Today we’d like to introduce you to Leah Southall Gobin.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my business in 2017 after backpacking through Europe for a year. It was there that I found my inspiration, my intact eye for detail and obsession with precision. Before Europe, I actually didn’t realize I had the skill of sewing, nor was I that interested in Fashion. Of course I liked to dress well, but I had never thought of the industry as a place for me. When I returned to the states however, all of a sudden I had wide eyes and a drive to create. I had moved to New Orleans and started making apparel that would appeal to the masses, ie tourism during the holiday seasons. I started my business with glitter tops and festival wear. However I never felt really attached or in love with those designs. I did that for years until I started following a slow fashion, ethical brand from France called Maison Cleo. They single-handedly changed my perception of the fashion industry. No longer did I want to buy new fabric or new sewing notions. There was an entire world out there making ethically friendly and sustainable clothing, and I wanted to be apart of it. I switched my business model overnight and started using vintage curtains and drapes to create my garments. I have rebranded from “Cheekybiits” to “Gobin,” which is also my last name . I keep my brand tight and consistent. I have three staple designs and a couple more in the works, with an ever-changing curtain selection that I find at local thrift stores or eBay. I really love what I do, and I am thankful every day that I took the leap of faith and bought my first sewing machine at 25.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
To be honest, it actually has been quite smooth. Of course there have been ups and downs in the process, but I really love what I do which makes it totally worth it. Sometimes I have days or weeks where I question what path I’ve chosen, but I constantly remind myself how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work as a creative and I am so incredibly lucky for that. There is also something quite special about seeing a concept in your mind and making it come to fruition, developing it from start to finish, and holding that final product…knowing that you made it happen. That in itself makes the hurdles and doubt disappear.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is ethical. I spend weeks even months looking for the perfect curtain. Most drapes I find are dead stock from the 1920s-1970s so every piece is extremely unique and one of a kind. When someone buys my clothing, they are not just investing in the garment. They are investing in myself and they are investing in the environment. Fast-fashion accounts for around 10% of greenhouse gas emissions, with experts saying it will reach 50% by 2023. That is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. The world is literally dying, and we as humans need to do our god damn part. Little acts of sustainability such as slow fashion, veganism / vegetarianism and the ban of single use plastics can save us from an irreversible change. We need to wake up and alter our habits before it’s too late. I as a fashion brand and as a human being are doing my part, are you?
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
The happiness of others and myself, and of course, sustainability.
Contact Info:
- Email: Houseofgobin@gmail.com
- Instagram: Houseofgobin
Image Credits
Cameron Blake, Lauren Hicks, Cait Brady, Jason Derek North, Ollie Alexander
