Work Crush: Brooke Callahan
she does things with poplin you can't even imagine
Work Crush is a guest Q+A series where you can get to know incredibly talented and tasteful friends of the letter. Each with careers, brands, or businesses I follow with personal deep admiration, and think you should know about.
When I think back to summer of 2022, it reminds me of a sweet, hopeful energy. We were all shedding our pandemic tendencies (ick), and stepping back into life that felt like it was in bloom again. One July evening (I have the receipts), I fell down an Instagram rabbit hole and discovered Brooke Callahan. Her handcrafted pieces (she also collects an assortment of vintage) struck a chord with me right away, and I promptly bought myself a handcrafted flower pendant.
Even though it was new, it immediately felt nostalgic to me — a bright spot in my tired summer wardrobe. Ever since, I’ve admired and followed Brooke’s work closely.
Brooke’s (newly launched) clothing designs lend themselves to crisp, uniform dressing, and I speak earnestly when I say they’re in constant rotation in my closet. Nothing makes me feel more chic and unfussy on the hottest, stickiest days. To any city dweller in the middle of July, I think that’s an extremely covetable compliment.
When I asked Brooke if she’d be into answering a few questions for the letter, I was beyond flattered when she said yes. For lack of a better word…I really am a fangirl, and believe her design ethos and sharp eye for detail is incredibly special.
I loved learning more about her process, and I hope you do too.
SC: Brooke, so grateful to have you. I know you come from a background in fashion PR. Pivoting to start (and manage) your own business — especially in this industry — isn't for the lighthearted. Was starting your own brand always the goal?
I never planned on starting a brand but always knew I wanted to work for myself since the corporate environment made me very anxious — I was always convinced I was about to be fired. I was super lucky to start making the jewelry after finding materials I loved on vacation and slowly growing until I was able to go full time. To be totally honest, a lot of decisions were made for me because of covid — I got laid off and had a lot of extra time to create. I can’t imagine I would have ever willingly quit my full time job with benefits, but in hindsight it would have been the right decision.
Last year, you launched ready to wear under your brand, and it’s been incredibly well received. Your pieces feel so intentional, yet effortless…truly the dream combination. I love the way you play with colour, too. What does your design process look like at the moment?
I’m currently working on Fall right now — I try to make a few different styles in the same fabric so I can really become familiar with it and how it wears. I have endless reference images for color — I usually dye the fabrics which can be a lot of trial and error to get right but it always ends up being worth it. With the poplin, I made a small core collection and have continued to build off of that with styles and colors throughout the year — this seems to work best for me.
My initial discovery of you was through your jewelry. Your pieces have such a unique feel, almost heirloom-like. Was moving into designing clothes always your intention, or was that a natural progression?
I think once I started making things I knew the end goal was clothing. The jewelry really just (luckily) fell into my lap but I always knew it probably wasn’t the end goal for me as I don’t even wear jewelry myself. The warm reception of the jewelry gave me the confidence to pursue what I knew I wanted to do even without any training or education — I had to really trust my intuition and work ethic.
As a creative and a designer, I’m curious...do you have an everyday formula for dressing? Or are you led by mood day to day?
I think I have become more of a uniform dresser since starting to mainly work from home, especially since the clothes I make lend perfectly to that lifestyle. Right now I mainly wear a pair of tie pants + a colorful button down which I basically collect now, can never have enough :)
What’s next for you? Anything exciting you can share?
My grandma made some amazing pieces throughout her life that I am planning on reworking for Fall — she is my biggest inspiration and the reason I pursued a career in fashion. Super excited :)
I’m already so biased toward fall dressing…I’ll be waiting with baited breath for this drop…! Lastly, top three must visit spots in LA?
Three is SO hard...I need a very specific category so it will be gluten on the east side. Proof Bakery for sandwiches, La Pergoleta for mushroom rigatoni, and Quarter Sheets for cake.
You can follow Brooke here, and shop her collection online. You can also find her pieces at some very excellent shops like 100% Silk, Maimoun and more. All I can say is a pair of Tie Pants will send many a compliment your way, I know from experience. ;)
In My Saved Pile:
Please take a look at this IG comment on Every Outfit’s Instagram that led to marriage. Sometimes, the internet is an amazing place.
Bloomers are taking over, and majority of the ones I’m seeing are from Charlie Beads. Behind the label is Charlotte Hourston, who’s deep love for vintage and influences her designs, focused on repurposing dead stock materials.
New Clairo album is on repeat. It’s divine <3
I could no longer escape Love Island USA…so I caved. Is it actually better than seasons past? No? But it is fun to join in collective watching experience. Tapping Ariana Madix as a host was an amazing PR choice.
I’ll Leave You With:
I’ve been back on a Madonna rip lately...1 This song is so original and addictive and I cannot believe it’s TWENTY THREE YEARS OLD.
S xxxx
I’m very seriously considering a letter on how the movie Desperately Seeking Susan impacted my youth…