This week is looking like it's going to be a busy one and I'm actually really rather excited about it. It feels like the first busy week in months, since way back when lockdown hit. A week filled with to-do lists as long as my arm, photoshoots, design meetings and a couple of exciting pieces of branded work to shoot too. I've always been the kind of person who thrives from being busy and sadly sometimes my self worth can be based upon how busy I am, something I know isn't right nor is it good for me or for others. I've been working on it throughout lockdown though, when everything was inevitably much quieter and life was at a much slower pace.
That being said I am very excited for this week to be jam packed with exciting things and to feel a little more like normal life has resumed again, plus I'm excited to bring you all along with me and to share those exciting things with you over on my Instagram stories.
For today's blogpost I thought it might be nice to talk about my hopes and dreams for my small fashion brand Saturday by Megan Ellaby. In October we'll be two years old and I couldn't be more thrilled with how things are going, especially with everything that has happened this year with Covid.
We've sadly had to put a large portion of our plans for this year on hold due to the virus and our factories were closed for such a long time that the production of our winter knitwear is looking a little worrying right now.
BUT we're keeping positive and we have some really fab pieces coming out for the transitional period and of course for winter too, there just might be a little less knitwear than usual and that we had planned sadly but as I said when we had to postpone our wedding due to the virus, it's a very small price to pay for our health.
So tomorrow (today when you're reading this) we have our second photoshoot of the year (bonkers that we'd planned for so much more than this by now) and our very first photoshoot with a model and I'm truly SO excited to be behind the camera for this. I've wanted to use models from the off, but being a start up and with Saturday being completely self funded by me, I had to cut my cloth accordingly and that meant trying my hand at modelling for the brand. It's worked out really well so far but back in January we planned to be using models by spring... Once again, thanks Covid.
Alas, a little later than planned but we're doing it and I'm SO excited to be focusing on styling and directing the shoot rather than juggling that AND the modelling of the pieces, I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a good, good day indeed.
This next drop features some new pieces that I'm really, truly excited about and I think you're going to love them. They've taken longer to get out into the world due to the virus but better late than never hey. I'll be sharing the snaps from the shoot as soon as they're ready so watch this space if you're excited too.
With the new collection comes another change to Saturday, a change that has been at the forefront of our minds since we launched back in 2018 and that is our sizing. I always hoped that Saturday would be an inclusive clothing brand filled with happy vibes and positivity, which I think for the most part we certainly are. However, I learnt a lot at the beginning of this journey when it comes to sizing and how costs go up when you include additional sizes. At the time, sadly this wasn't something we were able to accommodate however, I'm super excited to say that as of this next drop our pieces will now be extended to 2XL and 3XL which I am thrilled to bits about. Sizing is something we are always striving to perfect, you might remember me saying at the beginning of the year about how I hoped to fly out to our factories in Portugal to really delve into perfecting our size range but once again the C word spoilt this for us. I hope these additional sizes are right for you all but as always, and as is with our other sizes and styles please do reach out if you think there are ways we can improve, we are all ears.
HIGH NECK TOP- SATURDAY BY MEGAN ELLABY (NEW COLOUR OPTION COMING LATER THIS YEAR) T-SHIRT- SATURDAY BY MEGAN ELLABY, LEOPARD SKIRT- V OLD, SIMILAR HERE, BOOTS- ACNE STUDIOS
I spent a lot of lockdown thinking about how I wish to better all aspects of the business and one of the most important factors was our packaging, I wanted it to be more environmentally friendly, more easily recycled and ideally no longer single use. I know that this is something that you, our gorgeous customers, are passionate about also so I have worked with my pal Gatto to create some fabulous new packaging.
The designs have been finalised and I am SO very excited to set these out into the world. I'm hoping they will be ready to rock early next year but who knows how things will pan out over the next couple of months, there are backlogs a plenty so please do bear with and I'll of course keep you posted when I have further updates on it all, eeee!
So they were my hopes and dreams for Saturday by Megan Ellaby for 2020, and thankfully we have managed to make them happen, despite the pandemic, only a little bit later than originally planned and for some, in a slightly different way than we imagined.
My ideals for the months ahead would be to expand our product range further, I'm super chuffed with the pieces we've launched so far and I'm absolutely LOVING designing new prints, a real passion project of mine right now. I'd love to venture into other products such as socks (another plan that fell through this year due to factory closures) and other accessories along with new items of clothing particularly dresses and denim... WHAT.A.DREAM.THAT.WOULD.BE!
I want to continue to focus on perfecting the sizing of each and every piece, as soon as travel is a little less scary and a lot more safe, I'll be heading to Portugal to do exactly that, as we were supposed to do back in April this year and I'm hoping that will become a regular trip with each new product I design.
I'd really love to explore wholesale opportunities too, it may not be quite right for Saturday but hey, it's worth a look into right? And finally I'd really love to investigate the possibility of a Saturday pop-up shop, particularly one involving other small independent brands, I think it would be so magic to have a lil pop up shop, to chat with you guys one on one and for you to see the amazing quality of each of our pieces before you make a purchase. Setting something up of this nature has been on my radar for quite some time so maybe that's something I can seriously look into for 2021.
