Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Lubin.
Hi Kayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got into fashion pretty early on as a kid. It started around the time I was in 3rd grade where we had embroidery class back in a my elementary school in Haiti. This was the moment when I was first introduced to a needle and thread and I had no idea it would take me to where I am today. At around 7 or 8 years old, I used those same hand-sewing skills and started cutting my clothes and repurposing them into two-piece tube tops and skirts. My mom still talks about the first time she saw my 4-year-old sister confidently walking down the stairs in that outfit. I was very creative at a young age. Just like many 9-year-old girls, I was a part of a “girl group” and we enjoyed performing at our parent’s birthday dinners. We would sing our own music, make our own choreographies, and even attempted to make our own clothes. I was in charge of coordinating all of those. I remember all the girls coming over and having me take their measurements for a “performance.” I was poking them with pins, putting fabric together to make outfits. I, at the moment, didn’t really know what I was doing and I don’t know where I got the concept from but I think it’s interesting that it started so early on. It’s like it came naturally to me. As the years went by, I got deeper and deeper into my skills; my mom purchased a sewing machine for me when was around 15-16 years old. I mostly used it to tailor my own clothes because nothing ever fit me correctly. In 2017, I became hyper-focused on starting my own brand. I was still in school pursuing my degree in Civil Engineering and was working full time but I would still find some time to sketch some outfits which I will admit were horrendous at the time. My sewing journey, however, really took a more serious turn in 2018. I enjoyed watching YouTube videos involving reworking thrifted clothes and spent some time doing that. Because I was already practicing making garments, I felt compelled to make my own dress for my cousin’s wedding. It was happening in Curaçao in January 2019. I brought the pattern, some beautiful red fabric and went to work. The end result was beautiful; I wore my pretty dress and got the confidence I needed to start making my own clothes. I finally graduated with my bachelor’s in Civil Engineering in December 2019 and, after a long difficult wait, I started to think more seriously about the brand and what it would require… It was pretty difficult to find the help and resources I needed. I didn’t know where to start. I needed a pattern maker, I needed a seamstress, I needed lots of help. It was very important for me to go to the professionals because I wanted to launch 10-11 pieces in the best quality possible. I was struggling to find the help and refused to let that stop me so I decided to go back to the basics: YouTube. I spent some time watching videos on how to drape and make patterns, how to grade, and how to sew garments to look clean and professional. I eventually took a leap a faith. I bought my missing materials, got my fabric, and made my first outfit, The Cobra Set. I remember when I first showed the finish product to my mom and sisters. Their reaction told me everything I needed to know and I haven’t stopped since.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t been a smooth journey. Clothing lines require a lot of time, money, and resources; all the things I had a limited supply of all. I had a hard time finding seamstresses and when I did, they weren’t very interested in working with me. I worked full time and would try to sew during my shift because I worked from home but it was very busy so it was a challenge to do anything without getting interrupted every 5 minutes. I wasn’t making much but had to invest a couple of hundred dollars into the line which didn’t really bring much revenue. There’s also another aspect that I think people don’t talk about enough which is exposing yourself and your mind to the world. It takes a lot of confidence. At the beginning, I was thinking very hard about what I should be making and what people would like. It really limited my creativity and chipped away at my confidence. I got into a huge creative block because I was basically turning off my creativity without realizing it. It was challenging to unlearn that thought process and gain that fire back. As a young new designer, you’re making mistakes, failing, and learning in front of an audience. It’s a process and it can be scary to expose the most vulnerable side of you to the entire world but the most important part is to keep going and to trust that you’re meant to do exactly what you’re doing and that will take you far. I learned as a designer, you have a vision and an inspiration and you have to follow that, limiting your focus on what other people want. At the end of the day, fashion dictates what you wear and you have to accept that you’re a part of that.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a fashion designer known for asymmetrical sexy but classy ready-to-wear clothing. My brand plays around with edginess and simplicity, constantly exploring the different ways to harmonize the two. I’m very proud of how far I’ve come and how I’ve been able to trust myself and stay true to my creativity. What sets me apart from others is me. Every individual is unique. No one has been through what I have or seen exactly what I’ve seen and experienced exactly what I experienced. My mind, my ideas, and my perspective are unique to me. Fashion, art, creativity are an extension of an individual. They’re the windows to your inner self, showing a glimpse of how your mind works and what happens in your head. It’s very intimate and special so that will always set me apart.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you would like to work with me, collaborate or support me you can email me at info@paradoxbykaya.com or paradoxbykaya@gmail.com
Contact Info:
- Website: Paradoxbykaya.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/paradoxbykaya
- Twitter: Twitter.com/paradoxbykaya
Image Credits
Flying Solo
