Little Pieces
Los Angeles, California
Cullanete: Little Pieces
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
My name is Cullanete Bloom and I am the owner and creator of the burlesque inspired luxury lingerie brand called Little Pieces. Little Pieces is a lifestyle brand that is all inclusive, sustainable, and FUN! We empower women and are hellbent on bringing back the witty, provocative, and confident woman.
The journey to creating my own lingerie brand was one of surprises. Starting in Tel Aviv as a neoclassical ballet dancer, I went on to study fashion and costume after bouncing around between Europe and Israel for several years. Degree in hand, I only then realized costume for dance would be about as lucrative as dance itself…. Oh dear. When a friend randomly sent a “designer wanted” job ad my way, I applied. That job was for a lingerie manufacturer, and needless to say I got the job. The next 16 years were spent working in the industry, for big named brands as well as smaller businesses. I landed in LA 10 years ago, and finally came to terms with the fact that freezing in a cubicle was no life for me. And so, in 2017 I graduated to “self-employed” and Little Pieces blossomed from my passion project into a bonafide Los Angeles Small Business.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
There are several reasons why I landed on the name Little Pieces. First of all, lingerie items in general are little; your thong, no matter what size, is going to be a tiny garment. I also love the play on words- that our Little Pieces will cover your “little pieces”. Another important aspect in the name is that it allows for brand expansion. I wanted the flexibility to include complimentary items such as boudoir collectibles and jewelry without seeming inconsistent to my brand identity. And lastly, as a detail obsessed person, I love working on smaller items, treating each Little Piece as a small work of art.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
The signature style of Little Pieces can be defined as ‘Avant-garde Burlesque”. Starlets of the Jazz Age and their amazing style and sass serve as inspirations. All of my designs have vintage elements, whether in the details, fabrics, or construction. The motivation for our signature style came from the need as a society to update the prevailing trend of objectifying women’s sexuality to one of allowing women to own and express their sensuality and wit.
Photo Courtesy @paulababy
What makes your business unique to the industry?
Little Pieces is extremely unique in the lingerie industry because of our fierce dedication to ethical fashion. 80% of our raw materials are sourced from well-known manufacturers who pay their workers a living wage, or by using up-cycled fabrics that would otherwise be thrown out. We are also one of the few brands that embrace like minded women of all backgrounds, body types, and all ages. Little Pieces offers custom made lingerie, something no other brand does! We understand that women’s bodies are very different and beautiful. We are able to customize patterns to suit the specific individual curves of one spectacular lady.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
Our biggest roadblock as a fashion brand has been educating our customer that ethically made garments cannot be compared to mass market items. The prices will always be higher, as will the quality. Over the past 30 years, and with the rise of fast fashion, the majority of customers do not have any understanding of the amount of work that goes into making a garment, nor do they realize that the low prices presented in our fast fashion stores come at a great cost to the workers and environment on the other side of the world. Bringing this awareness to customers and helping them shift their viewpoint can be difficult, but once they see our quality and understand the time and care that goes into our Little Pieces, they become loyal customers!
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
As a small home based business, we have the advantage of being able to react very quickly to the market. We were one of the first local fashion brands to start making face masks, and when Los Angeles Stay-at-Home were issued, we rapidly shifted 90% of our business towards making masks. We also immediately created the Small Helps Small Face Mask Donation Project, and have made and donated 700 face masks to Medical Facilities, Senior Centers, Hospices, and Homeless Shelters. This month, we introduced our new Masquette, a folding mask which is different to our more structured classic Masque. Going forward, we plan to create matching outfits which include face masks, and are toying with the idea of creating our version of the trikini.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
Everything!! My favorite part of what I do is meeting all my beautiful customers and seeing Little Pieces come to life on them. Amazing venues such as Jackalope allow me to interact personally with my customers and discover how special they are.
Helping a customer choose a Little Piece and sharing in their excitement when they love it so much they walk out wearing it- that is the ultimate fulfillment!
What is your *must do* local activity?
My favorite activity is surfing - and now that the beaches are open its an awesome activity to do that involves natural social distancing. The iconic Malibu Surfrider Beach is a favorite spot, as well as Sunset Point.
Where to find Little Pieces:
Online: www.littlepieces.us
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlepieceslingerie