Meet Megan Kain | Fashion Designer, Founder & Construction Manager

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

Hi Megan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Growing up with a conservative Taiwanese mother, I was not encouraged to openly be myself, but instead taught how to be prim and proper at a very little age. I turned to fashion as a means of expressing myself since I would be too shy to talk to anyone. I would blog about fashion as a teenager and would spend hours everyday scrolling through high-fashion collections. I was mesmerized by red carpet editorial looks and dreamed that I would one day become a fashion designer. Funny enough my background is in construction management but the desire to be in fashion never left me. I created a Resort Wear clothing brand because I am always traveling to warm tropical destinations escaping the cold. There are so many talented designers out there, but as a solo traveler I really wanted to create a collection that was comfortable and suitable to travel in while still looking chic. As a solo traveler, you have to pack light so versatility was a key component in the brand values which is also slow fashion because the mixing & matching and repurposing clothing is going to be more sustainable. Fashion is not just a piece of fabric but a self-expression of how we want to look and feel and the right clothing gives you confidence to feel good in your skin, and when we are confident, we are unstoppable. Seeing other women feel beautiful and confident in the collection I have created is the most rewarding part of it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started off working in the construction industry, it was incredibly difficult earning a promotion as a female in a male-dominated industry because I was working in an industry not created for women to succeed. The ladder to the top was not easy, but certainly paved and I had a good understanding of my trajectory. Embarking the journey of entrepreneurship is probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done and still remains to be. I learned the concept of design, development, production through construction I was able to apply the same principles and then pickup on industry-level jargon and techniques that would get me to the next level of where I needed to be.

For a long time I felt like a cop out that I went the Construction Management route before I had pursued fashion. When I started designing, I felt embarrassed my background was in engineering and I didn’t have any relevant experience, but going through the motions of it all, being a women in a male-dominated industry takes ambition, and then becoming an entrepreneur especially one from a completely different field takes an insurmountable belief that you deserve your dreams. In school I had to decide whether I would pursue engineering or a creative path, but in entrepreneurship, I get to decide who I want to be and embracing that I am both an engineer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur.

One of the most important things I learned is if you want to succeed, you have to stop looking for opportunities, and create an opportunity for yourself, nothing is going to be handed to you, but if you work hard enough, you will find a way in. The second most important thing I learned is no amount of success, status, or achievement will bring you happiness. At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself are you proud of the person you have become, because the only person that will give you confidence to keep moving forward, is yourself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Downtown LA: Perch, Wayferer Los Angeles By the Beach: Venice Canals, Manhattan Beach, Matador Beach, Getty Museum
Wine/Beer/Cider Tasting: Malibu Wine & Beer Gardens, Juneshine
Further Out: Laguna Beach, Dana Point

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?
Sandra, thank you for believing I could do this before I had even started. When I was fearful, you reminded me to take the leap.

Millette, thank you for being my first Brand Ambassador and modeling for my brand when I was still in prototype phase. You have been a huge supporter and advocate, and I’m so thankful for you.

Alex, thank you for cheering me on from day one, believing in me, and being my Influencer & Brand Ambassador when I launched my collection.

Aimee, when I was a lost designer trying to navigate the world of design, sampling, fitting, you helped me perfect my prototypes so I could launch.

Alejandra, thank you for being my brand supporter, my videographer, and exploring Southern California with me as we shoot brand content.

Website: sognatorecollection.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/sognatore.sf/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sognatorecollection/

Image Credits
Lizzy Noriega