JULIA SLOAN

 

Could you tell us a bit about yourself? What sparked your interest in fashion design and led you to pursue it as a career?

Julia: My name is Julia Sloan, and I’m the founder and designer of Sloan. I launched the brand almost four years ago. I graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2011, then began my career working for an experiential design agency. That experience prompted me to look at designing products and services and experiences that help people solve problems and make their lives easier. My heart was always in fashion and so when I left that job and stepped into the fashion industry it was through that lens of looking at how clothes can make women's lives easier and solve problems for them. 

So in 2015, I left my job in New York and moved to rural Mexico, where I started working with local women to make clothing. This was such a beautiful experience—it showed me how collaboration, community, and sisterhood could bring something special to life. I spent nearly a decade working with a family of women in the Mexican countryside just outside of San Miguel de Allende, and I still work with them today. 

 

"When I moved to Mexico I saw an opportunity to pursue fashion in a way that felt true to my values. It was a chance to realize my dream while focusing on community, integrity, authenticity, and have a positive impact."

 

What made you realize you wanted to leave human-centered design and go into fashion design?

Julia: Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a fashion designer. It was the only thing I ever wanted to do. I remember making clothes for my dolls and cutting up my outfits before school. Growing up, we moved almost every year, and for me, fashion was a constant. So if we moved to a new town or city, fashion was always a resource for me to feel grounded and confident. I believe in the transformative power of clothes; how they can make us feel, give us confidence, and even shape how we see ourselves. 

My path into human-centered design came from a desire to use creativity to solve problems and improve lives. I loved working in that space with talented, forward-thinking people and having the chance to learn in so many areas. I had interned in fashion for many years and I just never felt super at home in that community and I think that's something that I hear so many people say which is that it's not necessarily a world where kindness and vulnerability are celebrated and shared often and I wasn’t sure I could find the kind of growth I was looking for in fashion that I had from my experiential design. 

When I moved to Mexico I saw an opportunity to pursue fashion in a way that felt true to my values. It was a chance to realize my dream while focusing on community, integrity, authenticity, and have a positive impact. It was a bit of a wild card, and a lot of my  friends questioned my decision to leave New York and start something so different. But I kept thinking we have one chance to make our own story and design our own lives and if I don't chase this and follow this now I’ll always regret it. So I took the chance, and I’m so grateful I did. 

 

"That time also made us rethink our relationship with clothing; we were no longer separating workwear, casual wear, or going-out outfits. Those boundaries were kind of  blurred and I wanted to create pieces that would suit a more integrated lifestyle." 

 

After moving to Mexico and working with another clothing brand, when did you decide to launch your own brand, and what was that transition like? 

When COVID hit, these women that were part of our production network were out of work. Many of them were single mothers in need of support and income. That time also made us rethink our relationship with clothing; we were no longer separating workwear, casual wear, or going-out outfits. Those boundaries were kind of  blurred and I wanted to create pieces that would suit a more integrated lifestyle. I had also been traveling so much in the years following up to COVID and I just wanted a carry-on suitcase of things that I felt good in, that I could mix and match, that didn't feel complex. I wanted to be able to throw a bag together six hours before a flight and be set and ready to go wherever I am in the world. So after being home alone for six months, dreaming up this line, I realized it was kind of the perfect time to bring it to fruition. 

Once I finished designing the line, we began bringing materials and equipment directly to the women’s homes. Because they lived in rural Mexico they were basically stuck at home with their kids at this time. So we brought the work to them so they could be at home while staying with their families. We started by making five or six dresses at a time and the response was incredible. It was essential for me to grow the brand sustainably, to ensure the women had manageable workloads without overwhelming them. 

 

"I love that we have a symbiotic relationship and that we can provide for one another. Also that trying to find and connect to these groups of women is incredible. There's no database for this. It's all word of mouth."

 

Can you walk us through your design process and how you collaborate with this team of women?

