Fashion Designers just like you: Earl Edwards’ Piece Galleria
We love to feature the successful launch stories of V.Mora clients. In this blog, you’ll discover the fusion of art gallery sophistication and streetwear flair in Earl Edwards' Piece Galleria. Earl's journey is a testament to resilience and the transformative power of honest self-reflection.
Some designers create a product and build a brand identity to support it. Earl Edwards chose the opposite direction. He struggled to truly understand the overall ethos, vibe, and message he wanted his brand to relay, and let the products evolve from that vision. His brand Piece Galleria launched in 2019 https://www.piecegalleria.com/ as an upmarket brand with art gallery and streetwear elements.
It’s an intersection of style and substance that currently features 2 primary products: the Piece Galleria Hybrid Tote Bag and the Piece Galleria Dopp Kit/Toiletry Bag. Both are beautifully crafted and featured in an Art Gallery atmosphere to complete the vision of art, elegance, and superior function.
Piece Galleria, a fusion of art gallery sophistication and streetwear flair, has been making waves since its inception in 2019. It’s thriving under the creative guidance of Earl Edwards.
Earl is a visionary designer in the fashion world. He sat down with us to discuss the challenges of his entrepreneurial journey, and the pivotal role V.Mora played in launching his collection. He also shares some invaluable advice for aspiring fashion entrepreneurs.
Let’s hear about it in his words.
Q: What was the most difficult part of your fashion entrepreneur journey and how were you able to overcome this?
EE: The hardest part of my fashion entrepreneurial journey was finding transparent and skilled people to help me execute at the level that I wanted to. I spent a lot of time attempting to locate the appropriate personnel and resources needed to ensure my idea was fully realized.
Another part of my journey that was equally as challenging was learning the balance of trusting my gut and delegating to those who know more than me about the product, strategy and the industry.
Q: How did V.Mora help with your collection launch and add to your understanding of the business of fashion?
EE: V.Mora assisted me with my launch during the preparation phase. The employees were honest and forthcoming regarding hurdles that I would encounter from a timeline and production perspective.
I was also able to learn a great deal about fabric, washes and brand checklists/requirements.
Earl Edwards found the collaboration with V.Mora beneficial for navigating logistical challenges and also for gaining insights into fabric choices, resources, and necessary brand requirements. The partnership with V.Mora proved instrumental in setting the stage for the successful launch of the Piece Galleria brand.
From this experience, Earl learned 3 key tips, he thinks all fashion entrepreneurs should be aware of.
Q: What 3 Tips would you give a new fashion entrepreneur?
EE: First, I would recommend starting with your core branding. I think some people start with a product but for me, it worked best when I had a deep understanding of the overall ethos, story, vibe, and message that I wanted to relay. Simply put, my branding deck is my North Star.
Second, I would recommend that new entrepreneurs put a great deal of effort into understanding their strengths and weaknesses. This will allow you to confidently outsource where you lack knowledge.
Finally, I would suggest new brand owners take the time to honestly interview themselves. This may sound out of the box, but it is in an effort to understand what you want out of this experience. I'd actually strongly recommend seclusion during this process as it is a very personal one.
Earl highlighted that the creation of a brand was the full expression of a clear personal vision. When that vision is clear, the products seem to evolve naturally out of that foundation, and the collection created truly aligns with the brand identity. As a result, there is no disconnect in what consumers are seeking and what they actually purchase.
Q: Having successfully taken your brand from conception to launch, what is the one piece of advice you wish you could have given to your former self?
EE: Do NOT be afraid to be honest with yourself. Early on, I had to sit down with myself and admit that some stuff I was developing was not at the level I had intended.
“Looking back, it sucked. Realizing this took a few years; however, it allowed me to move forward and approach issues from a more informed perspective. “
Earl’s advice serves as a reminder that honest self-reflection is a crucial aspect of growth and success in the competitive world of fashion entrepreneurship. If you are just starting out, advice like this can be priceless. It can help avoid many costly failures, mistakes, delays, and wasted time.
The mission of Piece Galleria is to facilitate self-cultivation by inspiring the human consciousness through the internal, externally. To follow the Piece Galleria journey, go to the website: www.PieceGalleria.com and sign up for email updates.
Earl Edwards had the courage to follow his dream and launch Piece Galleria. Hopefully, his success can help inspire your dreams and motivate you to take the steps to successfully launch your startup fashion brand.
What’s your breakthrough fashion concept? If you feel you have an idea that may have some promise, schedule a free strategy call and let's talk about it. You may have discovered a niche and a fashion product that could become a successful start-up and the fashion business of your dreams.
Stuck on product Production? At V.Mora we can help you through the entire production process from designing, to sourcing and so on through our Production Development services. If you are in need of the following Development and Production services:
Sourcing
Technical sketches
Pattern Making
Prototype making
Sample Making
Fittings
Digitizing and Grading
Marker Making
Manufacturing
Please contact us at: vmorainquiry@vmora.com
About the Author
Fashion expert, Allison Howmann, graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology where she majored in Fashion Design and Minored in International Trade and Marketing. She has spent over 6 years in the NYC Fashion Industry utilizing her Design and Marketing skills. Allison has worked with several successful brands to help create their winning fashion development, small business operations, and sales and marketing strategies. You can find her creating original content on the V.Mora blog and the V.Mora Instagram.
