Today we’d like to introduce you to Kala Bennett.
Kala, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I started my company, KALAELISE, with the mindset of “F*** it I have nothing to lose, let’s do it!”.
Let me explain…
After graduating from college with my BFA in Fashion Design and BBA in Entrepreneurship I worked for a couple of companies. Going through the monotonous 9-5, Monday through Friday work weeks, I felt like I was missing out on life. Almost as if a little part of me was dying inside…my passion. I knew something had to change! In December of 2017, my five month contract with JCPenney ended with no permanent position. I was devastated at first, feeling like a failure. With the love and support from my family and friends, I stopped sulking in my pity and decided to make a change in my life. I was going to take the risk and be my own boss, the HBIC! In January 2018, KALAELISE was born.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I would say it’s been an interesting road that had no destination until I had arrived to what I’m doing today. When I started KALAELISE I never imagined I would be where I am now. To be honest, I didn’t have a clear vision of the company when I started, I just knew it needed to have a way to make money and be sustainable.
I started off getting clients through a recommendation from a friend to try a freelance website. For the first two to three months, I was meeting with clients weekly getting all kinds of odd jobs within fashion. Then after a couple of months, one of my clients I had been working with called and asked if I would be able to fly out in two weeks to Cambodia to help establish the production standards at his new factory. I was extremely hesitant at first since I had never met this client in person. After talking it over with my father, he decided to accompany me on the trip in order for me to feel safer. Those two weeks went by, details were discussed and I was off to Cambodia.
Since the trip I have gained more and more clients, been sent to Istanbul by a client for material sourcing/setting production standards, started doing custom work, rep a fashion line part-time at a showroom in the Dallas Market Center, and recently became an adjunct professor within the fashion design department at The University of North Texas. So as you can see I have my hands in almost every area of the industry in order to keep my company current with every aspect of the business.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
KALAELISE brand was established to work directly with fashion companies to provide any and all fashion design work from sewing samples, creating patterns, designing styles for collections, creating technical packs, providing technical design work along with consulting on design and production needs. Since the establishment of this brand, the clients acquired have provided opportunities such as 1. Being sent to Cambodia to set up a production team for a made-to-measure brand, 2. Create and consult on all technical packs for a global knit company, and 3. Consult and sew samples for a nation-wide plus size women’s athletic brand.
KALAELISE specializes in technical design work, and custom designs/garments.
What sets my company apart from others is the quality of work, creative designs, and 24/7 communication with clients. I will be available for my clients anytime to provide them the best service.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I always had to be organized and had everything planned out to a T. I always had projects and things done a week before the deadline so I could have the rest of the time to go play and hang out with friends.
Ever since I was little I always knew what I was going to be, a fashion designer. I worked every day towards that goal by participating in fashion design shows, design competitions, and in high school, I was in all the fashion classes. Growing up I didn’t have anyone to teach me how to sew, so I taught myself as much as I could. Where I really learned all my skills were in college.
Besides my interest in fashion, I love to play volleyball, cook, and dance. I took dance and gymnastics for 7+ years growing up and still do love to dance any chance I get. Volleyball is more of a fun hobby now for me. Cooking came later in life, when I moved out on my own I obviously had to learn in order not to starve or be broke from ordering in all the time.
Pricing:
- Custom Garments: Project Pricing (Prices vary, usually starting at $250)
- Technical Designs: Hourly Pricing ($45/h)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kalaelise.com
- Phone: 214-862-1904
- Email: kalaelise@mail.com
- Instagram: @_kalaelise_
- Facebook: @kalaelisefashion
Image Credit:
Minerva House
JTaylor Studios
K. Cook Photography
Suggest a story: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
