BLAKELEY 1.5

My name is Blakeley, the talented designer and proud owner of the renowned Blakeley Brand. You may have come across my face on numerous occasions, as I am the quintessential representation of my brand. This distinction is one that I have earned through hard work and dedication.

Throughout the years, I have gained valuable insights and knowledge, particularly in embracing authenticity and being comfortable in one's own skin. While it remains an ongoing process, I have discovered that by being true to ourselves, we inspire others to embrace their uniqueness and be their authentic selves.

Allow me to share my story, without beginning with the mundane details of how my love for fashion led me to create my own clothing line. In 2013, I found myself at a crossroads in life. My husband tirelessly worked over 60 hours a week, while I pursued my airbrush tanning business, often being away every night. We were overwhelmed, exhausted, and desperately in need of a change.

Determined to prioritize what truly mattered to us, we decided to let go of what no longer served us. Our focus was on creating more time for our family, reducing stress, and eliminating unnecessary obligations. That was when we made the life-changing decision to downsize from our spacious 4000 square foot home to a cozy 1000 square foot apartment for our family of four.

Interestingly enough, when you free your mind and heart from unnecessary burdens, space opens up for creativity and harmonious living. During quiet nights after putting my boys to sleep, I delved into the art of jewelry making. This creative outlet became an integral part of my life.

One fateful day, I decided to showcase my creations on Facebook. To my surprise, that post caught fire! Soon enough, family members generously offered their assistance in making bracelets at night. I seized the opportunity to market my creations to boutiques through Facebook, and within a couple of weeks, hundreds of them had stocked our products.

That was the turning point when I realized that fashion was my true calling. Starting with selling on deal sites, our offerings expanded from jewelry to accessories and eventually clothing. Our humble apartment saw stacks of boxes delivered by our dedicated UPS driver, which we diligently unpacked and prepared for shipment.

Within just six months, I had saved enough money to make a down payment on our own home. Witnessing firsthand the positive impact I was making in our lives while following my passion was an incredibly fulfilling experience.

After a year in business, I approached my husband with a bold proposition – I asked him to leave his corporate job and join me in running our flourishing business. We reached an agreement that if I could match or exceed his income for another year, he would leave his job. True to my word, within less than a year, I doubled our sales, and my husband became an invaluable asset to our company.

I discovered that designing clothes brought out the best in me and ignited an unrivaled passion within. In 2017, we made a strategic shift from deal sites to the wholesale market. When I introduced my first eight designs in a boutique group, it resulted in an overwhelming response with thousands of orders pouring in. From that point onward, our business catapulted to new heights.

Over the past four years, I have experienced numerous triumphs and setbacks. However, this exhilarating rollercoaster ride is one I would not trade for anything else. The ability to not only sustain but thrive as a business confirms that I am on the right path.

"Follow your heart and clear your head" is my guiding mantra whenever overwhelming moments arise and the need arises to refocus on the fundamentals. Your heart always leads you in the right direction.

My aspiration is to inspire you to follow your heart and chase your dreams. Incredible things occur when you embrace your true calling.

XOXO, Blakeley