Support Curvy Women Leaders Fashion
Donation protected
Hi, I'm Rowena and I'm excited to be building my new socially responsible fashion business for curvy women leaders, and I need your help...
MY BUSINESS:
Over the years of my international business management career I have observed a significant gap in the market for quality plus size business wear for women leaders, add to this the statistics that show more than 50% of the female market wear size 14 and above, and a global growth of more women in leadership roles and you have a growing need that wants filling. When new made-to-fit technology became available to me I decided it was time to create The Elegant Executive Curve...
However, my vision for The Elegant Executive Curve is not to be just any fashion brand, but to be a leading, socially responsible slow fashion brand that supports women leaders at 4 levels while marrying new technology with old-style artisan craftsmanship. When you buy a garment from us you are empowering women to gain financial independence so they can have better choices. How?:
1) Our fashions are designed with curves in mind, using the latest in made-to-fit technology to help the curvy woman leader to feel as confident, comfortable, and successful as she aims to be. Made to order we value quality over quantity and avoid the excesses of fast cheap fashion.
2) Our garments are manufactured in Australia by commercial quality artisan sewers who work from home giving them the opportunity to provide for their families and be there for them, while keeping up those valuable dying skills that have been sent overseas. On every garment’s Swing Tag we feature who was involved in making the product thereby valuing their work and making them visible.
We are building a database of these valuable artisan sewers to be available to other designers and makers in a freelance style marketplace.
3) Our suppliers, where possible, are carefully selected because they are founded and run by women who create quality products.
4) Lastly $5 from every garment sold goes to a not-for-profit that supports underprivileged women to start their own business giving them financial independence and oftentimes allowing them to escape things like sexual slavery, trafficking, homelessness, and abusive relationships.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I have extensive international business management skills having sat on Boards of 13 companies across 3 countries, and multi-disciplinary design skills and experience, plus... I have sewn since I was 8 years old, going on to complete haute couture workshops in my spare time... I bring all this and more to the business and you can read more about my skills & experience on my LinkedIn profile here: www.linkedin.com/in/rowenaburley
OUR BUSINESS PROGRESS:
For the past 8 months I have bootstrapped this business on a minimum allowance, managing with the help from a few family, close friends, my business coach, and my credit cards - it's not been easy - but I'm very passionate about it, I know it's worthwhile, I've consistently received positive validating feedback, and I'm really proud of where we're at.
During this time I have written an extensive business plan & financials, setup systems, built our ecommerce website, created & made my first capsule, gained my first clients (who are extremely happy with their made-to-fit business wear), started our artisan needleworkers database (called iSew Australia), launched a small ready-to-wear range in a collective emerging designers shop, made business connections, affiliations, and partnerships, and extensively tested and surveyed my market to garner their feedback and refine & validate my products and services, applied for bank funding (and been knocked back), achieved publicity, and gained attention and following from around the world like Russia, Brazil, Netherlands, USA, UK, and Australia. - Yay!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
The time has come to put together my inaugural runway collection for The Elegant Executive Curve to move this business to the next level - and I need help! We don't qualify for regular bank funding (yes I've tried) and so I am asking for your support.
Based on our market feedback I've created a 12 piece collection and the funds will be used for procuring fabrics, manufacturing locally by individual women artisans, photography (we are ambassadors for the global body image movement and do not manipulate our images), marketing, and the lean team members relevant to the project - and we need to complete all this by mid April.
This project means a lot to me and I have put my heart, soul, and 'skin' into creating a socially responsible business that supports curvy women leaders. It makes it all worthwhile when someone tries on a garment and says 'wow this looks gorgeous on me, I feel beautiful and I can see the quality & care that has gone into it' and they feel confident to go on and inspire others.
Every dollar you are able to give counts and I personally extend my appreciation for your contribution to my success and all the other women we are helping - from my heart to yours - Thank you!
Lastly, please share this with your friends ;-)
Please Note: Donation amounts are not fixed to reward levels - you can enter any amount that works for you.
