Getting Stylish With Coats: Heather Lynn Cashmere

What woman doesn't want to own a luxurious cashmere coat? Both in comfort and style. Well, welcome to Heather Lynn Cashmere. Their coats make you feel elegant, on-trend, and beautiful. All women want to feel this way. Nothing is better than putting on a classic jacket for day or evening -- one that works for every season and the fit is on point. Each coat is named, which makes the brand even more interesting Wrapped in the luxury softness of cashmere with a timeless style, Heather Lynn Cashmere is effortlessly chic while looking pulled together with the pure beauty of simplicity.

Heather Dawson grew up observing her mother build her wardrobe – choosing classic, high-quality pieces that stand the test of time. Having acquired the same sense of aesthetics and a love for delicate fabrics, Heather saw and felt a market that was not being reached. "Everyone owns the same black coats, made from 'cashmere blends' that are 90% wool and are itchy. I want to find an amazing investment coat that feels amazing without breaking the bank," said Heather. Just like that, the Heather Lynn idea was born (https://heatherlynn.ca.) In collaboration with her mother, she drew on her fashion background and began creating a line of luxurious cashmere coats that were classic yet unique. Heather Lynn Cashmere enabled her to elevate her sophistication and style. Using her keen eye for detail, the first coat collection was soon created to share this wonderful feeling with others.

Fashion has always been a part of Heather's life. Her dad teased her, saying, "All that glitters is not gold," because Heather loved shiny, pretty things as a little girl. "I have always loved getting dressed up for events, adding details to the styling of my outfits, and felt the power a great outfit can have to make me feel pulled together (even if I didn't feel like it on the inside,)" said Heather. Heather has never opted for pieces that are too trendy. She always leaned toward classic, tailored pieces and liked looking polished but with a little twist. In her twenties, Heather worked in fashion sales for brands such as DKNY, Vince, White and Warren, Fabiana Filippi, Hugo Boss, Bailey 44, etc. She also loves helping others feel amazing in many areas of their life; Heather Lynn has created a chance to do this by working in fashion.

Interesting Fact:

Nicknamed at a young age, Heather has been known as Molly Moth her entire life. Embracing the irony, the company was first named Molly Moth, acknowledging and honoring the roots and strength from which it originated. The site first launched in October 2021 as Molly Moth. From a place of support, wisdom, and love, both Molly Moths continually grow and evolve. Through that growth and evolution came the decision to step out from behind the nickname and stand authentically by her name: Heather Lynn. The beautiful coats continue to be designed and developed in Vancouver, B.C.

Who is Heather Lynn Cashmere

Heather Lynn is a luxury fashion solution. The coats are crafted from double-faced 100% cashmere and high percentage cashmere/wool blends for luxurious comfort. Hand-sewn with impeccable attention to detail and produced in small batches. You can find your forever piece with Heather Lynn Cashmere. The collection is thoughtfully curated and developed for exquisite softness, quality, and fit. Every piece is on-trend but not too trendy, so the styles stand the test of time. They are genuinely seasonless and look equally elegant on a cool summer evening as layered on a blustery winter’s day. Heather Lynn creates coats with modern sophistication with an emphasis on ease. They help women complete their looks with a focus on versatility.

When Heather had a moment, she spoke with Gemma Magazine about her inspiration for fashion, how she balances running an apparel company, the Heather Lynn customer, and what role wardrobe should play in our lives. Therefore, let's get into it!

Tell us a bit about your fashion background

Fashion has always been a part of my life. My dad teased me, saying, "All that glitters is not gold," because I loved shiny, pretty things as a little girl. I have always loved getting dressed up for events, enjoyed adding details to the styling of my outfits, and felt the power a great outfit can have to make me feel pulled together (even if I didn't feel like it on the inside. ). Never one for being too trendy, I've always leaned toward classic, tailored pieces and like looking polished but with a little twist. In my twenties, I worked in fashion sales for brands such as DKNY, Vince, White and Warren, Fabiana Filippi, Hugo Boss, Bailey 44, etc. I've also loved helping others feel amazing in many areas of their lives through fashion.

What woman doesn't want to own a luxurious cashmere coat? Both in comfort and style. Well, welcome to Heather Lynn Cashmere. Their coats make you feel elegant, on-trend, and beautiful. All women want to feel this way. Nothing is better than putting on a classic jacket for day or evening -- one that works for every season and the fit is on point. Each coat is named, which makes the brand even more interesting. Wrapped in the luxury softness of cashmere with a timeless style, xtiles; she sewed her wedding dress! Her knowledge and attention to detail were indispensable, as she could go on sourcing trips and work on fittings when I was not available for the first round of styles. When I realized that we both styled the coats in such different but equally great ways, these pieces' versatility and breadth of appeal became apparent. She is still my go-to sounding board to this day.

Did you see a niche within the cashmere market? Frankly, every woman wants to own a cashmere coat!

