It is amazing, really, the amount of really awesome creative individuals out there. This is one of the many reasons (see our about page for the whole story) why we wanted to start this blog- to learn more about these awesome people that make up the kids fashion industry. Kiley is one of these super duper people and the designer/seamstress behind the brand Wren & James. (Pssst- she just debuted her SS14 collection and it is just lovely).

*The italicized comments below the responses are from ME and not KILEY. Kiley does not love her name in a weird way. At least I don't think so.*

NAME: Kiley Draper
That is a fine fine name, thanks to Don.

DEETS:
Instagram: @wrenandjames
Website: wrenandjames.com
Email: wrenandjames@gmail.com

LINE OF COMPOSITION: Founder, designer and seamstress of Wren and James children's apparel. Soon expanding, (this year) into women's wear with a couple tops.
Hell yes!!

“ I rediscovered myself through design. There’s nothing quite like being your most authentic self - and you can only discover this by doing what you are truly passionate about.”

— Kiley Draper

HOW WREN & JAMES BEGAN: I've always had an interest in fashion design (anything to do with fabrics or different textiles) ever since I was a little girl. I even moved to New York City at 19 to study fashion design. I ultimately made the decision to come home and change my major to nursing (something more "practical" by my mom's standards ). But it never felt quite right to me and I could never really get excited about nursing. After years of second guessing myself, I decided to give fashion design another try -- this time, as a new mom. More importantly, this time, I was designing and sewing for me (and Mazie). I rediscovered myself through design. There's nothing quite like being your most authentic self - and you can only discover this by doing what you are truly passionate about.

BEST PART OF THE JOB: Designing (the whole process, from choosing textiles and envisioning how everything will come together). A close second, to my surprise, has been the marketing side of the business. I've loved the collaborations and associations with other like-minded business owners and designers that I've gained along the way.

WORST PART OF THE JOB: That there is only 24 hours in a day....
Why? WHHHYYY?

YOU, IN 5 YEARS: Still designing and creating. I hope to streamline the production side of the business to allow me to focus more time and energy on designing and marketing to reach more people.

YOU, TONIGHT: After a successful debut of my Spring Line today.......honestly, I see myself sleeping (with any luck).

WHAT WOULD YOU BE COMPOSING IF NOT WREN & JAMES?:

I consider myself a designer, first and foremost. I'm interested in expanding my repertoire beyond clothing and into interior design and beyond. My husband is also a designer (he and I collaborated on our bed frame as the first project of more to come....). We both look up to Ray and Charles Eames as designers and collaborators for inspiration among many others. We're planning an Art and Design blog about all things design under the name, Wren&James Studios (more on that to come....).

Holy Smokes that will be awesome!

FAVORITE THING TO DO OUTSIDE OF WREN & JAMES: That's an easy one. Spending time with my husband and my daughter (Toby and Mazie).

VICE: 3 words--Obsessive. Compulsive. Disorder.

(OK, this is a bit of a self-diagnosis and if I'm trying to sound impressive, I'd say I'm a "perfectionist".) Not to make light of something that can be so debilitating, but at my worst, you could say that I sweat the small stuff. I really can obsess over the details to such a degree that I lose sight of the whole picture. (Also my husband has to strategically place multiple sticks of chap-stick around the house "in case of emergency dry lips".)

Why does this make me love her more?

FAVORITE PIZZA: "The Viola" at Pizzeria Limone (a local Italian flat bread-style pizza joint). The combination of Prosciutto and warm candied-blackberries is delectable. :)

A person's pizza flavor says a ton about them. So, this question is valid..

AND, PERHAPS THE DEEPEST QUESTION OF ALL:

SHOW US THE INSIDE OF YOUR CLOSET: Alright well, here you go. I feel like I'm letting you into my soul or something, I feel so vulnerable right now. Only Kris could get me to take a photo of my semi-clean, very pitiful closet. Lots of shoes on the ground that I have yet to organize. My shelves are full of what I call my work week clothes when I know I'm not going anywhere, such as scrubs (nurse scrubs) from my days from working in a hospital, and old worn out, yet very comfortable t-shirts and sweatshirts. Everything hung up consists of mostly (80%) stuff I do not wear anymore. I know, I know, I should clean out my closet, but I can't get myself to do it, at least right now. (That's a whole other story.) In here you'll see J.crew, Madewell, The Loft, and vintage pieces. I was just telling my husband the other day I would like to collect more vintage pieces, and I think I will. Then replace the 80% of what I don't wear with some vintage. Well, there you have it, my closet in a nutshell.

Pizza flavors and closet exposure are definitely gateways into one's soul. And, your soul, Kiley, is pretty rad.