Inspiring Lives Magazine Spring 2017: Issue 4 | Page 93

Dress, which is the sweatshirt dress. It was really just for
me, but when I would wear it, people would stop me left
and right and ask where I got it. So I thought I would
make some of these and just keep them in my studio for
some custom clients if they want to buy them on the side.
Also, when people would knock on the door just to see
what I did, there was stuff they could buy.”
Through making those dresses, Tomlin also learned
the processes of pre-work and ready-to-wear. She learned
about designing dresses and sending the design off to
someone else to make multiple copies of it into actual
clothing in different sizes. Now she has a storefront for
her line where she can show customers how to mix and
match pieces and, most importantly, where customers can
give her direct feedback.
Tomlin is also starting to have her pieces manufactured
locally.
“We started making last season’s line here ourselves. It’s
always been in my plan to manufacture locally because
I can be more hands-on. I can be more attentive to it, as
well as eliminate a lot of the waste—whether it’s leftover
waste or producing more than I need—because when you
go to another factory, they have minimums. So you’re kind
of stuck making X amount. Well when X amount doesn’t
sell, I just don’t want to work that way. It’s very wasteful.
So it was always my intention to bring a factory here. Then
I had some logistical issues with my mill in Los Angeles
where they had a machine break, and I couldn’t get the
fabric to the factory in time to get it out to some interna-
tional orders for stores in Europe. We had to get those
orders to Europe, so I just had the fabric sent here, and we
leased a space and cranked those out.” As a result, Tomlin’s
factory will be coming sooner rather than later.
As for Tomlin’s upcoming spring line, she says to expect
lighter fabrics.
“For our spring line, we lighten the fabrics, to a super
lightweight jersey modal. We kind of recreated some of
our other styles in a lighter weight, and a little bit drapi-
er. We’ve got a nice neutral, light color palate. To me it’s
more…more uptown!” Tomlin exclaimed satisfactorily.
It may have taken some time to get to the place she is
now, but the forces of the universe knew where Tomlin
belonged all along. She was meant to grace the fashion
world with her incredible presence. What advice does she
have for others who hope to follow their dreams? “Figure
out what you love to do and find a way to make mon-
ey doing it.” The more she sticks with it, the bigger she
grows. Expect big things out of Kiya Tomlin and Uptown
Sweats not only this coming season, but in the long-term
future as well. n