As always I would love to hear your thoughts on everything I've mentioned in this post, your feedback is always so so soooo valued. Thanks as always for supporting my little brand, it's honestly such a dream come true.
x M
Socks, dresses and denim, oh my!! And new packaging too! 2021 looks set to be an awesome year for Saturday. I’ve just seen the model you’ve picked and she is gorgeous. A pop-up shop would be incredible as well, perhaps one of the small independent brands you work with for that could be July Child Jewellery? I’ve been to one of her pop ups before, and it was because of you I got into the brand in the first place 🙂
Interesting about wanting to look into wholesale – I’d be worried that would push Saturday into more fast fashion territory? I love Saturday because you have 100% product control (I remember an old Saturday behind the scenes vlog where you and Faye hand-checked every jumper yourselves) which gives your pieces your own unique touch. I’d worry that large orders would make it hard to retain Saturday’s quality and uniqueness. But then again, there are brands like Lazy Oaf who has retained their amazing quality and cool designs, so maybe I’m wrong!
Ahhh Amy, thanks for your gorge comment, means so much to hear your thoughts and ideas and your feedback, thank you! Thrilled that you saw and liked our lil photoshoot sneak peek, I am SO excited to finally have a model on board, particularly one as DREAMY as Fifi. She was honestly so fab ad I cant wait to share the snaps and the new pieces with you all 🙂
I’ve been talking about the pop up for a while now and yeah I would love to get other creatives and indies on board. Certainly something I’m going to look into for next year.
With wholesale, you make some great points but I would never want Saturday to go into the fast fashion world and the way we work with our factories it never could to be honest. It’s funny as I always gave myself a hard time for how slow our new drops were and always had the aim to speed things up. However, now I realise that the slowness is a good thing, it means every step of the process is considered and fair 🙂 I agree with you with brands like Lazy Oaf though definitely, they absolutely smash it, both with their own website and with wholesale, a great example for us.
Thanks Amy, I truly appreciate being able to chat with you like this 🙂 x
Megan, this is such a great post and it sounds like you’re so inspired and ready to make Saturday the absolute blockbuster brand it deserves to be! Well done you. Excited to see what you do next x x
Caroline thank you! Thanks for reading and taking the time out to comment it means a lot. I am feeling really excited about the future for Saturday. In a weird way lockdown and everything coming to a sudden stop really allowed me hone in on what is important and to really reevaluate things. It’s given me a new lease of inspiration and passion and drive and I’m so excited for what is to come. Thank you xxx
Looking forward to the new Saturday items and am already excited about the socks, dresses and denim pieces you have in mind! The popup shop would be yet another reason to fly out to Manchester (assuming it’d be there ofc!) Good luck with everything x
Ahhh I’m so glad to hear you’re excited. Really really hope we can get there with the denim and socks and dresses etc, the virus has really slowed us down but hey ho eh! Thank you lovely lady x
Honestly Megan anything new that you bring to the company I will most definitely be buying. Never been disappointed in the quality of material and the service of goods that I’ve bought. You got the power and the right mind set to venture into other areas for Saturday. I love to see more new pieces, when the time is right. I believe waiting for it, makes it all the worth while. A pop up shop though?! Omg I will be in paradise let me tell you that!! That truly would be awesome and again, something to definitely worth working at!
Hayley! You have no idea how much this means, I’m so thrilled to hear that you love everything you have and I absolutely LOVE seeing you rocking them. Thanks for all your support babes. xx
Saturday is pretty much the only clothing brand I buy from now haha. I LOVE the bold and unique designs, and of course the incredible quality. I think I’ve bought something from every drop.
If you do venture into denim, it would be amazing if you created a denim waistcoat like you’ve worn on Instagram.
Can’t wait to see the new designs 🙂 xx
Christina wow, thank you, that is such a huge compliment and really means the world! So amazing to hear that you’ve found something you love from every drop, thats what it’s all about!
Thanks so much as always xxxx
Just when I think I can’t get any more excited by your designs you tease us with dresses and denim- you have to do this!!! I can’t wait to see what magnificent creations you come up with next! The pieces I already own from your collection are honestly treasured pieces in my wardrobe, the quality of them is so good and I love that you share how different people style them on Instagram, it is always a major source of inspiration for me.
Can’t explain how excited I am at the thought of a pop up shop, the stuff of dreams, I’d come down to Manchester just for it.
Good luck with everything else planned for the year, you always smash it!
It sounds like there are so many exciting developments underway for Saturday! I can imagine how tough it must be to wait everything out, especially when things were ticking along – I work for myself as a portrait photographer and haven’t been able to shoot since early March – just when things were picking up! – but it’s encouraging to know that the best is still to come, and that there is so much that’s worth the wait! That’s what I keep reminding myself of, which is helping to soften the blow.
And that’s bloomin’ brilliant about the sizing and ethical packaging! More need to take a leaf out of your book. Wishing you all of the luck with what’s coming up next! 🙂
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