Interview with Entrepreness, Jillian Rabe

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February 5, 2010 by Katelin | Comments (5)

As a freelance event planner, model, film, print, and runway producer, Jillian Rabe is one busy entrepreness. Quickly becoming a fixture in Portland’s fashion scene, Jillian’s name seems to be ubiquitous through all hip happenings in town, including co-producing our fabulous runway show at the 2009 Holiday Cravings Party! Jillian is a friend to some of the coolest designers in town, a colleague to the most mobile entreprenesses, and a partner within many of Portland’s most connected organizations. She brings fresh enthusiasm and immense talent to the projects she is involved in, be it traversing language barriers while producing international fashion shows, or sharing blossoming new boutiques with us through her famous video blog entries. Jillian Rabe is a woman on the move, so we caught up with her to give you the inside scoop!

In 2008, you left a corporate marketing position in order to pursue a career as an independent event planner and model. What motivated this move?
I feel most successful when I am helping people. After 1 ½ years in a cubicle working hard but still finding myself assigned to tasks that rarely resulted in feeling like I was contributing anything of value to the bigger picture – I began to feel depressed and directionless. When I expressed these concerns to my manager, she looked at me for a moment and flatly replied, “welcome to the real world.” I wrote my letter of resignation shortly after and I remember believing that if I wound up disappointed in not finding the REAL world I believed existed, that I was just going to have to take a deep breath and create it myself.

What advice can you give to other women looking to reach similar success in their professional lives?

1. Make it a point to be the first person to smile, introduce yourself and give a firm handshake! It is never a bad idea to let people know who you are – especially if you know what you’re capable of bringing to the table.

2. Everyone has a bellybutton! The fact of the matter is that no matter who you are talking to – famous, future employer or cute guy – that underneath it all, they are just a person…

3. Always follow your gut instinct! Even if along the way you may not feel like a decision was the right one, being honest with yourself is the only sure way to know that you tried everything possible to ‘make it happen.’

Producing and walking in fashion shows must be very hectic, what is it like to play both roles in a day?
I love my job. And guess what? Models do have brains! I was producing events before becoming a professional model – and discovering that I could combine the two in a runway setting was just awesome. It does get quite hectic – but that’s where teamwork comes in. I’ll work for several months or weeks on a runway (depending on the size of it) and then start pulling in assistants when the task list gets too huge. By the time the show comes around, I have great communication with my backstage and front house managers, giving me enough control to still manage the overall production, but then slip backstage to change right before I need to start walking. Communication and organization are everything.

Do you have a mentor or a role model?
My sister Megan is my role model. She has demonstrated to me all her life that being natural and true to yourself is when you shine the brightest. Kerry Yu and May Tee are my mentors. They have both shown me what beautiful, strong, intelligent women can be capable of if they put their minds to something.

If you could work with any designer to produce or walk in their show, who would it be?
Emilia Kaye. She is an amazing storytelling artist. With each one of her pieces being a true one-of-a-kind garment of wearable art.

What gave you the idea to video blog the shows you’re involved in, shops you visit, etc.?
When I was 9, I started my own radio show by recording myself on cassette tapes, I got my hand on a camcorder when I was 15, and I started filming my entire life my senior year in high school. Video blogging was a natural addiction for me as I hit the digital world. To be honest, I just really like filming things. The business part of it started when clients started watching and hiring me to come document their behind-the-scenes too. I think its funny that people like to have me around with my flip cam just because I love to do it so much and because I look like a dork always walking around talking to myself.

You recently traveled to Beijing for fashion week, what challenges do producing in foreign countries present?
LANGUAGE BARRIER! Learning Mandarin is next on my agenda. China Fashion Week was awesome because it opened my eyes up so much to the international market. The show I produced in Zheng Zhou featured Portland designers exclusively which was such a privilege to coordinate and manage. We were working with professional teams in hair, makeup, and AV – so the hardest part for me was just getting the fittings and lineup organized in a way that people knew where they were supposed to be and when. Everything worked out great. Our show was on the front page of the paper the next day featuring Portland fashion on every street corner!

