#sparkchamber 091624 — Leslie Andrachuk
“You are a walking billboard for your own brand,” said fashion icon Halston … who had a career-changing impact on today’s #sparkchamber visitor, Leslie Andrachuk, founder and designer of fashion brand Peggy & Me. The namesake, her grandmother Margaret, aka Peggy, aka NanaPeg to all her grandchildren, Peggy was funny, quirky, very fashionable, creative, smart, and loving. As a teenager, Leslie spent part of her summer vacations with her grandmother, time during which Leslie helped tend Peggy’s garden, and Peggy taught Leslie to sew. “That time with her is some of the most precious to me as, not only did she patiently and skillfully transfer knowledge — which I now realize is invaluable — she also made me feel seen and heard. At the time Annie Hall was all the rage so I was suddenly the most stylish kid in school with my pleated pants, vests, and ties — and I was so proud I had made everything myself!”
Leslie definitely had an eye, a unique vision, and the technical skills … but adult life intervened, and she stopped sewing after university. “I’ve had a storied life and career that spans continents, industries, and languages. I was born in Toronto, but grew up in Ottawa, and spent much of my 20’s and 30’s living in France and Romania. I was a professional sports model in my 20’s before transitioning into a career in digital media and marketing — that still persists today as my day job.”
But, as so frequently is the case these days, her story shifted with the pandemic. ”I saw a TV series about the career of Halston and I had an epiphany: I needed to start sewing again.” Right from the start, everything she made caught the eyes — and hearts — of friends and strangers alike, who would stop her on the street, grocery store, elevator … to ask where she got her garment. And slowly but surely, her “side hustle” was born. “My goal with Peggy & Me is to make one-of-a-kind, unique, and sustainable garments that are undeniably desirable and ethically made. I want people to feel that they have bought something that will communicate to the world that they are writing their own unique story, that they are not part of the status quo, rather they are here to unapologetically live life with verve and joy.”
A brand vision that aligns with another Halston quote, “Make every outfit a statement, because every day is a runway.”
1.] Where do ideas come from?
I often find myself lying awake at 3am, which is when I get my most creative ideas. I love, love colour, pattern and texture. I seek to create garments with unique fabric combinations — especially with vintage fabrics that have a story when possible. My mind is very visual so when I’m relaxed — often at that 3am mark — I think of different designs and fabric combos and then will get up at 6am to flesh out the idea. Sometimes if I’m making a custom garment for a client I get creative ideas from something that is happening in their life. I often find I do my best work when I take my time and I relax into the process. For me, ideas often evolve as I’m working through the creative process. And sometimes great ideas arise as a solution to a problem. It never ceases to delight me when I can make something even more beautiful because I had to cover up a mistake or something sub-par.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
Seeing the garment in my mind before it’s made and then seeing it actually come to life — hopefully even more beautiful than what I had envisioned — is eternally thrilling for me. I also think the actual creative process itself — when I can relax into it and let the creativity wash over me — is extremely therapeutic. It makes me feel happy and special, like I’m in that special zone, in the “pocket” where you know that you’re channeling your most powerful creative energy. I know that when I create at my best, I am creating things that people value, gives them joy, and is completely unique to me. This fills my cup and makes my soul happy.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
I probably answered a lot of this in the previous question. I’m a massive morning person, but when I’m in the flow and suddenly it’s 9am and my day job starts, I can find it challenging to switch gears. I live on my own except for when my son [he’s in post-secondary] comes to stay so I am the master of my own time. My studio is in my home, so I have a beautiful environment that keeps me in flow. I can allow the creative highs and lows ebb and flow as they need to. I do sometimes find myself going on massive jags where I sew from morning to night for weeks on end. I have to take breaks to re-centre myself and really search for and re-ignite those creative embers. Sometimes the breaks last a month or two, sometimes only a few days, but they are important.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When I’ve made sure that everything is technically perfect with the garment, it is well pressed, and the label is sewn in. Then, it’s time for photography.
