Building Connection through Slow Fashion with Meçlâ Soyer-Kaplan
Brand Feature: Meçlâ Soyer-Kaplan & Meçlâ
“The world of fashion has always been a part of who I am, even when I was a little girl. I would dream up outfits in my head, we’re talking 80’s here so those were interesting to say the least. ”
Hi, Meçlâ! We’re so excited to dive into the slow fashion scene in Colorado. Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself and how you came to the world of fashion and design?
The world of fashion has always been a part of who I am, even when I was a little girl. I would dream up outfits in my head, we’re talking 80’s here so those were interesting to say the least. I really started to take it seriously once I started college. I’m from North Carolina and chose to stay in-state at the University of NC in Greensboro where I studied Textile Product Design and Marketing. After graduation, I moved to NYC where I worked for Barneys New York in the buying office. My years there laid the foundation of what it takes to produce quality, style as well as merchandising goods to appeal to consumers.
When did you begin designing? And what ultimately led you to start your own business?
I started officially designing after I spent a few months working as a stylist in LA. This happened later in life in my mid 30’s. I had two kids at this point and had been living in Denver for a few years. I really needed a change and inspiration so I took a huge risk and moved temporarily to LA to see If I could make this work, plus find inspiration to take the next steps. After a few months of working on set for TV shows and photoshoots, I moved back to Denver and started my first business, Thread: Fashion School for Kids from 2014 to 2018. It was an afterschool program that taught kids fashion design and sewing by using upcycled and thrifted materials. It was so amazing and fulfilling, but I knew I wanted to pursue my dream of starting my own clothing line. It took time to really know what and how I wanted things to go and to be honest, I’m still figuring it out, but on November 11th, 2019 at 11 am my online shop officially opened. 11/11 11 am!
“ I loved the concept of working locally and sourcing sustainably. Not only did I love the ethical side of it, but I also loved how simple and uncomplicated fashion became when taking smaller steps. ”
Your brand and namesake are rooted in your Turkish heritage. We would love to hear more about what elements you’ve incorporated into your work.
My grandmother is my namesake, and she was the most fabulous and dramatic woman I’ve ever met. For example, she had all of her clothing tailored to fit perfectly and her trademark was to wear her sleeves tight below the elbows with buttons and gold bangles layered on top. She wore furs and wigs and never once wore a pair of flats.
I never realized how much my Turkish heritage played a role in my design process until I designed the Nina dress, a loose kaftan style dress, at the beginning of Covid. Now, when I buy fabrics from Turkey, I focus on the Nina dress and Tulene pants because they are the perfect styles for Turkish hand-loomed cotton muslins and a special fabric called Sile Bezi, which is washed in seawater and dried on the beach to give it it’s unique curly texture. Also, fun fact, the Tulene pants are inspired by the historical Salvar pants and are named after my aunt.
I also love to design clothing that is a little more structured but still loose and easy to fit. These pieces include my Milly dresses, Penelope dress, and soon-to-be Beau dress which will officially launch this Spring. These pieces represent my love for detail and craftmanship while including elements that are high-fashion yet timeless.
When did you discover your place in the sustainability conversation? Was there a turning point or a-ha moment for you in your journey?
My fashion journey began in designer and high-end clothing so I really never crossed paths with fast fashion when it came to my career. I knew more about how those designers produced their garments which included smaller teams and specialty sewing. However, once I started to become more familiar with smaller, indie labels I realized that was the path for me. I was fortunate to work for local boutiques in Denver which taught me a lot about it. I loved the concept of working locally and sourcing sustainably. Not only did I love the ethical side of it, but I also loved how simple and uncomplicated fashion became when taking smaller steps.
“ At the beginning of covid, it was just me, and because of that experience, I have so much respect for the hard work and hours that go into making multiple pieces of clothing each week. ”
What does slow fashion mean to you? How does your brand incorporate these principles into your lines?
To me, slow fashion means creating a world where everyone is welcome and hopefully a place where people can feel free to be unique. It’s not about following trends, it’s taking a piece of clothing, whether it’s new or used, that you can relate to and style it in a way that it becomes a part of who you are.
My clothing is made for individuals that are not afraid to be themselves and often purchased by creative entrepreneurs. I make clothing that doesn’t feel restricting yet stylish enough to wear to work or special events and I think this appeals to them. However, it’s also created for those that love to support small designers and adore fashion. I stand by the fact that just because it’s slow fashion, doesn’t mean it can’t be fashionable! Timeless maybe, but it doesn’t always have to be neutral and minimal.