MY BUSINESS:
Over the years of my international business management career I have observed a significant gap in the market for quality plus size business wear for women leaders, add to this the statistics that show more than 50% of the female market wear size 14 and above, and a global growth of more women in leadership roles and you have a growing need that wants filling. When new made-to-fit technology became available to me I decided it was time to create The Elegant Executive Curve...
However, my vision for The Elegant Executive Curve is not to be just any fashion brand, but to be a leading, socially responsible slow fashion brand that supports women leaders at 4 levels while marrying new technology with old-style artisan craftsmanship. When you buy a garment from us you are empowering women to gain financial independence so they can have better choices. How?:
1) Our fashions are designed with curves in mind, using the latest in made-to-fit technology to help the curvy woman leader to feel as confident, comfortable, and successful as she aims to be. Made to order we value quality over quantity and avoid the excesses of fast cheap fashion.
2) Our garments are manufactured in Australia by commercial quality artisan sewers who work from home giving them the opportunity to provide for their families and be there for them, while keeping up those valuable dying skills that have been sent overseas. On every garment’s Swing Tag we feature who was involved in making the product thereby valuing their work and making them visible.
We are building a database of these valuable artisan sewers to be available to other designers and makers in a freelance style marketplace.
3) Our suppliers, where possible, are carefully selected because they are founded and run by women who create quality products.
4) Lastly $5 from every garment sold goes to a not-for-profit that supports underprivileged women to start their own business giving them financial independence and oftentimes allowing them to escape things like sexual slavery, trafficking, homelessness, and abusive relationships.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I have extensive international business management skills having sat on Boards of 13 companies across 3 countries, and multi-disciplinary design skills and experience, plus... I have sewn since I was 8 years old, going on to complete haute couture workshops in my spare time... I bring all this and more to the business and you can read more about my skills & experience on my LinkedIn profile here: www.linkedin.com/in/rowenaburley
OUR BUSINESS PROGRESS:
For the past 8 months I have bootstrapped this business on a minimum allowance, managing with the help from a few family, close friends, my business coach, and my credit cards - it's not been easy - but I'm very passionate about it, I know it's worthwhile, I've consistently received positive validating feedback, and I'm really proud of where we're at.
During this time I have written an extensive business plan & financials, setup systems, built our ecommerce website, created & made my first capsule, gained my first clients (who are extremely happy with their made-to-fit business wear), started our artisan needleworkers database (called iSew Australia), launched a small ready-to-wear range in a collective emerging designers shop, made business connections, affiliations, and partnerships, and extensively tested and surveyed my market to garner their feedback and refine & validate my products and services, applied for bank funding (and been knocked back), achieved publicity, and gained attention and following from around the world like Russia, Brazil, Netherlands, USA, UK, and Australia. - Yay!
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
The time has come to put together my inaugural runway collection for The Elegant Executive Curve to move this business to the next level - and I need help! We don't qualify for regular bank funding (yes I've tried) and so I am asking for your support.
Based on our market feedback I've created a 12 piece collection and the funds will be used for procuring fabrics, manufacturing locally by individual women artisans, photography (we are ambassadors for the global body image movement and do not manipulate our images), marketing, and the lean team members relevant to the project - and we need to complete all this by mid April.
This project means a lot to me and I have put my heart, soul, and 'skin' into creating a socially responsible business that supports curvy women leaders. It makes it all worthwhile when someone tries on a garment and says 'wow this looks gorgeous on me, I feel beautiful and I can see the quality & care that has gone into it' and they feel confident to go on and inspire others.
Every dollar you are able to give counts and I personally extend my appreciation for your contribution to my success and all the other women we are helping - from my heart to yours - Thank you!
Lastly, please share this with your friends ;-)
Please Note: Donation amounts are not fixed to reward levels - you can enter any amount that works for you.
Organizer
Rowena Burley
Organizer
Mysterton QLD
