Katydid Collections Offers Fashions That Men, Women, And Children Can Love
An average of 18 out of every 1000 pieces of luggage don’t make it to their destination on time. 
Furthermore, 0.075% of luggage is lost forever.* Of those misplaced and permanently lost pieces of luggage, how many of their owners would you say found inspiration for a business? I can think of at least one.
While it wasn’t the lost luggage itself that inspired Katy Messersmith to create Katydid Collection, she was inspired by its direct result: the need to buy more clothes. Where she was in Ghana, there was no store available to buy new clothing from. Instead she had to go straight to the source, seamstresses. Enlisting their help she was able to have some pieces put together. Inspired by the process and the patterns she started into business by selling fashionable handbags. From there it has expanded to include other accessories and clothing for women, men, and children.
Tell us a little about Katydid Collection.
Katydid began in 2004 as a handbag line and in the past few years has grown considerably and we now have expanded into not only fashion accessories but also apparel for women, men, and children.
What inspires your designs?
Symbols of our culture really inspire me. How I can portray those symbols and magnifying their meaning, but in a trendy way that customers want to be seen in. The most popular ones I have used over the past few years are crosses and fleur-de-lis. You will often see in my designs that I mix a lot of symbols as well such as a crown with angel wings or an iron cross with fleur de lis, etc.
What inspired your business?
The trip to Ghana was inspiring, but in all reality I needed to make more money to pay for student loans from college. So I did what I loved and found pieces I liked and sold them on ebay until I could afford to truly apply my own designs to different products and I grew from there with a lot of late nights and early mornings. I’ve always known that I wanted to work for myself and have always been an entrepreneur at heart, I just so happened to land in the fashion industry.
You were (and are) truly a lemons-to-lemonade type of gal, especially with the way you replaced your clothing after your luggage was lost on your flight to Ghana. What were those early pieces like? What about them helped ignite the inspiration for what is now Katydid Collection?
The first designs were born of necessity while in Africa and they reflected on the vibrant local fabrics. Even though the experience of loosing my luggage at the time was so devastating I often look back and if that wouldn’t have happened I am not sure I would have ever started my own business in the handbag/clothing industry. I was in such a rural area that you couldn’t just go and buy shirts or clothes in a store, you actually had to go to the local seamstresses on the streets and have them made. I just remember waking up each morning and before I would go volunteer at the clinic in Ghana I couldn’t wait to see what creation I could come up with that day. Many of the designs back then were very basic and simple, yet fun and functional and I feel my line has always reflected just that.
How many different pieces/categories do you currently have?
We currently offer eight different categories selling more than 600 products. We started with just handbags and since have apparel and fashion accessories. We also have branched out from not just women’s apparel but men’s and children’s as well.
Besides through your website, where can your clothing be purchased?
We are only in the domestic US for the moment, but our designs and products are in more than 10,000 stores and boutiques across the nation. It’s always exciting to see our products in places we never expected like mall kiosks, festivals, trade days, and home parties.
How has Katydid Collection changed/grown since its birth in 2004?
Our top line revenue has grown exponentially and we continue to grow through this tough economic downturn. Much of our growth can be attributed to focusing on our customers and to us growing categorically with new innovative products and designs. Two years ago we didn’t offer apparel and now it’s our number one seller. Next year could be jeans.
Do you have any goals that you hope to reach with your company over the next year? Any long term goals?
We would like to begin taking the brand to larger department stores and the over seas market has always fascinated us, but there are many opportunities to expand the brand through more innovative online marketing and social media. It blows our mind that there are so many ways to connect with our customers now and all that must be tracked and measured from an ROI standpoint.
What are some of the lessons you have learned from your business?
Always be aware of the consumer trends and what is going to be hot the next season. We are also very conscious as this business is very competitive. Competitors are always looking to take market share by looking at what has been successful for us and doing the same thing. We must always be one step ahead through innovation of new marketing techniques or product designs. One thing that I’ve learned though is to be successful you have to think positive and never give up. I made a lot of sacrifices to get to where I am today, but it was worth it.
Do you have any pieces of advice that you would like to offer anyone hoping to start a business in the fashion industry?
Sure, we encourage anyone to follow their passion, but understand it going to take many long hours and a few years before real results can be measured. Be prepared to push through the hard times and success will follow. You have to have determination and dedication to your business and for the most believe in yourself. Don’t be shy in asking for advice or opinions or talking to others that have proven to be successful.
* statistics from Popular Mechanics.
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