Today we’d like to introduce you to Missy Lowe.
Missy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My grandfather invented Cat Litter and ran his company Tidy Cat for many years and my father has always owned his own hobby toy businesses. I guess you could say that starting a company of my own is something I always wanted to do just based on family history and what I learned growing up – it’s what I know.
In regards to Otherwise Topless, it was never about being a designer or anything like that it was always about the model in which I believe we should be able to buy clothing. It should be more flexible and fit our needs, especially when it comes to your closet staples- they should look and fit great on your body type. I also felt that there is a lack of consistency in the women’s apparel market – I have so many favorite tops that I cannot find or buy again – I wanted to give women the power to create the exact top they are looking for and give them the variety of colors and fits to choose from.
Beyond this, making the world a better place through business is something I am extremely passionate about which is why we have partnered with Chicago-based GirlForward to give a portion of our Giving Tee proceeds to their organization as well as design some programming and volunteer programs for our customers to get involved in.
We fully launched our first 6 silhouettes, 3 fits, and 15 colors online back in mid-July and we are currently hosting pop-ups around the city and taking orders through our website.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! There are struggles every single day. I would say, it is extremely easy to get overwhelmed in the process – there are countless things I did not know about starting a clothing line and it was and is still a struggle to learn how to manage all the ins and outs. At the end of the day, if there were no obstacles or challenges- it would be weird… so I try to take it all in stride (as best as I can…).
Please tell us about Otherwise Topless.
Otherwise Topless is a top company. We sell customizable tops- our collection offers 6 (soon to be 8) different neckline options, 3 fit options, and 15 color options. We are also designed and made here in Chicago and our fabric is sourced from New York. We also are an altruistic company giving back through our Giving Tee program.
I would say I am most proud of our neckline offerings, our design team really nailed down necklines that look and fit amazing. I am also proud to not only say we are made in the USA but in Chicago!
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have lots of amazing memories from childhood and I am so grateful for that. I would have to say some of the best memories were running around my Dad’s company office – Playing Mantis in South Bend, Indiana. My siblings and I would come with my dad to work and we would hang out in the warehouse, check out the new toys and get to see with some of the fun employees who wanted to hang out with us. My Dad would have a giant sale every year called “Lightning Fest” and we would get to help out at that – there was a toy car line and a lot of car enthusiasts would bring by their cars – the best one was a van decked out as the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. I just remember feeling very proud of my Dad and always so excited and interested in everything that was happening around the office.
Pricing:
- Tops and Tanks – $65
- Bodysuits – $80
Contact Info:
- Website: www.otherwisetopless.com
- Email: Missy@otherwisetopless.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/otherwisetopless/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/otherwisetops/
Image Credit:
Fox and Harrison, Michaela Quan
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