My goal is to create pieces that feel inclusive to as many humans as possible! My business is still a work in progress and as I grow, I’ll become better at this. This year, we are planning to offer petite and extended sizing in two styles, the Nina styles, and Milly dresses. As a small brand, it takes a lot of resources, time, and fit sessions to accomplish this, more than you would think! So we hope to offer it by the end of the year and really focus on getting this right.
Your brand is locally made and produced in Colorado. Can you share more about your production process and partnerships with other creatives?
Sewing and production have been my biggest challenge since I started. I primarily have worked with one or two contract sewers at a time (plus myself) sewing all the orders. At the beginning of covid, it was just me, and because of that experience, I have so much respect for the hard work and hours that go into making multiple pieces of clothing each week.
Building trust in that relationship is a priority and it takes time to find the right fit and flow. I’ve had the honor to meet amazing artists, including the team at We Made This, a non-profit that supports refugee women’s empowerment and provides them with supplemental income.
I now work with Mimi Shim, my true partner in production crime :) We truly have formed a unique partnership and we balance each other out. It works because we each have several strengths that complement the other. We’re both creative, but our focus is on different areas of the business. For example, I love to create the first piece without perfecting all the details and then pass it on to Mimi because her creativity shows through her knowledge of technical design and sewing. This helps me focus on the parts of fashion that I really love: creative direction, getting to know my customers, and marketing.
Another part of my production process is made-to-order, unless we are sewing for a special event. Sometimes, we have merchandise leftover from these events which I will list as “ready-to-ship” on the site. Made-to-order helps me keep inventory manageable and creates less waste.
Also, I think that made-to-order brings more of a human element to the process and people feel more connected knowing that we are making their garment just for them. It also requires people to do a little more planning which possibly inspires them to think about purchases before they buy and raises questions like “do I really need to buy something new?” and “do I already own something I can wear?” This may seem counterintuitive, but I truly want my customers to know our values when it comes to impulse shopping and how it connects to overproduction.
Threaded was built on the idea that our region is more than a flyover when it comes to a conscious approach to fashion. There are so many creators, artists, designers, and visionaries right here doing incredible work and living their values. What do you wish more people knew about Colorado and what do you love most about living and working in Denver?
Colorado has an amazing support system within its small business community. I love that I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of my best friends through events and working in the Denver fashion community. We are growing and providing many opportunities for consumers to support local fashion, art, and handmade goods. I believe that Denver will be the city to watch these next few years as more talent emerges. We are becoming more diverse and experimental. I feel so grateful to be able to contribute and grow with this amazing community.
“Don’t wait for perfection, just start! Because whatever you’re planning now will change anyway, so don’t let that stand in your way.”
As someone who has worked in NYC, LA, and now Denver, do you have any words of wisdom to all the creatives out there hoping to start a sustainable brand or business?
-For creatives wanting to start a sustainable brand or business, remember that all experience is a good experience, whether you’ve worked in the field or not.
-Take advantage of free or low-cost resources like your local Small Business Administration.
-It’s important to become part of the community you would like for your business to be in so reaching out to people online (make IG friends!) and going to events is extremely important. Let people know what you are trying/wanting to do and see how you can partner. Building relationships is key, especially in the beginning.
-Try to get your products out there by offering to style shoots for other businesses, photographers, and models.
- Don’t wait for perfection, just start! Because whatever you’re planning now will change anyway, so don’t let that stand in your way.
- if you’re trying to make a decision and you’re feeling scared and vulnerable, (within reason folks!) it’s probably the thing you’re supposed to do. Trust your instincts, it often goes against logic.
-Know that it’s ok to start with one product or service.
- Last but not least, know your customer. Where do they shop, eat, hang out, work, live, and what music do they listen to? What do they value? Sounds very basic, but don’t lose sight of it because it will continuously answer a lot of your questions along the way.
What is next for your brand? How can we support you and your work?
I’m currently attending DU for Digital Marketing and soon I’ll be able to use what I learn and apply it to my own business. This year will be highly focused on more exposure in other cities, Minneapolis being one of them! And also warmer climates because I love to design dresses all year.
Although I’ll take a break from most pop-ups and markets locally while I attend school this year, I would love to participate in a pop-up or host a trunkshow in Minneapolis. The other possibility would be to find a stockist there to carry our Milly and Penelope dresses. Finding people to connect with for this would be very helpful! I know a few people in the Minneapolis area that would be very excited to support me there.
What are some of your favorite places or small businesses in Colorado?
A few of my favorite small businesses in Denver are Mimi Shim Studio, Talisman Fine Jewelry, Let Me Show You Different, Recital, Matriarch, Sacred Thistle, and Wntr Rose.
