HF#57 Focusing On The Basics, But Adding Flair with Allison Kittle

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