Meet Eliza Lee | Entrepreneur & Photography/Videographer/Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eliza Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eliza, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
The idea for my business derived from all the hobbies I enjoy which is the creative freedom I procure as a sole proprietor. As a clothing brand owner, the creative freedom has no limitations, from the drawing/designing process of the actual clothes, to the advertising material, and the website interface, as well as utilizing photography and videography as marketing material, and different variety of clothing put together to make an outfit, there are no restrictions when it comes to this line of work. To further add to the freedom you gain as a sole proprietor, there is no one above you that prevents you from showcasing your abilities and creativity so I solely believe that clothing was the perfect opportunity when I came up with my brand or business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is a clothing brand that is specific to the streetwear community and attempting to jump into the gorpcore style realm. Currently, we do more of a vintage style graphics onto oversized and boxy tees and we are slowly transitioning to creating custom manufactured designed such as puffer jackets with zippers around the sleeves that can be changed into the jacket itself or into a puffer vest hence its versatility which is the gorpcore portion that my business is looking to get into and this design is what sets me apart.

I am most proud of the community I am building and how it is growing, my page started as an inspo page specific to the clothing industry and slowly the support for one another grew which allowed me to transition into a brand. I did not have the idea of creating a business initially, fortunately the community allowed me to create this brand that allowed me to get to where I am at. This process made the progression and transition easy, however, in terms of growth and expansion within the company, this was a challenge. Approximately a year later, whilst progressing in my brand, I earned an position as a personal trainer and throughout that, I made many connections where many were business owners themselves. They disclosed their personal stories and aided my progress in terms of providing me with other connects to furthermore expand my company.

Along the journey, you begin to realize the importance of communication and making connections. Although I did not really have a support system, being able to communicate and put yourself out there sets you apart from others because you know who you can go to, to discuss and for help when necessary. Initially communicating was one of my weaker points, but going out of your comfort zone towards a positive path constrains you to a much better future, physically and mentally. Every single event that I felt uncomfortable was the perfect opportunity to tell myself that this uncomfortable moment is just the present that allows you to gradually or permanently improve yourself.

Although this is a discussion about my brand, to reiterate, the importance of communication and building a connection is just as important to me, and I wanted to discuss my personal aspects to possibly showcase my personality that builds trust. That being said, my brand is more than just a piece of clothing with designs, my brand is about personality and each and individual has their own unique value and as a collective we appreciate garments.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In a week long trip in LA, particularly, my itinerary is full of places to eat. As much as the area is full of party life, my heart belongs to the amazing food places here. However, there are certain places that I would take my best friend, starting off with places to go, amusement parks- Disneyland and Universal Studios. I would also take them to the best drinking places where we could go bar hopping as well or possibly go clubbing occasionally on certain days, this can include LA in general or my favorite area is within Old Town Pasadena. I would additionally take them to popular areas that make LA stand out- Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, LACMA, The Grove and much more popular museums. In regards to places to eat, Sugarfish, is on top of the list, Lawry’s, Mun Korean Steakhouse, Fogo De Chao, The Wagyu House by the X Pot, Nobu, Chubby Cattle and a long list of steakhouses.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Unfortunately, I never received the support and mentorship I wanted, a lot of those believed I never would have succeeded due to the difficulty and competition in this industry regardless all the time I have put into this brand. However, this was a great opportunity for me personally to positively adapt mentally and work around this to succeed. Although many attempts for validation, many have shown imitated support through falsified affirmation rather than actions.

Website: elizalee.framer.photos

Instagram: https://instagram.com/elizacylee