The First Interview
I know I always say that I’m doing something a bit different on the blog each week, but this week it seriously is true - this is very different! In fact, this is the first time I have done this at all; and I am super excited about it. This week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Megan O’Sullivan, Associate Manager on the Brand Marketing team at Cuyana! If you don’t know about Cuyana, you definitely should. Cuyana, a sustainable fashion brand, was founded by two powerfully-inspiring women, Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah; and it’s built around the philosophy of “fewer, better” goods. I would say more, but I’m going to go ahead and let Megan take the reins.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your journey to working at Cuyana.
After graduating from Wake Forest, I completed the Executive Development Program at Neiman Marcus as an Assistant Buyer in women's contemporary. It was a really great way to get started and learn from some really wonderful and smart people. That experience made me want to learn more about sustainable fashion. It was clear that the industry had work to do in terms of decreasing its impact on the environment and producing less waste. From there, I moved to San Francisco to work for Everlane in supply chain management. Working for a startup is so different compared to working at a larger, more established company like Neiman Marcus. There is always more to do at a small company. While at Everlane, I had the opportunity to learn about production and logistics, which is a really vital part of the retail space. I have so much respect for people who work in that area. I really loved working for a small company and being able to see how my work made an impact on the bigger picture, but I learned from that role in supply chain that my passions and skills are more related to creative work, marketing, and shaping the brand. After a bit of time and additional experience, I was able to shift to brand marketing at Cuyana just over a year ago. It is fulfilling to look back on that journey and the time it took to get here.
What is your position/title at Cuyana? What does a day in your life look like?
I am an Associate Manager on the Brand Marketing team. My days can vary, but everyday I work on some combination of brand messaging, content planning, content creation, campaign planning and organizing, and working with lots of very intelligent people (mostly women!).
How would you describe Cuyana’s brand ethos – its personality?
What I love most about Cuyana is that the brand and company is very true to its values, inside and out. "Fewer, better" is how we describe the brand ethos, which relates to both the wardrobe and a lifestyle. Fewer, better can be described as an intentional way of being. In terms of the product, this translates to a focus on design, quality, and sustainability.
Check out this video on Cuyana’s philosophy.
How does Cuyana view and treat sustainability?
Sustainability at Cuyana is approached holistically—from product design, to production, to end of product life cycle. The design process is intentional in the sense that the team designs pieces that are timeless, meaning they can be worn again and again rather than be worn only a few times and potentially going to waste. In terms of production, many of the materials we use are sustainably-sourced, and many of the vendors we work with are experienced in and focused on techniques that decrease their impact on the planet (for example, finding ways to decrease carbon emissions and avoiding chemical use). Finally, and perhaps most importantly, we focus on extending the product life cycle by using quality materials that hold up overtime, and providing customers with ways to refresh, rewear, and recycle their pieces. There is always progress and improvements to be made, and the goal is always to keep products in customers' wardrobes and out of landfills.
What do you think sets Cuyana out from the crowd in the sustainable fashion space?
It makes me proud to be able to say that Cuyana actually does the work in making sure the design, quality, and production practices are up to par and better for the planet. Because the truth is, that is not always the case! "Fewer, better" was the mindset of the company since its fruition in 2011, and in that sense, the brand is very genuine and true to itself.
What is something that you hope to see happen in the sustainable fashion space?
I hope to see less greenwashing and more earnest work being done to decrease our impact. I hope to see brands working together in this mission instead of competing, and learning from one another instead of against one another. I hope to see new technologies that help companies find ways to source materials responsibly, produce ethically, and refine shipping processes. It's also really encouraging to see the customer (including myself) become less tolerant of wasteful practices—I also hope to see customers continue to evolve in this way!
What is your favorite thing about working at Cuyana?
My favorite thing is the people. It might sound cliche, but there is so much to be said about admiring and respecting the people you work with and enjoying the energy of the company. I really enjoy getting to learn from my teammates everyday.
If you could only pick one item to purchase from Cuyana, what would you pick and why?
Gosh, that's hard! Currently I carry my Camera Bag on any errands, coffee runs, grocery runs, you name it. It's the perfect bag for quick outings right now. I use the Travel Case Set to carry my toiletries, even while at home (toiletries in the bigger one, make up in the smaller one). And of course, you really can't beat the Classic Structured Tote. I have the suede one. I've carried it for a year and it still looks brand new. I guess that's three... but they're all essential!
I hope that you all enjoyed this wonderful, insightful interview about a pioneering, sustainable fashion brand - I know that I did. Megan - thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me.
Bye for now,
McGee