Fashion designer Kelly Su recently joined forces with Michelle Bowers, owner of Scout & Molly’s boutique at Grand Ridge Plaza, to showcase her CAMI&TANK spring line. Nestled among the “Issaquah Alps” on Seattle’s Eastside, Grand Ridge Plaza was the perfect setting to launch her 100% made-in-Washington fashion line.
During the recent event, Su offered styling advice and shared insights into the design process with her fans as well as those new to the brand. CAMI&TANK is simple and elegant, and features neutrals. The line reflects one of Kelly Su’s main influences: Chanel.
“Scout & Molly’s is one of the only boutiques showcasing Kelly Su’s fashions in the U.S., as the majority of sales are online,” said Bowers. “It was extra special that she lives right here in our community and manufactures her lines close to home.”
Partnering with Scout & Molly’s was the perfect local combination, offering the chance to connect with women who love fashion,” said Kelly Su. “The CAMI&TANK trunk show previewed our new styles and colors for 2019 – think soft rose and gold – and designs that can be layered under an outfit, as well as those that can be worn as signature pieces.
Born in Korea, Su grew up in Alaska where she taught herself to sew, often making dolls clothes from household items. She moved to Seattle as a teenager and worked full-time at Nordstrom to put herself through school at the Art Institute of Seattle. She flourished at Nordstrom, where she remained for more a decade in various design roles including womenswear and lingerie design. Following her move to Issaquah, she opened a design studio and manufacturing facility, and launched her first line, Composure by Kelly, in 2007.
Kelly Su’s fashions are hyper-local: she’s an Issaquah resident and her design and manufacturing facility is located in the nearby city of Renton. She partnered with Bowers to launch her beautiful collection of camisoles and tank tops in the community she calls home, so friends and neighbors could have the first look. It was an exciting opportunity to connect with local fashionistas and also offer a sneak preview of her Composure by Kelly womenswear line.
"Opportunities to meet the makers — the skilled artists and artisans who create and design things we love — are few and far between," said Suzanne Lee, Grand Ridge Plaza's event manager. "When we purchase an item, we only know a fraction of the story about how it arrived in the shop or boutique. Meeting designer Kelly Su at Scout & Molly's was a rare chance for our community to meet an artist who is creating right here, close to home, and to learn more about her influences and inspiration. Having this connection makes owning a piece from her collection so much more special when you wear your Kelly Su fashions."
A women’s fashion boutique showcasing cachet brands, 1,190 SF Scout & Molly’s opened in November 2018 at Grand Ridge Plaza. The boutique offers casual and festive looks, plus accessories, jewelry and handbags. Featured brands include Black Orchid, Mavi Jeans, DL 1961, Spanx, Bishop + Young, Fifteen/Twenty, Olive & Oak, and Red Haute to name a few.
To follow Grand Ridge Plaza on Facebook, click here. For a full Grand Ridge Plaza center site plan, click here.