From artistically-patched flannels to t-shirts adorned with cheeky quotes, fashion design junior Kelsey Parchman is incorporating her personal style into her clothing and accessories business, KLC Olive.
While the 21-year-old started KLC Olive this summer, her involvement with the fashion industry is anything but new.
As a child, Parchman remembers peering over the dining room table to watch her mother, Kim Naumann, as she created metal initial necklaces, personalized metal yard sticks and wall art for her own small business. Her mother would also often bring her to wholesale markets, where Parchman was first introduced to the world of retail.
Today, Naumann’s company brings Parchman’s ideas to life by printing the designs Parchman creates or selects onto her t-shirts and other products. Naumann also aids in her daughter’s venture by advising her on aspects of business and fashion, as well as attending wholesale markets with an eye for items that complement Parchman’s fun-loving aesthetic, she said.
The Texas native worked in retail throughout high school and fell in love with it when she saw customers’ faces light up upon finding the perfect shirt or outfit, she said.
“[Putting together an outfit] is kind of like putting together a puzzle,” Parchman said, “You grab a shirt here, some pants there, add a few accessories and it comes together right in front of your eyes.”
Influenced by her older sister, who majored in forensic science, Parchman originally studied criminal justice at the University in fall 2015. Once she started taking classes, Parchman realized she wanted to be in the fashion industry. Parchman tried her hand at fashion merchandising, but was soon drawn to the more creative aspects of the industry, like the artistry and construction of a garment.
In her collections, customers will find t-shirts and flannels with custom designs patched on the back and a variety of jewelry and other accessories, including purses and flasks. While Parchman buys many of her jewelry products wholesale, she recently began making select necklaces herself, such as the suede wrap necklaces featured on her site.
Many of her items incorporate images of animals, like her dog and cat purses or the packaging for her jewelry.
“Right now, I’m still trying to figure out exactly what my style and customer market is, so for now it’s stuff I personally love which is very playful and fun,” Parchman said.
One of the distinctions Parchman thinks sets KLC Olive apart is how she reconstructs items. Many of her t-shirts are cut up or personally dyed by her, she said. Learning how to brand herself through her website and label has been a rewarding challenge, Parchman said.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned so far is even if you have tons of stock, if you aren’t branding yourself and putting yourself out there, you won’t sell anything,” Parchman said.
The company’s name stems from Parchman’s own, as the letters KLC create her first name when said out loud, and Olive is her middle name. Although she used to dislike it, Parchman now sees her middle name as inspiration for her brand — it’s different, just like KLC Olive.
Outside of her business, Parchman also wants to create a University-wide trunk show showcasing young entrepreneurs like herself next semester. While the idea is still in the works, Parchman is driven by a desire to help others on campus in her shoes, she said.
“Getting your brand off the ground and into the public realm is often difficult, but events that showcase small businesses can help,” Parchman said.
Parchman’s dream is to create a nationally-recognized brand, and even open a mobile store — allowing her to meet people from all over the country, she said.
“I want a brand that people instantly recognize with a loyal group of followers who are passionate about what I do,” she said, “I just want to do what I love.”
