On a March afternoon approaching spring, about 300 women (and a few men) braved the cold and filled the sidewalks on East King Street at Excelsior in downtown Lancaster to celebrate the launch of a new fashion line created and designed by longtime city businesswoman Kathy Frey. She has come full circle in her career and reached a pinnacle, fulfilling her most ambitious goal yet with her own fashion line called Selga. The Selga line is named for Frey’s beloved first dog—and those who know her know her heart for animals. In fact, a portion of the proceeds from the line will benefit furry friends in need at community animal shelters.
Frey opened her first location of Festoon—an urban boutique—in the Hager Shops across from Central Market 13 years ago, ironically in the same place where she began her fashion career as an illustrator for the former Hager’s Department Store at the age of 18.
A mature businesswoman, Frey knows exactly how to design for a woman’s ever-changing body, creating a line of clothing that women of all ages can wear and feel great in.
The Thing Is
“Every woman’s geography is different,” explains Frey. “My effort in creating this line was to be comfortable.” She adds, “[For] hiding some of the areas on our body that we don’t like, I created ‘The Thing.’” She describes, “it’s basically a tube with a seam that can be scrunched and ruched to minimize the tummy or hips.” It has multiple uses with other pieces in the line. It can even work as a headwrap, cowl neck or a wrap across the shoulders. The Shorty Top is high in the front but low in the back “to cover things we don’t like about our backs.” Other pieces in the line include a tunic, vest, leggings, the Tara Pant, the Noellia cold shoulder shirt and the Angle Skirt.
The fabric is luscious, yet practical. “It’s a good wash and wear fabric, [meaning] it doesn’t change in color or size with washing.” She continues, “It has memory; it forms to your body.” She decided upon this particular fabric for most of the line because “we love the breathability of cotton, [and] the other part is rayon/lycra.” The look has a flowy feel and contrasting architectural design.
The colors are decidedly few but all are very coordinated in unique combinations chosen based on Pantone performers. For the spring and summer collection, Frey says, “nude was a big performer.” Other colors include charcoal, light gray, black, striped variations and turquiose for the summer.
Lancaster-Made
One of the surprising elements to this local success story is one small business helping another. Frey chose to work with Lancaster clothing manufacturer Patterns Design Unlimited rather than take the business elsewhere. “It would have been a lot less expensive to have it made out of country; however, I am and have been for my entire life a Lancaster girl and businesswoman.” She explains, “It just made perfect sense to me: I would first and foremost look into local production because I believe in sustainability and putting jobs in our local economy. That was really important to me…right out of the box I knew I wouldn’t launch any line if I couldn’t do it locally.”
Frey explains, “This particular factory was able to do all the processes to a finished product. Their sewing is beautiful,” she adds. “They were a one-stop shop, and they were in need of work. Had I not come to them with this, it’s possible they would have had to lay some people off for the winter months. I felt like it was the right thing to do.” She continues, “They certainly have taken a hit because of things being made out of this country.” The partnership, Frey says, “is a beautiful thing.”
Frey knows what it’s like to be that small business owner through tough economic times and has been around long enough to understand consumer trends. “I’ve been through financial highs and lows like every other business, and I know when the consumer has less money in their pocket, [she] will want a middle-of-the-road price point.” That’s why she created a high fashion and function line. “That was a goal right from the beginning…exactly where I wanted this to be. High performing fabric yet middle-of-the-road price.” Prices range from $34-149.
Fashion Forecast
Frey says to watch for extended sleeves, added pockets and expanded sizing, including larger sizes up to XL. There will also be a surprise novelty piece that mixes and matches with the existing line. “The vest is very popular so far, so I’ll be adding sleeves onto that so it will be an on-trend duster piece,” Frey explains.
The fall line will come out at the very beginning of September, she says. “In the meantime, there’ll be new color introductions for summer—in time for the warmest part of the summer season—to reflect some bright colors in addition to a fresh white.”
After the spring line fashion show, attendees of the launch flocked to the pop-up shop to snatch up the first of the pieces; the Kathy sold out in nude almost immediately, and women played with the different pieces, mixing and matching to make their own looks. Frey says the energy of that day, as the community came out to support and responded so enthusiastically to her creation, is something she will never forget.
Selga is available in-store only at Festoon’s two locations:
Festoon at the Firehouse | 202 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA | 717-299-2232
Festoon at the Shops at Brighton | 1183 Erbs Quarry Road, Lititz, PA | 717-560-6509
