Previously, my sales channels were primarily through second-hand online marketplaces like Depop. While this functions fine, the fees were too high for my starting phases, and the online sale limited my interaction with customers. In order to learn more about what people want, I diversified my sales channels and have appeared at a few student marketplaces around Bristol.

Since leaving university I have launched a website (stingme.co.uk) and returned to the online sales channel within my own space, rather than operating through a third party.

In initially adjusting my sales channels to be geared towards direct customer interaction, I took the opportunity to conceptually cement my business as a sustainable one. I took my second-hand pieces to the Bristol SUs Climate Emergency Day of Action Student Farmer’s Market and sold pieces amongst other sustainable student sellers.

A personable and casual social media presence makes the brand appear intimate, therefore highlighting the uniqueness of each piece and the story that comes with owning one.

Previously, my practice centred around painting each pair of jeans using fabric paint, and then going over it in a sealant. Not only was this time-consuming, but I received feedback from customers that my designs didn’t have the durability I was hoping for. To stay aligned with my vision for cyclical fashion, I upscaled the business and invested in screen printing equipment, with which designs are cured onto fabrics to last longer.

Before all else, the brand was known as JelliFix in reference to the jellyfish, specifically a species I had discovered which was considered “immortal”. Though I felt this communicated the cyclical fashion side of the business, it lacked the streetwear edge. Thus, I rebranded as Stinger, staying true to my icon.

Later down the line, at the end of 2022, the brand became “Sting Me” to encompass the challenging confidence that I hope the brand brings to its wearers. My research found that this would appeal more to the female audience that the social channels seemed to be receiving.

When Sting Me began my experience in art and design was digitally limited, so I began with creating simple vector designs to burn onto my silk screens, though as the business has grown I have built upon my skills with Adobe Suite apps.

One of my most recent designs was a t-shirt saying “STING ME” which was created using actual honey on paper (see products reel above), photographed and edited to a professional standard in Adobe Photoshop. Synthesizing physical art with digital skills has allowed me to produce more interesting designs.