Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenna Saltzman and Lyndsey Ager.
Jenna Saltzman has been in the fashion industry for over a decade. An expert in the fashion space, Jenna has been a top performer and personal shopper at several high end retailers including Barney’s New York and Intermix. These 7+ years gave her a unique perspective on what’s out there, or lack thereof! Prior to founding 143, Jenna was making custom suits for men, where she was able to hone in on her skill of construction and fit. Equipped with the knowledge of what was missing, as well as an understanding of fit and fabric, Jenna set out to make a better t-shirt.
Lyndsey Ager brings the perfect blend of fashion and marketing to 143. Lyndsey started her career in fashion at one of the leading online fashion retailers, Shopbop.com and went on to oversee marketing for luxury interiors firm, Kara Mann Design. T-shirt obsessed and also frustrated with the options in the marketplace, Ager and Saltzman decided to collaborate and launch 143 Tees!
Saltzman and Ager are pleased to find they were not alone in the search for such a simple necessity. A year after launch, 143 can tees now be found in 30+ stores around the country as well as direct from their online shop 143tees.com.
Has it been a smooth road?
Jenna: Manufacturing has been one of the biggest challenges for our brand – from production quality to lead time and overall consistency. Lyndsey and I inspect every single garment before it leaves our warehouse and would never sell anything less than perfect so this is truly a labor of love for us.
Lyndsey: To piggy back on Jenna’s point, since we are so new it has been challenging for us to have ample inventory on hand at all times. We’ve been fortunate to have some big influencers love our tees and post for us so we’ve actually sold out of tees overnight and had to wait 8 weeks for a new shipment, right when the buzz was hot, which is not quite ideal!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
At 143 we believe there is no such thing as THE perfect tee, just YOUR perfect tee.
We offer both fitted and classic versions of our timeless styles. This gives women of all shapes and sizes the opportunity to build a basics collection of their most beloved 143 tees!
We take a lot of pride in our fabrication – a rayon blend that is smoother than most in the marketplace today. This regenerated fiber is made from processing natural fiber materials, which does not shrink, fade, or develop holes. It has been tested at a commercial level with washings of over 50+, holding its shape, size, and perfect drape. A 143 tee will stand the test of time, not just with the design and fit, but wearability as well – they are built to last.
143 is the numerical code for “I love you”, and is lovingly embroidered on the back of each garment, because we believe we’ve created a tee that you and your body will love. We are the perfect tee for every-BODY!
Jenna: Neither Lyndsey nor I have a background in apparel manufacturing or design so we have had to learn everything from making a pattern to fabric sourcing to cutting and sewing…literally every aspect of our business we have learned along the way. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved thus far, completely on our own, and so excited about what the future holds for our company!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Jenna: We’re both Chicago natives so we absolutely wanted Chicago to be home for our business. That said, it can be very challenging because there are limited resources for a fashion brand in Chicago. We’re fortunate that the people with valuable information are very eager and willing to help.
Lyndsey: It definitely helps to have a strong network here in Chicago that can help spread awareness about our brand. The community has been so supportive!
Contact Info:
- Website: 143tees.com
- Phone: 312.218.5233
- Email: info@143tees.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/143tees/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/143tees/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
