At Phoenix Fashion Week, the leading fashion industry event in the Southwest, fans experienced the works of Kimmy Pasternack, the 17-year-old founder of Sloane Designs, an upcoming atelier for luxury women’s evening wear.
Follow at: @sloanedesigns
Hometown: Scottsdale
Your first fashion job: Starting my own company at age 10! I was taught the skills of production and then started my own brand.
How would you describe your style? Our brand style is opulent, luxurious women’s eveningwear. We focus on embellished classic gowns designed for the modern, empowered CEO. With our items being handmade, couture, custom-to-order garments, we work with our customers to bring their dream gowns to life. We frequently use tulle, gems and different glitter accents on our designs.
When did you know you had a passion for fashion? I decided I wanted to go into fashion at 5 years of age. I couldn’t find anyone to teach me until I was 8, where I promptly begged for instruction by a former fashion professor at many of the local Arizona colleges. It was then I began to learn every step of technical production, and at age 10, started my own brand.
Your biggest fashion accomplishment so far and why? I’ve been so lucky to have built this brand from the ground up at the age of 10 years old – I started designing at 8 years of age and I’m currently 17. In the past near-decade, I’ve had many amazing opportunities and accomplishments. I was a co-author of a book discussing my insights as a young entrepreneur, I’ve shown collections in nearly a dozen fashion shows and was chosen to be a PHXFW emerging designer of the year.
The biggest obstacle you overcame? The biggest obstacle I’ve overcome has been with my personal health. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was diagnosed with a life-limiting genetic illness and stopped in my tracks. Phoenix Fashion Week is my first event back in fashion as a designer, and my first collection in three years. I’m extremely excited to watch this collection down the runway.
A designer who inspires you and why? For very well-known brands – Schiaparelli. It’s some of the most intricate and out-of-the-box couture you can find. I also really enjoy Elie Saab’s couture collections – they’re the embellished style I love so much.
Phoenix Fashion Week advice for someone pursuing a career in fashion as a designer? Go for it. Timing will never work out, and you’ll always feel as though you haven’t reached your ultimate potential. Remember that in bootcamp, everyone is growing and learning together – there’s no better time to start than now.
What can fans expect to see from your collection? You can expect to see eight beautiful embellished gowns and two bespoke men’s suits on the runway.