You have a goal of making 60% of your closet Portland-made fashion. What do you love about Portland fashion and why is the goal important to you?
Portland fashion to me is a movement – we’re not New York, we’re not LA – we’re Portland! With our own style and personality. I just love this city so much because of its eclectic attitude toward everything! Choosing to be local in my wardrobe purchases was simply a tangible way for me to “practice what I preach.” It’s important to me because when the fashion industry flourishes here – we all will. It’s a ripple effect – and if fashion is successful … photographers, models, stylists, local publications, TV, film, hair and makeup artists, graphic designers, event planners, etc. will all experience growth.

American fashion currently seems to revolve around Los Angeles and New York, how do you see Portland growing as a fashion capital?
We need more local manufacturing power and more high-end production value. Manufacturing is important because it would allow our designers to source and produce more locally/efficiently; thus enabling us to export and better fund the local economy. And I am hugely dedicated to producing runway in Portland that can become competitive with larger markets as well. When I think of Portland as a fashion capital – I see it as a destination for people who want to experience our unmatched character in design, show appeal, education, personality, and business development opportunities. I see it becoming a place that is at the top of an emerging or existing designer’s list to relocate because they know that Portland offers world-class opportunities with a personable and interconnected approach.

What exciting projects are you currently working on?
Here is my current list – in no particular order, with lots of room for elaboration if anyone is interested in learning more or getting involved!

• Producing runway for the Chinese New Year
• Exclusive partnering with 94.7 Alternative Portland radio as their fashion liaison
• Producing runway for non-profit, Dress For Success
• Planning my 2010 trip back to Beijing, Zheng Zhou and Shanghai (with Kerry Yu/Portland Fashion Synergy – lots of plans for action to be announced)
• Coordinating the press conferences surrounding our China trip
• Projects scheduled with RYZ, The Art Institute of Portland, Looptworks, Lyon Films
• And even working CRAVE Portland on a few new ideas!

This is what I have going on until April, anyway…

I love Portland. I am thankful for the people I have encountered and look forward with open arms to everything to come.

5 Responses to “Interview with Entrepreness, Jillian Rabe”

• Feb 6th: CRAVEPortland gives Jillian a feature interview « The Adventures of Jillian Rabe Says:
  
  February 9th, 2010 at 10:31 pm

  [...] has to offer as well…much for to come – but for now, just click here to check out THE INTERVIEW… CRAVE rocks! Jillian Rabe interview on Portland [...]

• Visnja Clayton Says:
  
  February 16th, 2010 at 9:15 am

  great stuff!!!

• Anne Bocci Says:
  
  February 16th, 2010 at 9:18 am

  Jillian’s vibrant personality and energy makes Portland a better place.
  We are so lucky to have her.
  Love her!
  xoxo
  anne

• Barb Hughes Says:
  
  February 16th, 2010 at 11:33 am

  I’m interested in practical fashion for the Portland petite woman. In particular, I’m looking for water repellant lightweight fabric pants that are lined with a lightweight fleece, cut in a way that they don’t cut off the circulation in my waist when I’m biking (ie I’m nearly 50 and waistlines thicken as we get older). I’m thinking there are other women in Portland and around the world (many cultures have shorter women, and women over 40 with money to spend!) that are looking for multi-use attractive clothing that fits us off the rack. Do you have suggestions of designers that cater to us?

• Jenny Wiglesworth Says:
  
  February 17th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

  I absolutely loved reading this and would love to be in contact with her.
  I am in the process of launching my sustainable line (portland, or designer) and would be interested in collaberating with her.
  It would be so much fun to work with someone who really knows the industry.
  thanks for sharing the interview. can you please send her my contact info. and my comment?

  Thank you,

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