Urban World

Designer Focus: Daisy Clark

This week I caught up with designer Daisy Clark who paved her way into the industry through an internship in LA, proving that internships should be valued and not taken for granted. Her lasting impression and impressive sketches as an intern lead her to work for leading urban label Baby Phat despite her lack of experience.

Daisy Clark’s inspirational journey into the fashion world proves that tenacity and consistency can take you to places you’d never imagined.

In this exclusive interview with Urban World Fashion, she shares with us her highs and lows of this highly competitive industry and her experiences of working as a designer for Baby Phat.
Read on…

So how did you break into fashion?  
I got an internship in LA at a manufacturing company for BABY PHAT, on the last day I showed my sketchbook to the owner/ VP of Merchandising and she loved it. She got so excited that she ran and showed it around the design room and hired me on the spot to work on the new line. I didn't get to start right away though, I had to wait for the contracts to be completed for KLS. In the mean time I was hired to press and help produce the sales teams samples for a couple of months and help where it was needed.

How was it like working for BABY PHAT and KLS?
Overall my experience there is worth its weight in gold; it was heaven and hell at the same time, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I have to say it was the hardest work I had ever done. When I first launched KLS I had no experience, zero knowledge other than my sense of style and sketching ability. I had never worked with pattern makers, sample makers, costing department or fabric vendors.  No one at the company had ever done a contemporary line, so there was no one at the company that could answer my questions. I had to learn everything through mistakes, good guesses and trial and error.
Because the BABY PHAT production team was accustomed to working with china quality being a denim and t- shirt brand I had to fight for better craftsmanship every step of the way. Often, I would go home exhausted from information overload and from literally running around trying to get things done on time. Eventually I was brought into work on the BABY PHAT line as well. It was much easier but the turnover was higher. On KLS, the market dates were seasonal. On BABY PHAT we had to have a new collection done every 3 weeks. The company also added a private label for JC Penny called  FABULOSITY. So I was still constantly running around.
 
Where do you find your inspiration?
I get inspired by jewellery, vintage clothing, art and history. Most of my inspiration takes me to ancient times, I’m always thinking of ancient people and societies and how they dressed and did things.
 
What would you say have been your career highlights to date?
I would have to say growing the BABY PHAT sportswear division was a great highlight, but seeing my designs on celebrities is always surreal and exciting.

What advice would you give to others trying to break into the fashion industry?
Be well rounded in business as well as design, design is our natural talent but savvy business sense needs to be developed. The key to good design is knowing when something’s right, we need to be well rounded in all facets of design in order to be able to do that.

What future plans do you have?
I am letting God lead the way right now. I am taking a year off and possibly more to do some soul searching and humanitarian work. I am super excited about applying for the peace corps.  I do plan on launching a small high end label at some point when I return to the fashion world.