Alumni
Alumna Gabi Hall is Founder and Creative Director of Fairy Lifestyle Brand Sparkl
Gabi Hall was still working on her Visual Communications degree at FIDM when she created Sparkl, a fairy fantasy lifestyle brand that was picked up by Dolls Kill in her first year of business. She opened her first retail location three years ago in the heart of downtown Santa Monica, California, and recently hired FIDM Visual Communications Grad Ashlie Roswall as her Executive Assistant. "Gabi Hall, who we call G Sparkl, is an icon," says Ashlie. "I love being inspired by her and helping turn the Sparkl Fairy dream into reality. Because we both went to FIDM, we’ve been able to take what we’ve learned and apply it to the business. I understand her vision and we’ve become something of a dream team."
Gabi grew up in Hawaii where her parents designed and built a bed and breakfast from the ground up. “It was unreal and super inspiring seeing my parents work hard, save their money, and create such a magical home and business from nothing.” That entrepreneurial spirit lives on in their daughter, who established her own company at just 18 years old. Her family relocated to North Carolina in 2008, where she attended William A. Hough High School near Charlotte before heading to Los Angeles to study Visual Communications at FIDM.
Right now, Sparkl features clothing, shoes, accessories, and even a palace, but Gabi has bigger plans. She wants to grow it into a globally recognized lifestyle brand and turn her company into a "Sparkl Empire." We checked in with her to learn more.
Tell us about your business: Sparkl was established in June 2014. I came up with the concept for Sparkl by combining three of my passions: fashion design, interior design, and event planning. I actually designed my first company logo while still at FIDM. Right before I left I got a job as an assistant for 6 designers at Revelry Event Designers located in LA. This helped me learn the business and gave me the confidence I needed to venture out on my own. I actually designed and planned my first wedding the week I left FIDM in early 2014. I realized my true passion and main focus needed to be on growing my fashion lifestyle concept, so I pivoted my initial idea and transitioned into a full time fashion designer and fashion brand CEO, and learned everything from pattern making, sampling, website building, photo editing, and graphic design (which FIDM Visual Communication classes gave me the tools for).
I launched Sparkl officially with a one-of-a-kind bikini collection I shot, edited, and uploaded to my brand new website. Once the site was live I only sold one bikini. I thought “oh, no! I just spent all this money and time on making this production run of bikinis. How do I sell them?” So I decided to build a one-of-a-kind pop-up stand on the Venice Beach boardwalk. I would go there 3-5 days a week and sell bikinis in my bikini and roller skates! I was pretty successful. I would sell about 2 or 3 bikinis a day averaging about $200- $300, which at the time was huge for me. From there I was discovered by the owner of BeautyCon LA. She fell in love with my designs and invited me to have a booth at their big event in 2014. I crushed the show and shortly after the doors continued to open. I got into my first boutique, Round2 LA, located in downtown LA, and Cosmo’s GlamSquad on Melrose. Shortly after in 2015 my line was picked up by Dolls Kill. They have been my clients for over 6 years. Three years ago I opened my first storefront in Santa Monica, CA. Shortly after I launched my footwear line that really stepped up my business all around. We have been recognized by lots of clubs.
What are your ultimate goals for your company? To be a globally recognized lifestyle brand and turn my company into a "Sparkl Empire," catering to the one-of-a-kind fairy way of living, encompassing fashion, lifestyle, entertainment, and experience.
How did FIDM help prepare you for your career? FIDM accepted me in my junior year of high school and got me out to Los Angeles at the age of 17. The skills they taught me were implemented in the early stages of my career and just being there inspired me to dive right in to starting my own company at the age of 18.
Anything else you’d like to share? In addition to starting Sparkl, I opened my second business, Sparkl Palace, 6 years ago, which is my true artistic expression and passion! It's a place where you can feel the magic of Sparkl without wearing the clothing, footwear, or accessories. "Sparkl Palace" is 1700 square feet of pure artistic fairy fantasy designed and created by me! The entire palace is available to be booked for photo shoots and photos of each beautiful, luxurious room can be viewed on its Peerspace listing: www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/58392c166d8c590900e62f94
Follow Gabi and her growing empire on Instagram @sparklfashion, @gsparkl, @sparklfairycouture, and @sparklpalace.
Categories: Visual Communication Alumni
