Meet Lanea Cue: Fashion Production Manager/Consultant

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

Hi Lanea, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Product development requires probably 5 more steps in the process than expected. I guide designers through the development process with my “simple Production Flow”. Designers start with a mindset shift, that prepares them for a Design Strategy Session to review in greater detail their brands designs. This process can take anywhere from 1 week to 4 weeks this timeline strongly depends on the designers focus and decisiveness about important details to get Product Development started, there are about 10 more steps that come after.

What should our readers know about your business?
I liked to be called Cue, most people mispronounce my first name, so I prefer to be called by my last name. I have always been interested in working, and operating my own fashion business. As a child I remember sketching different designs on my notepad in church. It wasn’t until sixth grade that a classmate and myself decided we were starting a clothing line we spent our breaks sketching out our designs.

In high school I started cutting up and revamping clothing my father would buy from inexpensive clothing stores, I would spend my allowance of scrap fabric from Joann Fabric store and buy cheap patterns to use as foundations to create what ever design I had in mind.
I started off very creative, always selling whatever it was I made. I charged high prices because I wanted to be a high end designer and my supporters actually bought from me.

After completing the Fashion Design program at LATTC I went to work in retail. It wasn’t until I reached out a Professor to review my resume that I actually secured my first real Fashion job working as a Sample Room Coordinator with Topson Downs brand Bleu Lab Denim line. I learned so much about the process while working under a close knit design team. I regretfully left to work for TSA. I despised this job and was thankfully terminated due to my pregnancy.

I focused on health and parenting for two years before I re-entered the work place. I knew I wanted to work in Denim and thankfully Joes Jeans had the perfect opportunity for me. I worked as a Denim Tech Designer at Joes Jeans and Freelanced for several other denim companies before I left to take advantage of an opportunity to work at Disneyland Resorts Creative Costuming department. The experience was unforgettable.

At the end of 2018 I was given the ultimate opportunity of working as a Design Assistant, which quickly turned into Head of Production production on my first day of work. It happened really fast and I loved it. I was finally applying all the knowledge I had learned over the years to one amazing job.
The pattern maker hired to work with me coached me and really drove me to take production management to another level. The team I worked with supported the grind mode while we quickly grew. The quick growth pushed me to establish and build lasting relationships in a short period of time. I worked extra hours, stressed, cried, and missed many deadlines all from not knowing how if one part of the flow has a problem the entire work in progress will be effected and pushed back. No matter how crazy, stressful, or bad things may have seem I never broke. I knew I as on assignment.

At last I decided to leave the company launch my own consulting company in the middle of the Pandemic last August. It was exciting and slowly grew into concern and uncertainty. However I knew I was taking the right steps in my business. I wanted to ensure my Production business had a genuine purposed. I took time to research and listen to Designers. I heard their concerns and worries. I know what I have to offer will give Designers the results they desire.

In the next couple of weeks, Tuesday May 25th to be exact I am launching an online self study course on Product Development. This is exciting and long awaited opportunity. So many Designers lack the basic know-how to navigate the Production side of Fashion.

I will still offer done-for-you production management for busy designers, and add Exclusive IN-person experience for Designers that crave the connections and hand on experience.

The flow I have developed and will introduce May 25th will allow a dedicated and decisive Designers results in 30-120 days using this system and my team of contractors and vendors.

I cannot wait to share all this information with designers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend wanted me to plan a “Living my best Life” day we would totally start with a nice walk at the beach, then grab an Acai bowl from my local favorite Chiki’s in Long Beach. After breakfast we would head to DTLA Fashion District for work, I would take her to see all the inner workings of my work life, the high light would be checking out Rag Finders, I absolutely love this store for fabric they have literally about 4 floors of a million different types of fabric. I always suggest this place to my smaller brands. We would have to grab lunch from Earls on Crenshaw they have the best Vegan chili (no cheese) fries add jalapeños and caramelized onions. After lunch I would take her to Santa Monica in this neighborhood that has an amazing ocean view. After we are done switching insects we would enjoy a Korean fried cauliflower slider and fries from Jessie Boy. There food is so delicious. I would give her a list of all my favorite food places: Sugar Taco, Sky Taco, Grilled Frachie, Juice-c-Juice and encourage her to put on her walking shoes because we going exploring and people watching. A stop by Melrose and Fairfax is a must if she’s here on Sunday. A trip to San Diego might not be to bad on a Saturday, the view of the ride down is amazing. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I appreciate the encouragement from friends and family. They have always encouraged and support my Fashion Endeavors, I know it is a true gift to be supported in my Fashion Industry career goals.

Website: www.consultthecue.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashionplugcue/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanéa-cue-3ab3b395/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/fashionplugcue

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fashionplugcue-104025481817907

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N10FIFA1dF75rVkA3YsJw

Other: https://linktr.ee/LaneaCue