by Alyssa Chalmers
Tell us a bit about yourself! What’s your name and where are you from? Are you from Montreal originally?
I’m Ariane and I’m currently a fashion marketing student! I’m actually from the north shore of Montreal, but I’ve always felt drawn to the city. There’s something about it that makes me feel at home, and I can’t wait to move there in the future!
What inspired you to start your brand Oneoffmtl? Were you always into fashion design and making your own clothes? What pushed you to start your company? What’s the inspiration behind the name OneOff?
I’ve always wanted to have my own business, even when I was very young. I was a creative child and I vividly remember making clothes out of felt for my dolls with my grandma, who taught me to hand sew. I guess it really started from there! Fashion had been one of my main interests, but it became a passion once I reached high school. I knew I wanted to work in that field and that I wanted to materialize my ideas, make something out of all the concepts that I had but never had the courage or means to pursue.
As cheesy as it sounds, my boyfriend is also a big inspiration to me. We met because of the clothing he designed, and his drive and support has had a huge impact on me and the way I saw things. He was the one to encourage me to take the big leap and put myself out there. I often think about the conversation we had a couple days before I launched OneOff. I was worried that what I created wasn’t good enough or that I wasn’t ready enough. He told me that whatever I did, there would always be dissatisfaction and that there would never be ‘ready enough’. I just needed to get myself out there, because having the guts to share what you’re creating to the world is an exploit itself. If I did what made me happy, certainly some people would too be happy with what I did. And that was one of the best pieces of advice I’ve gotten to date!
When it came to naming my business, I wanted it to represent some of the values I cherish and the process I would go through to make my clothing. Since everything is sewn, crocheted, or knitted by me, many items are one-on-one pieces that I won’t replicate. They’re one-off pieces, and that’s why I chose the name OneOff.
Was there any specific inspiration for your collections? Whether it be an outfit you saw on pinterest or a certain colour scheme? Really any sort of vibe or style that inspires your collections?
My first collection, OO1, was really focused on things I liked and finding a way to make them sustainable. I spent weeks drafting the perfect pattern for the parachute pants. The whole process of garment developing is something I really enjoy, and it’s what keeps me wanting to create more and more.
My most recent collection, Blooming, is truly what set the tone for the future of my brand. I was abroad in Paris for 6 months, and it was one of the greatest experiences I will ever live through. My main inspiration for that collection was the blooming period during springtime that I got to experience in the Jardin des Tuileries, and the flower shops I constantly stumbled upon while I walked around. During my stay, I had the chance to work backstage at Paris Fashion Week and it really solidified my belief that I was meant to do this. I wanted to step it up and work harder. That’s when I decided I wanted to do my own runway show to present my summer collection once I’d be back in Montreal.
Our tiny studio apartment was where I came up with the whole concept, drawings, and where I handmade all the knitted and crocheted pieces from this collection. It took me four full months (and more) to create and coordinate everything, and being the perfectionist that I am, I worked non-stop up until a couple hours before the show. I truly don’t know how I did it, but I did it!
I couldn’t describe how awesome it was to see my vision come to life, but also how bittersweet it was to realize that four months worth of work took about four minutes to present.
What’s your favourite part of running OneOff?
In my opinion, one of the best aspects of running OneOff is that I constantly get to meet more people. I try to include as many people as I can in my projects, which is kind of surprising since I’m usually a very shy and reserved person. Sometimes, when you’re used to working alone, it can be hard to see things as they really are. That’s why I love getting feedback and advice from other creatives, whether it be photographers or models. I’m always looking to work with new people!
I love your policy of making everything by hand and promoting slow fashion. Are there other ways that your business aims to promote sustainability? Whether it be in the fabrics and materials you use or something else?
I currently only source fabrics from my local fabric shop or thrift stores, and I offer drop off delivery options by public transport to avoid shipping. I’m constantly working on diminishing my brand’s ecological footprint, from switching to better shipping supplies to making sure the pieces I create are durable and timeless.
Do you also sell the jewelry on your site?
I am not currently selling jewelry, but it’s something I definitely want to work on in the future!
What inspires you to make your accessories like your new messenger bag? (very very cute btw)
#school As boring as it sounds, I really needed a new school bag because my tote bag wasn’t cutting it. I wanted something cute and practical that would fit my laptop and all my essentials. At first, I only made one for myself, but a couple friends and some students at school were interested in it. I decided I’d perfect it and make a couple more for my brand, and here we are! They’re dropping on September 29th in two colorways.
Do you have any specific goals for the future of your business?
My main goal for the following year is to build a community around OneOff. I believe it can be much more than a clothing brand. I want it to gather people, to make people feel good about themselves. I also wish to make my business my main source of income. To live off something I’m passionate about would be a dream come true. Lastly, I would potentially like to expand my team. For now, I’m okay being on my own but as my brand grows, I will for sure need an extra hand to help me handle everything!
I feel like the biggest challenge as a small business right now is to stand out. The market has become overly saturated, which isn’t a bad thing at all, but it does add an additional pressure to create something that hasn’t been done too many times before. We must work twice as hard to succeed, hence the importance to build a loyal community that keeps coming back for more! Another aspect I think is hard to manage is the limbo that is rightfully pricing your products. Most people are used to fast fashion prices, and I don’t blame them. A huge part of the industry is run by fast fashion, and we’ve still got a long way to go until we can call it sustainable. Getting educated on the subject is the first step to everything, but even then, it’s impossible to please everyone. I’m really trying to price my items for what they’re worth, while still trying to keep them affordable to be sure they’re accessible to the biggest audience possible. But it’s still a touchy subject that isn’t talked about enough, in my opinion!
What are ways do you think OneOff excels at or does differently than other small businesses?
I think OneOff offers an experience. As I said before, I think that the creative industry is soooo diverse and while I’m focusing on clothes, I want to try out so many things. Short films, pop-ups, workshops, I want to do it all with OneOff. As an example, I think I can say my runway was a success because of the experience I wanted my audience to have. They are the ones supporting me, so I want to give them the best I can offer every single time. I tried to think everything through to make it unforgettable in a way or another, and I want to continue this way in the future for sure!
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