The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
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Fife fashion designer Ryan Kirk studied at Heriot Watt School of Textiles and Design. On graduating in 2015, the 24-year-old from Crossgates launched his own fashion label and successes include dressing one of the X Factor finalists.
What is your business? I am a fashion designer, producing made-to-order items from my collection. I also offer a bespoke service.
How did you start in business? I always knew I wanted to have my own fashion label. It’s such a massive achievement to say you own your own business.
How did you get where you are?
Patience and perseverance. My label has only been officially launched for about a year and a half and it’s still very early days for my brand. I actively promote via Instagram @ryankirkdesigns and word of mouth is key for any new startup.
Who has helped you? My parents, family, and amazing fiancée Vikki have been a massive help. Business Gateway Fife also offered me a small grant, which helped with the start-up material I needed to launch the brand. Marissa at Business Gateway has been a great supporter. We are in frequent communication which has helped build my confidence and provided me with a sounding board. Thanks also to the fashion department at Fife College for allowing me to promote at their events. Your biggest mistake? I was desperate to get a website up and running and new pieces on there. I wish I had taken a little bit more time to create a more cohesive collection.
Your greatest achievement? My new collection Midnight Jungle. It’s the first cohesive collection I’ve done since graduating. It feels good to get back to designing, sourcing new fabrics, and bringing a new collection together. My ‘Black Scooped Hem Mesh Dress’ was worn in Alien Uncovered’s music video for their cover of Starboy – they were an X Factor finalist group in 2015. It was also worn at this year’s London Fashion Week by the group.
Hopes for the future? I hope to become a well-known Scottish fashion label. I offer the same service as high-end retailers/ designers but without the premium price tag. All of my items are handmade by me and I’d love for people to get behind the label and become a Ryan Kirk Designs lover and really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into the items.
Do you want to recruit? I’d love to recruit in the future. I hope the brand continues to grow, both with the collections and bespoke service. I’d also love to get my label stocked across the world.
The hardest thing about running your own business?
Finance. The money spent on fabrics, the website and materials can sometimes feel endless.