Slow Fashion for Women on the Move
October 2013
When I was awarded a FWSF scholarship as an undergrad in 2009, my dream was to work on the business side of a clothing company. After I completed my BA in Business Economics I went on to complete my MBA at the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business at Mills College in 2011. Nearly a year ago, my co-founder Bree Hylkema and I launched the first products of our clothing line, Vermeulen & Co. Since then, we have accomplished a great deal. It's been quite a whirlwind!
Vermeulen & Co. is Slow Fashion for women on the move. Our line is womenswear inspired by a desire for more interesting, polished, and comfortable clothing for real women. Slow Fashion, parallel to the Slow Food movement, is about slowing down, celebrating beautiful fabrics and details, and lasting style. It's about buying fewer things of higher quality. We use sustainable and organic fabrics when possible, and the line is sewn in SF and Oakland which supports our local economy. Our casually elegant looks take you through day to night. Classic styles that flatter your body will be the pieces you return to, again and again.
In January, we were selected for an incubator program, FiSF (Fashion Incubator San Francisco), as 2 of 6 Designers in Residence for a yearlong program that began March 2013. Over the year of the program we will develop two collections: Spring/Summer 2014, and Fall/Winter 2014, with the goal of scaling up production.
Our Vermeulen & Co. Spring 2014 Collection is now complete and available for pre-order. A look from this collection was featured in the Macy's Union Square window for a month in September, and we were featured in the Style section of the SF Chronicle as well. Pre-ordering from our Spring 2014 collection allows us to scale up our production in a sustainable way. Here is a link to the collection: http://www.vermeulenandco.com/collections/spring-2014 Order now, quantities are limited!
Please check out our website, www.vermeulenandco.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Sign up for our mailing list (at the footer of our website) to stay apprised of upcoming events and special offerings.
Warm Regards,
Ms. Kyra, 2009 FWASF Scholarship Award Recipient
BA Business Economics, Mills College, 2010
MBA, Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, 2011
Links and Event Details:
Vermeulen & Co. Website: http://www.vermeulenandco.com/
Vermeulen & Co. featured in SF Chronicle Style Section 9/12/13: http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Emerging-designers-get-a-big-week-in-the-spotlight-4810860.php
FiSF: http://www.fashionincubatorsf.org/
Event Details for Fashion on FIRE! Pop-up event:
Friday November 22nd, 3-9pm and Saturday November 23rd, 11am-6pm: Fashion on FIRE!
A Pop-Up featuring locally designed and crafted clothing.
Come and meet all five up-and-coming female fronted brands and check out our smoking hot designs!
You can RSVP at http://fashiononfire.eventbrite.com/
Location: Firehouse 8, 1648 Pacific Street, San Francisco.
Pop-up Event in SF December 5th, 6th, 7th - to be announced shortly!
