Jessica Marks

Running Her Own Clothing Line and Store!

Having a self-named line of clothing and a self-named boutique to sell it in is the dream of lots of girls and guys, but not everybody manages to reach that goal. One who has, and in record time, is FIDM Apparel Manufacturing Management grad Jessica L. Marks. Jessica’s line, JLMarks, is sold exclusively in a trendy Los Angeles boutique that also bears the name JLMarks.

Born and raised in Deerfield, Illinois, Jessica got her B.A. in Journalism at Indiana University and intended to become a news anchor. Staying on in Bloomington, her college town, the summer after graduation because her boyfriend was still in school, she just happened to take a fashion course. “I loved it, and my teacher recommended that I go to FIDM,” she remembers. “And the next thing I knew I was on a plane heading to L.A! It happened really, really quickly.” With FIDM’s rolling admissions policy, which means students can start their education in any quarter, Jessica didn’t have to wait long to dive into the next phase of her life.

Although she had always been interested in fashion, Jessica never thought of it as a career path. “I only wore pink until around age 12, and I always picked out my own clothes, even when I was little-little,” she says. “I had an obsession with Madonna and Cyndi Lauper, so I always wanted to dress like them.”

Jessica’s initial impression of FIDM has stayed with her. She recalls being impressed with the FIDM building and the surrounding grounds, which are comprised of the lush Grand Hope Park.  As she tells it, “the energy projected by the school blew me away. I loved that it was fast-paced. I loved learning so much so quickly, because a lot was thrown at you. It was quite a change for me from Bloomington, Indiana!”

Instead of majoring in Fashion Design, Jessica chose Apparel Manufacturing Management, which is the ultimate entrepreneurial major for those who hope to have their own clothing empire someday. “I loved the design side of it, but I was really more into the business, and having my own line and sometime having my own store. I thought it was better to learn the full spectrum of the industry, rather than just the design part.”

During her time at FIDM, Jessica did an internship with Hippi Jeans. “It was a good experience to see how the process goes of having a line.” Her first job out of FIDM was at Directives West, one of the foremost trend predicting companies in the fashion industry, where she spent a year. “I liked it because it was in the Mart, in the hub of all the fashion and business, so it was exciting.” After leaving Directives, Jessica got a free-lance job assisting a Fashion Designer, and watching the woman go about her tasks gave Jessica an insider’s view of what it takes to be a Designer. “I realized that my dream didn’t seem so difficult to obtain,” she remembers. Soon, Jessica began putting together ideas for her own line. “It took me a year to create the line that I wanted. I debuted my line and my store at the same time. Most people would think that I was an idiot or crazy, but … it worked!” she laughs.

“What I’ve been surprised with is that I thought I’d have lines outside the door, but I realized that it doesn’t happen that way,” says Jessica. “It’s about creating your image, marketing yourself, and creating relationships with clients. Now [the line is] slowly but surely building a name, and so far it’s been working.”

As the CEO behind the fledgling label, Jessica wears a lot of hats. “I run the store, so I’m here most of the time. While I’m here I design and sew a majority of my pieces. I have one employee, so when she’s here I’m able to go downtown and buy my fabric, meet with my patternmaker, that type of thing. I usually make about eight pieces of one style, and I use mainly vintage fabrics. I spend a lot of time searching for the right fabric.”

Jessica asserts that her FIDM education was key in helping her become a fashion entrepreneur. “I think all the classes were very helpful—I still use a lot of my books now. They had a lot of really talented, knowledgeable teachers and great resources.” And when looking for employees, Jessica uses FIDM’s Career Center, which gives FIDM students and grads an insider’s opportunity to see how a fashion business is run.

What’s so special about being the name that lots of L.A. hipsters, models, and celebrities such as Lindsay Lohan are wearing? “I feel so blessed that I’m able to use my creativity every day,” says Jessica, who feels that the best part of designing and manufacturing clothing is “having the power to make people look and feel even more beautiful.” Appearing in Star magazine, Apparel News, and on Fashionista.com are just a start for this ambitious businesswoman, who began with a dream and is turning it into reality with the help of a solid Apparel Manufacturing Management foundation. “Value your dreams,” says Jessica. “Be confident in what you have and what you’re doing, because it’s actually possible.” Words to live by.

JL Marks, 8216 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048  323.655.4111  and online at jlmarks.com.

Please Note: The information contained herein was confirmed at the time of original publication