Today we’d like to introduce you to Alex Doyle.
Hi Alex, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Pearled Ivory a little over a year ago. I had a couple of brands before this one, where I manufactured my own products, mainly t-shirts and hoodies.
Unfortunately, I was never proud of the quality the pieces portrayed, as well as, I always saw myself going back to vintage clothes, to style myself in. Then, in November of 2020, I started curating vintage items that presented a Minimalist Style. I always found vintage clothes to be “luxury” caliber pieces. The fabrics have lasted over 20-50 years at times. Due to that perspective, I wanted to create a luxury brand through vintage clothes as a medium, with proper visual representation, packaging, editorials, events, etc. We are very specific in our aesthetic, as well as our brand imagery. Fast forward to 2022, we just opened up our first Showroom for Appointment Only shopping in Downtown Orlando.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not that it wasn’t smooth, but it took quite a while to get to this point. I’ve been in the clothing industry for about 4-5 years, selling clothes, internships, etc. With all that knowledge from those years of learning, I was finally confident to be able to portray a brand in the way I have always wanted to.
There is always a struggle with any business, but it’s all about adapting and learning. I would say the biggest struggle that we’ve encountered so far, was being able to finally feel confident in our visual narrative, as well as hiring people to fill specific roles that we need to grow in.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say I specialize and am known for is being a ‘curator’. Meaning, I think I have a good eye in putting things together, to fit a specific look/identity. Within the brand, I curate specific collections to present an identity among the brand. As well as, help with creating look books, editorials, to present the collection itself.
I would say what I am most proud of is, the community behind the brand, as well as the team that’s involved in the brand. It’s a huge blessing to be surrounded by people you love, while work on things we all love. I think we are onto something very special and unique.
I think what sets us apart from others, would be the way we carry the brand and present it. We spend an ungodly amount of time on perfecting our representation as a brand, visually, as well as in a tangible medium (packaging, showroom environment, etc.)
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Get an internship if possible. As well as, just study the culture that you want to have an influence on. I think for a while, I didn’t believe that there was a large fashion community among Orlando. Due to that perspective, I hosted a Pop-Up Event in Downtown, and wanted to give the city an actual retail experience for the community I share the most common things with, and amazingly enough, there was a great turn out, and met so many amazing people, as well as new friends that I am friends with to this day.
If you believe you need to go to New York City/Los Angeles to present your dream, not saying you are wrong for thinking that, but why not create that community in your own city.
Contact Info:
- Website: pearledivory.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pearledivory/
Image Credits
Alex Espejo
