Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristin Gudmundsson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kristin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started my fashion line in a not so conventional way. I went to the University of North Texas as an engineering student. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do or what my passion was. I just knew I needed a degree to get any kind of job after college. I slowly realized that I wasn’t built for engineering but for art. On my off time, I was designing and sewing clothes together. One day, I just had enough of my engineering classes and switched my major to Fashion design. During that time, I wanted to sharpen and practice my sewing skills. I went to Iceland and completed a summer apprenticeship with the coat maker Eggert Feldskeri in tailoring and pattern making. At the end of my internship, I came up with the idea of a Wrap Jacket that would be inclusive for all women, without the confines of age or body type. I created 66 prototypes of my Wrap Jacket until it was perfect. Then, I tested it out at the 2019 Fort Worth Art Festival and sold out on the third day. I continue to work and perfect my designs. My goals is to make garments that make women comfortable and elegant at the same time.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has never been smooth, and it still gets hard even with success. The more I grow, the more I have new challenges. I created my first design 66 times before I even liked it and I have to remind myself of that. You have to try and try again when you start your own business. Nothing will ever come easy, but if you understand that you’ll find your way through it. I didn’t sell anything for the first six months after I launched my website. It was a scary time for me trying to understand why I wasn’t making any sales. However, I didn’t let that get me down and then one day a woman bought multiple jackets. This helped my confidence and got the ball rolling for me. Great things take time and lots of hard work.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I create Wrap Jackets with fabric remnants that I find Los Angles, so no jacket created is ever the same. Women should have the freedom to feel elegant and comfortable simultaneously. By incorporating a diverse plethora of material, I am able to facilitate the proper fit for any body type. I am passionate about fashion design and the quality product my customer receives.
Who do you look up to? How have they inspired you?
The woman that has inspired me the most is my mother. She came to the United States with nothing at the age of 18. During that time, she worked very hard to make a good life for herself. She is a big reason why I keep pushing myself with my business. I hear the stories of her working 12-hour days for five dollars an hour and it makes me get off the couch. She didn’t speak any English, but she managed to enroll in a university and graduate with an engineering degree. When I look at her life, I understand that anything is possible if you’re willing to work hard for it.
Pricing:
- Wrap Jacket $150-$250
Contact Info:
- Website: icelandkristin.com
- Phone: 682-365-7897
- Email: icelandviktoria@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kristinviktoriaco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kristinviktoriaco/
Image Credit:
Kevin Barnett
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