Meet Kimmy Pasternack of Sloane Designs in Tempe/Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimmy Pasternack.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Kimmy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
At thirteen years old, I have designed collections that have appeared in publications of fashions shows. I live, breathe, and eat fashion. I can’t remember a time where this wasn’t my dream. And as far as I can remember, it started as a dare in kindergarten, in art class, at five years old. A classmate and I used to play a game in which we dared each other to draw random things in our surroundings. I was dared to draw a dress, and the rest is history. I went home happy, beginning to draw dresses with pencil on post-its, and I couldn’t stop. It was so thrilling for me, a young girl who went shopping with her mom, and who had artistic heritage as the daughter of an architect, granddaughter of a jeweler, and great-granddaughter of a tailor. It was in my blood. I spent three years progressing from post-its to pre-made croquis, to even better pre-made croquis. However, I was limited with my artistic abilities because of my age. Unfortunately, at that time, there weren’t a lot of resources for me to learn! Upon a Google search, finally, after three years, when I was eight, we found a summer camp for fashion design. It was a two day camp in Fashion Square taught by a designer named Joanna DeShay, founder of Black Russian Label. Even though the camp was only for two days, I began to love Joanna. It seemed as though she was always talking directly to me. After the camp, I emailed Joanna, who had just began to teach me how to hand sew. I wanted to know how I could get involved, and how I could learn more. I think I was similar to a sponge, soaking up every detail. She replied with a name and number that changed my life. If she hadn’t, I wouldn’t be here today. I called Angela Johnson, founder of Labelhorde and formerly, Monkeywench. At that time, she was working out of a personalized studio in her backyard, which had pink and gold glitter floors and clothing patterns as wallpaper. I brought with me about five of my latest sketchbooks, my prismacolors, and a passion. Angela’s daughter answered the door. I was so excited! The second I met Angela, I knew that she had the same bubbly and charismatic personality as Joanna. I continued with Angela for about six months before my worst fear came up: machine sewing. I don’t know why now, but I was scared of it at the time. After much coaxing, Angela convinced me to sew, on my grandmother’s old machine. Which neither of us knew how to use. After figuring that out, off I went! Soaring in the world of home sewing and using premade patterns, I made pieces that I will love forever. However, I longed to learn how to do everything else, not just croquis and sewing. I knew that there had to be SEW many steps in between. So, Angela decided to take me on the path of her college students, working the same way to make a croquis, a flat, a mood board, and swatches of fabric. After making this design, we knew I was ready for more. In the meantime, Angela was working on creating an incubator to help teach more people and provide resources for local designers. This was perfect for me, and I transitioned with her into my third year in fashion design.

During my time at FABRIC, I have learned how to drape designs, draft patterns, digitize them, create tech packs, draw technical flats, create mood boards and portfolios, create a brand with a logo, make specs, make a website, participate in fashion shows, sew complicated designs, improve on my croquis, public speak, be featured in articles, design my own technical prints, graphic design, and understand the industry as a whole. I made my first ever collection here, and made so many designer colleague friends that were brought together by the same two people, Angela, and Sherri Barry, who runs the manufacturing part of FABRIC. Now it’s been five years since I started with Angela, and I have accomplished so much. But even with all of that, this is only the start of my journey, and I still have a lot of history to write.

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?
Although my road has been fairly smooth, there have definitely been some complications with manufacturing. I sent a sample I had designed at FABRIC to a company that prints custom designs on textiles, and even though we double checked, the scale changed in new formats and the size was way too big on two of my sample garments. Upon contact, I received no reply. Struggles like this are common for designers though, whether it is technical difficulties, money problems, or location issues.

Please tell us about Sloane Designs.
I am young and have a brand, which I think is different from typical designers. I think that is what makes me unique. I also think that a kid my age might typically design for other kids, but I specialize in better bridge women’s dresses and ready-to-wear. My style is sophisticated, simple, and elegant, focusing on quality. When you look at a piece, you should see the beautiful sewing work and the naturally beautiful fabric. I am most proud of making custom clothing, although I would like to manufacture as soon as I have time. The look on a client’s face when they see a piece designed to their specifications but with my designer touch is so rewarding.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Well, I am a child, and every day that I design clothing is where my best memories are made. I strive to look towards the future and the past but don’t look on the past as much. I think that it helps me to set huge goals because then I try as hard as I can to make them happen.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 6026473226
• Email: sloanedesignsclothing@gmail.com
• Instagram: sloanedesigns

Image Credit:
Angela Johnson, Irwin Pasternack, The Garment League

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