Today we’d like to introduce you to Keeley Gribb.
Hi Keeley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
GRZYB was born at the intersection of a few influences. I had been making and upcycling clothes for my own wardrobe for a number of years — making the pieces I wanted to wear but wasn’t seeing in the market and/or couldn’t afford. Friends and strangers all started to take interest in what I was making and so many people kept telling me to start a brand. I had major hesitations though, given how toxic the fashion industry can be. It’s known for globalized labor exploitation and the industry is also one of the worst global polluters, both in terms of resources used and disposed of during the production process and also the massive amount of clothes sent to landfills at the end of their “lifecycle.” I didn’t want to contribute to those negative environmental and social consequences, but the desire was still there to start my own label.
I come from a line of strong, entrepreneurial female makers, so that’s kind of in my blood. My mother is an exceptionally talented maker and leather carver. Her mother (my grandmother) was a fantastic seamstress and quilter, and HER mother (my great-grandmother) was a seamstress in Japan.
GRZYB, pronounced [‘gzip] or [/g-jip/], means mushroom or fungus in Polish. It’s also the heritage version of my surname on my father’s side, Gribb, and the genesis for the brand’s ethos. Like the dynamic mushroom, I wanted GRZYB to be both the end of the lifecycle and the beginning. It’s the catalyst for reclamation, regeneration, recycling, and reuse. Beauty from beauty.
All GRZYB garments are made following a slow fashion, sustainable business model using deadstock, vintage, or otherwise existing textiles and materials. They’re handmade in the USA by me, right here in Central Florida.
Alright, 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?
The biggest challenge beyond self doubt has been finding consistent time to build out this vision while maintaining my full-time job with a NY-based branding consultancy and design studio as the Director of Creative Operations. What we don’t realize when we buy from the inexpensive fast fashion industry is how long it actually takes to make the clothes we wear — especially a quality garment that will hold up over time through wear and laundering.
On a small scale, GRZYB is my answer to so many of these issues with the fashion industry, and we join a movement of independent, maker-driven brands trying to give consumers an alternative way to use their purchasing power. GRZYB offers timeless, sustainable, and high-quality garments that are one-of-a-kind or few-of-a-kind because we’re only using existing materials.
While time is the biggest constraint, I also have a line of upcycled pieces, called reGRZYB, and a media arm, GRZYB Media, which specializes in branding, marketing, and digital content. Over time, I hope to continue to build out the vision, and expand to GRZYB Living for home items, and GRZYB Heritage, a higher-end line of bespoke, luxury garments and accessories.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about GRZYB?
GRZYB is a sustainable, slow fashion clothing brand that specializes in effortless silhouettes that stand the test of time. Our signature figure-skimming caftan comes in three lengths: the Kinue blouse, the Tyche mini-dress, and the Flora maxi-dress. It’s very body-friendly.
The Flora is elegant enough for special occasions, yet incredibly versatile for daily wear. Personally, it’s my go-to choice for travel, grocery shopping, and date night alike. It would also be a great maternity option that you could re-wear over and over again post-pregnancy — the kind of silhouette that’s just as appropriate on a teenager as a woman in her seventies. That’s probably what I’m most proud of, as well as the way GRZYB’s values for low-impact style are infused throughout the brand.
We’re also working hard to expand our size range, and offer custom made-to-order options upon request.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Just try to stay open-minded and always be gracious and mindful of everyone’s time. You never know who will be a valuable resource or wealth of information. Also, you can learn a ton of applicable skills and information from sources that aren’t necessarily in your industry, so be on the lookout for ways to connect those interdisciplinary dots.
Contact Info:
- Email: grzybco@gmail.com
- Website: https://grzyb.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grzybco/