Julia: Everything is sourced in Mexico. We work with local fabric suppliers for logistical ease and to reduce environmental impact. Our production network is made up of smaller workshops, mostly around San Miguel de Allende. This evolved naturally. One of the women I work with is a friend of my production manager, who I've worked with for a really long time. They go to church together and she sews with her daughter and she asked if I had any work for her. So now she makes all of our bras and now her sister and her daughter are also part of the team. And then we have another woman that makes all of our tote bags and we bring all the materials to her home. And then we have a larger group of six women that all live in the same neighborhood and they make all of our poplin dresses. We have another group of nine sisters and they do all of our shirting. And so it's these little hubs of sisters, friends, and family. It's so cool because it's sustainable work for them where they can be a provider and also care for their children.

I love that we have a symbiotic relationship and that we can provide for one another. Also that trying to find and connect to these groups of women is incredible. There's no database for this. It's all word of mouth. We also have a larger workshop in Mexico City of about 15 women. They handle our big wholesale orders, the bulk of our tailoring, and more complicated pieces. So really we've got this pretty diversified production network who all feel like family. In total there’s about 25 women.

 

 

 

How often do you develop new designs and what is your approach when designing new collections?  

Julia: We do drops throughout the year, which I think mirrors the way women actually build their wardrobes. I don’t buy seasonally; I shop to fill gaps or replace essentials as needed. So, instead of seasonal collections, we have a core collection, and each new piece we release is designed to integrate seamlessly with it. If you invest in a new trench, for instance, it should pair well with your blazer, shorts, trousers—everything. We aim for curated drops every three to four months, and while we call it a “collection” for industry purposes, it’s really about building versatile wardrobe pieces over time.

 

"All of our pieces are made in Mexico by women there and every time I'm back there with our team I feel so lit up and inspired. There's this familial feeling in the studio as we’re working on shapes, pattern making, and refining designs. Everyone’s just in there rolling up their sleeves and getting it done. There’s a lot of collaboration and commitment to seeing this thing through and it's so beautiful."

 

How does splitting your time between Paris and Mexico influence your brand? Do those places significantly impact your designs?

Julia: Deeply. Sometimes I think, “Am I complicating my life by going back and forth between these cities?” But every interaction with these two places, my two favorite places in the world, brings something intangible and valuable to our design process, our creative direction, and even our community. Mexico has this raw, vibrant mysticism and it’s also very female centric and every time I go back, I’m so energized and inspired. All of our pieces are made in Mexico by women there and every time I'm back there with our team I feel so lit up and inspired. There's this familial feeling in the studio as we’re working on shapes, pattern making, and refining designs. Everyone’s just in there rolling up their sleeves and getting it done. There’s a lot of collaboration and commitment to seeing this thing through and it's so beautiful.

In Paris, it’s a different rhythm—I’m more “out in the world” with the brand. Paris is an endless source of inspiration for me. There’s so much beauty on every corner. The beauty here doesn’t even necessarily serve a purpose, it’s just purely beautiful.  I also think the sensibility of dressing here is so aligned with my personal taste and what I see for the brand and it's deeply impacted how what shapes I want to release and how we structure things and the purpose of our clothes. It's about "fewer, better things," valuing timeless pieces over abundance, and that less-is-more approach is very core to French dressing. The first year when I was getting the brand off the ground, I was mostly in Mexico and New York, and my designs were a little more flamboyant and there was a bit more color but since spending a lot more time in Paris, we've got more suiting, more structuring, more tailoring. It's been very cool to see how those two worlds blend together, and selfishly as I split my time between these cities, I want a wardrobe that works for both. It’s been a great design challenge to merge these two cities. To me, they feel like sister cities in a lot of ways. They’re both incredibly romantic, and deeply rooted in art, food, family, and love. They’re soft but also cut straight to your core. I think you should be in places that light you up, and wherever that is, go find it but for me it’s definitely Mexico and Paris. 

 

How would you describe your brand and your brand ethos? 

Julia: It’s clothing for multifaceted women—pieces that solve real problems and bridge the many versions of ourselves. I think the clothes deeply celebrate the spirit of women. Our pieces are meant to be empowering and versatile, minimal but never boring. They’re simple yet carry a bit of edge or complexity. The clothes are here to enhance, not overpower.

I have done several branding exercises over the years and there was one little snippet that came out of one exercise where someone said to me “your clothes demystify taste.” And that was such a beautiful little sentence, because in my mind it takes this thing that is so amorphous and so subjective because taste means a million things to a bunch of people. I think when you're maybe confused about how to fully express yourself, or that doesn't come easily to you, I love this idea that there are these wardrobe building blocks where someone can feel fully expressed and feel confident and like they can step out into the world and live their best, most authentic life. 

