In episode 57, the owner of Canadian slow fashion brand Betty x Bow, Allison Kittle, shares how she combines comfort, versatility, and feminine flair to create thoughtful, elevated basics. Her pieces do it all, and so does she – Allison balances a full-time nursing career with operating Betty x Bow.
“My name is Allison Kittle, I am the owner and operator of Betty x Bow (pronounced Betty and Bow) a slow-fashion womenswear brand based out of Ottawa, Ontario Canada. We create timeless, effortless, classic silhouettes with a feminine flair that help women build a conscious capsule wardrobe. I was born and raised in the west end part of the city of Ottawa and still live in the area today. I have always had a passion for fashion for as long as I can remember. But my career did not start as a fashion entrepreneur but in healthcare, which I continue to work in both industries today. For the past 11 years I have worked as a NICU (neonatal intensive care) nurse. I have always felt fulfilled caring for others but as I got more invested into my nursing career I had this pull to also pursue my creative passion for fashion and chase this dream for myself. As a nurse you have to be thoughtful and purposeful in your actions and these qualities have transferred into my brand. There is intentionality with everything that is Betty x Bow.”
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why Allison decided to start a fashion brand after almost a decade of nursing
- The style and values that focuses the Betty x Bow collection
- What Allison looks for in the perfect fabric
- The thoughtful design process Allison uses to create Betty x Bow pieces
- Some of the function details that add feminine flair to the Betty x Bow collection
- How Allison got connected to her factory and technical designer
- Why she chose to produce her garments locally in Canada
- How Allison got over imposter syndrome when starting a business in an industry she had no formal training in
- Why there are transferable skills in any industry
- How Allison balances a full-time nursing job with running Betty x Bow
- The pressure to always be working as an entrepreneur
People and resources mentioned in this episode:
- Betty x Bow website
- Allison’s email
- Betty x Bow Instagram
- Betty x Bow on Pinterest
- Betty x Bow Tiktok
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