Meet Chloe Kim | Founder & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chloe Kim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chloe, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
To be honest, when I worked full-time at a clothing brand, my work-life balance was either better or similar. However, working on my own business is different because it doesn’t feel like work – it’s my true passion and highly rewarding. The more time and energy I invest in it, the more I gain in terms of better product quality, increased customer engagement, and higher conversion rates. As a result, even though I’m always connected to my phone for work purposes, I feel less stressed and enjoy every aspect of it. Nevertheless, I’ve come to realize that delegating certain tasks to others who are better equipped to handle them is necessary to focus on the overall success of the business. Despite hiring a designer to handle the technical drawings for our next collection, I found myself revising the work. Trusting others and letting go of control is a challenge, but I’m still learning to achieve a balance and avoid thinking about work constantly.

What should our readers know about your business?
Uniform person stands out as a slow fashion brand that doesn’t mass-produce hundreds of designs each season. Instead, we focus on creating timeless essentials with a unique twist. We don’t follow fleeting fashion trends, but rather craft evergreen designs that customers keep coming back for. It’s an amazing feeling when a customer loves a design so much that they make it their uniform. That’s precisely why our brand is called Uniform person – we aim to provide pieces that can be worn as an everyday uniform. Our garments may not be the trendiest or fanciest, but they make you feel good when you wear them, and they never go out of style. The fashion industry often puts pressure on individuals to dress a certain way or follow the latest trends, but we wanted to create a brand that encourages people to repeat outfits they love and wear them as a uniform. To be honest, I sometimes feel pressure to follow the latest trends and worry that I’m not doing enough when I see what other brands are creating. However, I’ve learned to overcome this by taking inspiration from those trends and creating pieces that can be worn year-round, even after the trend fades. I also try to incorporate our brand’s unique twist to create our own identity. I’m continuously learning and growing, but I’m confident in my ability to stay true to our brand’s values while also adapting to industry trends and meeting the demands of our customers.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My absolute favorite neighborhood is Lower East Side – if you don’t love LES, you don’t love it at all. I’m constantly inspired by the people and vibe here. The neighborhood is filled with cool stores, great places to eat, and amazing art galleries. One of my go-to spots is Lullaby, where I like to grab a drink or pregame before heading out. I prefer going there during the weekdays when the music is great and the crowds are lighter. When I go out, I typically follow my friends who are DJing or head to places known for their music and crowd. Shopsin’s at Essex Market is my favorite sandwich spot and Scarr’s for pizza. 8282 has great cocktails and amazing fusion korean food as well. And I can never resist pastries from Supermoon bakery when they open on the weekends. When I make dinner plans with my friends, I enjoy venturing beyond my neighborhood to try new places. Recently, my favorites have been Maison Sun in Brooklyn and Jua in Flatiron.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with some amazing coworkers and supervisors who taught me a lot. Every single one of them is my mentor in some way. When I first started out in the fashion industry, I was pretty clueless, but these awesome mentors helped me step up my game and become a better team player. They taught me the ins and outs of work talk, how to handle outside partners like a pro, and how to deal with all the little and big issues that come with garment production. Honestly, I couldn’t have made it without them. Without my prior experience as a team member, I doubt I could have managed to work for myself or employ someone else. Being able to function efficiently as part of a team is not something that can be gained from just reading books or listening to lectures. Rather, it’s a skill that requires years of hands-on experience to develop and refine. Also, I can’t talk about my journey without giving a shoutout to my parents. When I told them I wanted to leave my job and start my own business, they supported me wholeheartedly. They had seen how much effort and preparation I had put into it, so even though it was a risky move, they never discouraged me or told me it was a bad idea. When I launched my business during the pandemic and sales started coming in, they were ecstatic and have continued to cheer me on every step of the way. It’s amazing to have their unwavering belief in me and to know how proud they are of what I’ve accomplished.

Website: https://www.uniform-person.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniform.person/