 

"Being a solo entrepreneur can be a lonely road. There’s a lot of weight on your shoulders, and people are relying on you. There’s no playbook for this and you’re never off.  You’re constantly learning on the job and figuring things out as you go. Everything you do and everything you touch is really an expression of you and your brand, so suddenly every decision matters."

 

What would you say is the most challenging aspect of this process and being an independent designer?

Julia: Being a solo entrepreneur can be a lonely road. There’s a lot of weight on your shoulders, and people are relying on you. There’s no playbook for this and you’re never off.  You’re constantly learning on the job and figuring things out as you go. Everything you do and everything you touch is really an expression of you and your brand, so suddenly every decision matters. You don't really have anybody to turn to and ask “is this right?” I try to keep a supportive network around me where I can ask those kinds of questions, but it’s still tough.

I'm not great at everything, but when it’s your own brand you kind of have to be great at everything. I'm learning how to hire for the things I'm not the best at. I think what’s challenging is that you're not only designing, but also creating, directing, producing, handling logistics, shipping, finances, payroll and insurance. You have to be resilient and persistent. You can’t take “no” for an answer, and you have to keep pushing forward. Every day brings a new challenge, but I genuinely love it.

 

"I deeply desire being able to travel and explore and this work takes me to so many places and lets me meet people I never would have otherwise. I always knew I didn’t want to spend my life at a desk. Everyday presents new challenges and I never know what next year holds. Not everyone likes that kind of unpredictability, but I love it."

 

What is the most rewarding part of being an independent designer, despite the daily challenges?

Julia: There are a few things I can think of that really make it all worth it. First, I’m living my dream. I make sure to stop on the tough days, just to remind myself that this is what I always wanted, and I feel so grateful for that. Seeing how our clothes make women feel is also incredibly special to me. I’ve had friends tell me “thank you, you changed the way I thought I could dress.”  and how my designs changed the way they see themselves, made packing simpler, or just gave them that little boost of confidence. At pop-ups and events, I see women try on our pieces, light up, and say, “I never thought I could pull this off.” Those moments get me emotional because it’s all about that small shift where you put something on and feel like a new, stronger version of yourself.

Another rewarding part is the adventure. I deeply desire being able to travel and explore and this work takes me to so many places and lets me meet people I never would have otherwise. I always knew I didn’t want to spend my life at a desk. Everyday presents new challenges and I never know what next year holds. Not everyone likes that kind of unpredictability, but I love it.

 

"Fashion is not tech and isn’t something you can scale quickly. So make sure you're in it for the long haul, and realize it's probably going to take about five years before you see any real traction that's sustainable. It's going to take time to build that community, to tweak your product, to get feedback, to really hone things in until they get to the right place."

  

What advice would you give to designers starting their own brand?

Julia: Your network is everything. Make sure you’re always acting with integrity and kindness—people remember that. Be clear about what you want to say and why. The world doesn’t need more “stuff,” so you need to know the value you’re adding. And be ready for the unglamorous side of it. There’s a lot of logistics and schlepping and hard work. Listen, learn. Soak in every experience you can and also control your brand carefully. I think so many young brands will say yes to everything and realize once you do that, you can never really pull it back. Your brand is something so precious and once people associate it with something or someone, you can't really undo that.

Also, keep slow growth in mind. It takes time. Fashion is not tech and isn’t something you can scale quickly. So make sure you're in it for the long haul, and realize it's probably going to take about five years before you see any real traction that's sustainable. It's going to take time to build that community, to tweak your product, to get feedback, to really hone things in until they get to the right place. Hustle, work, and meet as many people as you can and learn as much as you can. But if you’re building something lasting, it's worth it.

 What are your future plans or vision for Sloan?

Julia: I’d love to expand into menswear—that’s been in the background for a while, and I get a lot of requests from men in my life who already buy our pieces. I’d also love to venture into accessories, shoes, bags—all with the Sloan ethos. Expanding our presence in Europe and Asia is a goal, and I’d love to have permanent showrooms or ateliers in places like Paris and Mexico City.