Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheridan French.
Sheridan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I began designing clothes when I was eight years old with my mother and great-grandmother, two expert seamstresses and knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue a career in fashion. I continued to fan my passion for design while studying in Europe for a Masters degree, both modeling on the runway and designing my own collections. I began interning at Prada’s London Press Office during the summers which took my understanding and appreciation of fashion to a whole new level.
I moved back to my hometown of Fort Worth and was not planning on even attempting to start my own line until my children were grown and in school to allow me the time to have my own business. Long story short, I ended up starting my clothing line the week I found out I was pregnant with our second child (and my oldest was nine months old at the time). A friend from university turned in her resignation in London and moved to Bali to help me source, which was, of course, an opportunity I couldn’t dream of passing up. I threw caution to the wind and took a giant leap of faith, and in four months had samples in hand.
My lifelong dream of owning my own label was finally realized with the launch of my namesake line, Sheridan French, a chic collection of womenswear that is a fusion of exceptional prints and classic, flawless design. My garments reflect my eye for gorgeous textiles and a fresh, artistic approach to fashion design in the twenty-first century. By combining my own unique prints with timeless lines, the Sheridan French brand encompasses a truly vibrant collection of wearable pieces that are undeniably fun, effortlessly chic and made with your lifestyle in mind.
My brand is a celebration of color and my own inimitable zest for life. I bring together eye-catching, easy to wear prints on effortlessly stylish pieces that inspire confidence, and my wish is for other women to feel as extraordinary wearing my designs as I have been enthusiastic in creating them, allowing their individuality to shine through.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Ha! Has there been an instance when any entrepreneurial road has been smooth? If so I would love to know!
Production overseas has always proved challenging. I switched from Bali to India two years to accommodate growth and increasing sales, and there are, not surprisingly, hiccups when shifting bases from one country to another.
I hit the pause button when I was pregnant with my fourth child (and my oldest had just turned four) because the demands of running my own business and being present for my family were proving difficult to balance. I could go big or go home, and I chose to go home… and I haven’t regretted it for one moment.
That said, after a five-year hiatus I am excited to be back, have learned from the bumps during round one, and know that the key to anything — in business or life — is to adjust as necessary.
Please tell us more about your work.
As a clothing designer, I specialize in creating versatile designs in vibrant colors and prints. The focus is on high-quality construction with beautiful, hand-embellished details. It is very hard to face the never-ending challenges of producing overseas, but I am proud to have made it work. It is an honor to support the Indian people; they are so very skilled at their crafts, and this shines through in the beauty of my garments.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Perseverance. I think people all too often look at how far they still have to go rather than how far they have gotten. Those that have the most success aren’t necessarily the strongest or smartest or those with the best connections; they are the ones that simply refused to give up.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sheridanfrench.com
- Email: hello@sheridanfrench.com
- Instagram: @sheridanfrench
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