Meet Dudley Beene | Owner and chief-designer for Studleyduds caftans

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

Hi Dudley, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
For the past two decades I have worked in marketing, creating campaigns for other people’s TV shows, movies, politics and more. This has offered great opportunities for creativity but they are always tied back someone else’s product and agenda. I began getting excited with the idea of creating a brand from the ground up. (What do we sell? What are our values? What sets us apart?) I know that’s backwards, but the spark for going into business came from the desire to market it. I looked for the “white space,” an arena that wasn’t saturated but still in demand. That year two friends were throwing caftan pool parties and it all made sense. Clothing that was gender neutral, one size fits all, and more about the fabric design than the tailoring. It all seemed doable. An affordable, outrageous caftan line that went heavy on the “extra.” I had never run a business before but I am a big believer in learning on the job, so I took the plunge. I watched a million tutorials online about business creation, and yes they were helpful, but nothing can prepare you for running your own business until you do it. I am still very much learning, daily, but I have been grateful for the support and advice from the other entrepreneurs in my life. Plus, I have a new marketing assignment every morning: how am I going to get new eyes on this product I believe in… and I still love doing it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Our original tag line was “Make Life Funner!” and it still embodies the heart of the brand. I believe in play and I don’t believe adults get enough of it. All of our patterns are focused on having a wink, a look closer moment, an irreverent and captivating element that starts a conversation. As people send in their videos and photos, I am proud to see how many of them are people twirling or running down the beach like a kid in this flowy, open garment. Much like Dolly Parton, one of our chief inspirations, you can be a bit extreme, a bit cheeky, and still sexy and approachable. All of my art, whether it’s advertising or design has a sense of humor to it, it can joke without being a joke and that’s the line I want to ride with these caftans.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
You gotta do the tourist stuff, and certainly I would. The Academy Museum, the Warner Brother’s tour, Griffith Park are all great in their own rights. But then, I would take them to some of the weird great finds that are uniquely LA. We will see a Casita del Campo show: whatever is playing will be vulgar, involve wigs and be the most you have laughed in a long time. Maybe a car show at Bob’s Big Boy or a great food truck night in Burbank where you can pop in stores like the mystic museum and get stalked by young Jason Voorhees. Dinner outdoors, good weather and no bugs. Or if it rains there is always Cliftons Cafeteria where you can carry your own tray of home cooking delights into a forrest glade with a taxidermied elk watching over you.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a huge amount to of support to every friend who said, “If anyone can do it, you can.” Whether they got the idea or not, they were there to support me. Some were impromptu models, some took photos, did voice acting, or even joined me at Pride to hand out business cards to anyone who asked where we got these crazy designs. They are my cheerleaders and psychologists when I need to vent. All the props in the world to them.

Website: www.studleyduds.com

Instagram: @studleycaftans

Facebook: www.facebook.com/studleyduds/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxagdeq5vc_eOUMCJKzk_Ig

Image Credits
Charlie Vaughn