Agreed!! The fabric is just magical! It can fall right on many different body types over many different outfits! No matter what you wear, pop on a great coat, and you're stylishly ready! They also last for such a long time! The cost per item ends up being much lower than other value-priced items.

There is a gap in the market. At one end, there are many great brands with reasonably priced soft coats (especially on the hanger), but all have less than 10% cashmere. My wimpy skin is too sensitive for that to feel nice when wearing and is a no-go for me unless it's lined. Then, at the other end, for 7x the price, there are the gorgeous coats in pure cashmere, but even if I could afford them, I'd be too scared to wear them because I am too clumsy and would damage them. So, at Heather Lynn, we fall into the pocket in between. We use luxurious, quality materials with a high cashmere content so that they drape beautifully. Without substantial marketing costs or overhead, we can provide these materials at a fraction of what others charge.

How would you describe the Heather Lynn cashmere coat? Heather Lynn coats are classic yet unique, with clean lines and a great hand feel. The result is a line of coats unparalleled in quality. Heather Lynn's versatile, hand-sewn cashmere coats have timeless appeal for women who see beauty in simplicity. They are the simple choice you will reach for again and again, nearly year-round, to complete your look in a way that is effortlessly chic.

Why do you consider your coats seasonless? The shoulder seasons in Canada can be long, especially on the west coast. We have intentionally chosen our fabric to be just the right weight for chilly mornings in the spring and fall and even cool evenings in the summer. They are heavy enough for Vancouver winters without making you too hot when you go inside (grocery shopping in a heavy winter coat is brutal). They layer beautifully with a Gortex or a puffer layer when the weather demands it.

What role should wardrobe play in our lives?

It should simplify our lives, take a lot of the stress out of getting dressed, bring joy to us, and help us feel good so we can stand a little taller and dream a little bigger. At least, that's what it does for me.

Please explain why details are essential to your brand.

It's the little things that elevate pieces. Those that you don't always notice but make the piece so much more enjoyable to wear. They can be in unique twists, such as making the reversible Kate coat using two patterns that are distinct enough to make two looks yet go seamlessly together. It's in choosing a midnight navy instead of black for the Sloan coat as it is dark enough to read black and to pair with black, yet is much more flattering to wear and isn't yet another black coat like everyone else's.

Don't you feel when a woman feels good in her fashion choices, her confidence soars?

Oh my goodness, I couldn't agree more! Isn't it cool how it can have such an impact? My favorite thing about Heather Lynn is watching women pull their shoulders back and smile. It's fun to be a small part of that.

What advice would you give someone who wants to get into fashion design?

1. Ask for help. Feel scared and do it anyway; people are generally really great! One of the most significant personal gifts of running Heather Lynn has been meeting the amazing people within this community. They blow me away.

2. Get clear on what your vision is. Ask for help where you need it, but after you have asked for feedback or support, make sure that you create space to step back to gain clarity on what YOU think. Being so new, with so much to learn, it was (and still can be) easy to get confused by varied opinions. Before deciding which feedback to include, I need to get quiet to clarify the decision. Your vision will only work for some, which is excellent and leads to variety, but if you cater to too many people, there is no vision or consistency.

I notice you value sustainability within Heather Lynn Cashmere.

Have you always been eco-conscious?

Honestly, no. I have always loved spending time in nature but took it for granted. In the past several years, I came to see the impact and the risk of losing it. But I have always hated being wasteful. I hate having a closet overflowing with clothes and nothing to wear. Though my shoe collection may suggest otherwise, I've always believed in 'buy better, buy less.'; I have pieces that I had in high school that I still make use of! It makes practical, financial, and ecological sense to make the responsible decision to invest in better pieces that can stand the test of time.

How do you balance everything: designing, production, promotion, and sales?

Caffeine? lol, no. Working on Heather Lynn is truly energizing because I am passionate about it, and it's a lot of fun! Still, I make a lot of time for exercise and meditation to care for my mind, body, and soul; I also schedule fun for my week for balance. I am incredibly fortunate to have wonderful people that help me. There are some things that I don't have the skill set for, thankfully; there are so many talented people around whom I can ask to do something like build my website and create visual branding (i.e., in the name of quality product, I sub out where I can). I've had to learn to ask for help and accept it, and the results have turned out so much better than if I tried to go it alone.

What do you love most about running your business, and what is most challenging for you?

As mentioned, I love the people - the happy clients who find coats, the other business owners who are so supportive, and the other creatives I get to meet and learn about their work. It's been wonderful to return to the world of 'shiny, pretty things' and learn SO much! The growth curve has been humbling, and there have been times of frustration, fear, and uncertainty. My biggest obstacle was me for a while, and my fear was getting in my way. It felt more vulnerable to sell my brand, but once I saw how good it makes people think, it began to disappear. When I remember that fashion is meant to be joyful, and I don't take myself so seriously, it is a gift to be able to work in such a lively industry.

To keep up with Heather Lynn Cashmere, follow them on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heatherlynncashmere/

Or you can visit their website at https://heatherlynn.ca