemed I was destined to have my own business. Being laid off from my employer gave me both the motive and opportunity to start my own business - it was a door that needed to be closed. Specifically, it acted as God's propelling mechanism in my life. Since fashion is my area of interest, the only thing left to do was to choose something that I would actually enjoy doing everyday for the rest of my life
Why was opening your own store important to you?
Having a brick and mortar store to come to everyday is a huge motivation! Also, shoppers are able to see the quality of Gray Lily handbags before they purchase, and I am able to interact with my customers, and see their reaction to my collection. So far, it has been great! Everyone loves the line and the boutique.
What was your background prior to launching your own line?
I was an office manager for an insurance firm for three years prior to launching my line. I was laid off in October 2010.
How would you describe your experience with StartingAClothingLine.com products?
Starting A Clothing Line products equipped me with all of the knowledge I needed to successfully launch my line. The program covered everything from manufacturing to the legal aspects of the business. I am so grateful to have found it online. It was truly a blessing to my business.
Digital Fashion Pro was also a great help to me with designing. Designing can be a little intimidating if you are not a skilled artist. Digital Fashion Pro comes with tons of great templates for any type of garment, so all you need is a vision, and the possibilities are endless! The fabrics look very realistic, and there are so many to choose from. There are zippers, pullers, buttons - everything you can think of is in the program. When I made my first design using the program, the sample came out exactly as pictured. Because I was able to create such a great visual design in DFP, I did not have to go through rounds and rounds of producing samples for one design. The sample maker got it right on the second try!
What are your future plans for your line?
I would like to expand into shoes in about 6 months to 1 year. However, I am in no rush. I would like to first achieve the goals that I set for Gray Lily handbags. Also, I would like to open my own factory overseas.
What is your website?
My website is www.graylily.com, which I am very proud of, as I designed and built it myself!
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