A Year in Bloom: Dresses, Dreams, and Self-Discovery

As the year ends, I find myself reflecting not just on what And Our Label has accomplished but also on the personal journey that has shaped it. Navigating a new design space this year has been a challenge and a joy, filled with moments of growth, self-discovery, and resilience. On top of it all, I’ve been coming to terms with a not-so-surprising pre-diabetic diagnosis, a wake-up call to take better care of myself—not just as a designer, but as a person.

I’ve also renewed my commitment to my partner of three years, who has been a steadfast source of support and love through the ups and downs of running a brand. It’s been a year of rooting myself in the things that matter most, personally and professionally.

On New Year’s Eve of 2024, I joined friends in making a vision board. At first, it was just a fun activity, and honestly, I’ve always found vision boards a bit silly. But as I sifted through images and words, something shifted. I started gravitating toward photos of Princess Diana, words like “femme” and “sparking joy,” and images of Jennie Kim from Blackpink. Phrases like “seal it with a kiss” stood out to me, and by the end of the night, I realized how much these themes resonated. The vision board became a quiet but powerful affirmation of my desires: to live authentically, unapologetically, and joyfully.

This introspection has also led me to dive deeper into my own identity. I consider myself a trans femme—though not wholly a trans woman—and this is something I want to explore without reservation in 2025. The coming year feels like an invitation to embrace every facet of myself and pour that authenticity into everything I create with And Our Label.

Your support, love, and belief in this journey have been a guiding light through it all. Thank you for helping me build this world, for growing with me, and for making this brand a space where fairytales and authenticity intertwine.

Major Milestones and Accomplishments

2024 was filled with unforgettable moments:

• New Colors to Love: This year, we expanded our collection with community-loved dresses in Sky Blue, Blood Red, and Forest Green. Each color told its own story, and seeing how you embraced these hues with such excitement was everything I could have hoped for.
• Building a TikTok Powerhouse: Growing our TikTok community to over 10,000 followers has been incredible. This platform has become more than just a marketing channel; it’s the very soul of our brand, where I get to connect with all of you, hear your stories, and celebrate our shared love for fashion.
• Achievements to Remember:
  1. Presenting at Fibers of Being, a fashion event where I merged art, music by Sean Ang, and live creations by Hunter Hess, with stunning styling by Dwayne Ludwig. This was more than a presentation—it was a symphony of creativity.
  2. Designing custom pieces for LGBTQ+ celebrities like Kim Chi. Creating for icons who inspire others has been a dream come true.
  3. Relaunching And Our Label on Valentine's Day. This romantic reintroduction encapsulated my love for dressmaking and set the tone for an unforgettable year.

Stories That Touched My Heart

Of all the beautiful moments this year, one that stands out is a heartfelt message from a client, Hana. They shared: "I can honestly say this is one of the rare moments when I felt beautiful. I normally avoid dresses to not see my body in them just because I’m not all too happy with it. However, when I put on the red dress I used for pictures last time I felt like I was a little girl again playing princess. It seems like a wave of confidence hit me as soon as I had the dress on that I couldn’t believe that the person in the mirror was me wearing it."

Stories like Hana’s remind me why I do what I do. Your confidence, joy, and connection to these pieces fuel every stitch and every design.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

2024 was not without its challenges. The apparel market proved difficult this year, with production hurdles and financial pressures impacting brands across the queer space. Seeing companies like Both& Apparel shut down was a sobering reminder of how delicate this industry can be. To navigate this, I took a conservative approach, releasing only what I knew would resonate with you.

Despite these struggles, your unwavering support kept And Our Label thriving.

Looking Ahead to 2025

As we step into the new year, I’m thrilled about what’s ahead. Collaborations with queer artists and content creators are on the horizon, bringing fresh perspectives to And Our Label. These partnerships are not just about creating products—they’re about building community and telling stories that matter.

In 2025, I’ll also be shifting away from a traditional collection model. Instead, releases will flow intuitively, allowing me to expand on what feels right and align each piece with the And Our Label vision of being romantic, inspiring, and fairytale-like.

Thank You

Thank you for being part of this journey. Whether you’ve followed from the beginning or joined us this year, your presence means the world to me. Together, we’ll keep building, dreaming, and creating magic in the year to come. Stay tuned for exciting updates, and as always, let’s keep rewriting the fairytale.

With love,