An Interview With Monica Sanders
Vision-Our inspiration helps us design and grow. It helps us guide our purpose and values and create a recognizable identity. By always looking to the future, we are able to make the best decisions for our present!
As ‘slow fashion’ grows in popularity, more fashion companies are jumping on the bandwagon. Renewable consumption has been gaining popularity for a while, as people recognize its importance, and many fashion companies want to be a part of this change. In this interview series, we are talking to business leaders in the fashion industry to discuss why they are embracing slow fashion and renewable consumption. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Staci Graffia.
Staci Graffia is the founder of new LA based brand Losano. Inspired by her love of fitness from a young age, she was inspired to create a line of clothing that kept up with her busy life and intense workouts.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more… Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
Hi! Thank you for the opportunity to share with you. I grew up in a very budget-conscious household in central Indiana where there was never a lot of extra money to buy clothes. Everything my family purchased had to be mindfully considered, which means I had to make a lot of choices growing up. Questions like “Should I buy new snow boots or sneakers this year,” were a constant, and I had to become good at making those decisions. As a result, I held such a high value for every piece of clothing I was able to buy. It taught me to search out quality and avoid items that would go out of style quickly, because the items I bought had to last me a long time. It was (and still is) very important for me to feel fashionable regardless of my limited wardrobe, and as a result, I started to develop a capsule wardrobe that I was always excited to pull from. This was definitely a defining experience for me, and has guided me through creating clothing of my own!
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
I have been a fitness enthusiast for the majority of my life, which helped inspire my love of athleisure. I fell in love with working out my freshman year of high school when I took a conditioning class. It was my first introduction to cardio and weightlifting, and I found I really enjoyed the activity! Through college I worked summer jobs at Scandinavian Health Club and earned my aerobics certificate to start teaching classes. I have been a consistent fitness enthusiast ever since, and am not above a trend! I love checking out all the new and upcoming classes on top of my regular gym routine, and as a result have worn a LOT of athleisure. I know the good, the bad, and the ugly, so I set out to do it better, with pieces that are not only better quality, but better for you and the planet.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
To be completely honest, my career is just getting started! Just like Losano, I am brand new to the world of fashion. I have loved being able to dive into the nitty-gritty right away — it has been very much a trial by fire! For me, the most interesting thing has been watching and learning from the expertise of my team. If you aren’t in the fashion world, it’s easy to think the business is very linear and moves smoothly, but there are so many more moving pieces than you would realize! From trend forecasting to seeing design concepts come to life on paper and in fabric, plus the attention to detail that goes into multiple fittings just shows how many moving pieces it takes to establish a style, let alone when it goes into production! At the end of the day, I am learning so much and I absolutely love being part of the whole process.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
That’s a really tough question! I think every person has their own set of skills they bring to the table, and there isn’t just one recipe for success, so it is important for each person to understand what she excels in, and use that to the best of her ability. In my experience, attention to detail and organization have gotten me a long way — for example, there are a lot of moving pieces you need to keep track of when it comes to sustainability. Everything from sourcing what kind of materials make up the bulk of your fabric, to what factories you manufacture in, and any nasty chemicals like BPA that can make their way into your clothes takes a lot of attention! Having a set process and commitment to detail has been instrumental in defining who we are as a brand. With all these moving pieces, I have also found it’s really important to have a positive attitude, as there are a lot of bumps in running a fashion brand. When you are able to approach these issues with a mindset of mutual respect and kindness, it makes every issue a lot easier to handle. Going hand in hand with this, being a team player has been essential. We are all in this together, and can only succeed individually when we succeed as a team. In every business there are a lot of different personalities, and it will go a long way if you can learn how to work together.
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
Losano is easily identifiable for our commitment to sustainability and quality above all else. When you pick up a piece of our clothing, you immediately notice how amazing the fabric feels and performs. In addition, we don’t look to trends when we create our garments- rather we focus on style elements that stay fashionable from season to season. Losano creates pieces you will reach for over and over again, regardless of trend.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share a story of how that was relevant to you in your life?
I like to keep it simple with “Be in the moment”. I really try to stay present and enjoy where I am throughout the day. Life goes by so quickly, whether its your children you watch grow up, or your brand. It is important to embrace all our moments, whether they be work or pleasure, because they will be gone before we know it.
Who is your fashion hero or heroine? Why?
I don’t know that I have a fashion hero but I do follow people who’s style inspires me. Currently I am really enjoying following @californiaistoocasual !
Why did you decide to create and use a sustainable business model for your fashion brand?
I started Losano for a couple of main reasons — primarily because it is the right thing to do. As inhabitants of the earth, it is our responsibility to take care of our home. I also believe that sustainability and quality have to go hand in hand, as even clothing with the most sustainable materials will end up in the bin if it isn’t made to last you for years to come. I had trouble finding brands that aligned with this frame of thinking, so I knew it was time to create one of my own!
What are three things we should all know about “slow fashion”?
3 things I think everyone should know about slow fashion are (1) it’s way easier than you think! The easiest way to adopt a slow fashion mindset is being mindful before you buy any piece of clothing and consider how it fits with what you already own, if you already own an equivalent, and how you plan to wear it. (2) Consider the 30-wear rule! If you don’t think you will get AT LEAST 30 wears out of a garment, chances are it doesn’t actually belong in your closet. This is part of the reason I designed Losano to be worn through multiple parts of your day — maximizing the wearability of your wardrobe. (3) you would be surprised about how much easier it gets to look fashionable! When you are buying clothes you know will already style well with what you currently own, getting dressed and looking put together is a lot easier.
Can you please explain how it can be fashionable to buy less, wait a little longer, or even repair clothing?
I think, in the most basic sense, its more fashionable to buy less because you will love what you are wearing more. By practicing mindfulness, you are more likely to save up for pieces you really connect with and will become wardrobe staples. In my opinion, there is nothing chicer than absolutely loving what you are wearing.
Thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Lead a Successful Slow Fashion Brand”.
1 . Commitment to quality — At Losano we take quality very seriously. Of course we want to provide our customers with beautiful pieces, but for slow fashion it is even more important to make sure each garment will stand the test of time.
2 . On trend, but not trendy — Our goal to design classic pieces that will fit into any wardrobe, regardless of trend. Slow fashion clothing should not go out of style in 1–2 seasons — it needs to look fashionable for years down the line.
3 . A talented team of like minded people who share your core business values — We are fortunate to have a great team of exceptional women who complete our company. I wouldn’t be able to do it without them.
4 . Vision-Our inspiration helps us design and grow. It helps us guide our purpose and values and create a recognizable identity. By always looking to the future, we are able to make the best decisions for our present!
5 . A mindful approach — It takes a lot of care to build a sustainable, slow fashion brand. Always make sure you identify your best process so the details don’t get lost. Your community cares about the details, so you should too!
You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
Oh, that’s easy! I would end climate change. Every year, the people that contribute the least to climate change are affected the most by it. As residents of this earth, we need to do everything we can to protect our collective home for us and all future generations.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
Keep up with us on instagram @losanooffiicial
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org.
Staci Graffia of Losano On Why They Are Embracing Slow Fashion and Renewable Consumption was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.