Beauty Call Podcast

Project Runway star Johnathan Kayne shares his passion of designing beauty for others...one gown at a time.

December 24, 2019 Johnathan Kayne Season 1 Episode 36
Beauty Call Podcast
Project Runway star Johnathan Kayne shares his passion of designing beauty for others...one gown at a time.
Show Notes Transcript

Todays special podcast is Project Runway's Designer, Johnathan Kayne! His humble beginnings stayed with him as he rocketed to fame. His designs grace celebrities and pageant queens alike. He helps everyone feel beautiful, regardless of age or size!

About Johnathan:

Johnathan "Kayne" Gillaspie was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. Growing up in Music City, he became enamored with fashion by watching his favorite country music legends Dolly and Reba perform and walk the red carpet. Kayne began cultivating his creative design eye by helping two of his five sisters prepare their wardrobe for national pageants.

He began his fashion career working as a sketch artist and buyer at a local evening wear boutique in 1998. This experience afforded him the opportunity to travel the country and work with some of the top designers in the evening wear industry. In 2000, he was accepted to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC where he gained an extensive knowledge of design, draping, illustration, pattern making, and sewing. Kayne graduated magna cum laude and won the acclaimed "Critics Choice Award "for evening wear.

Upon returning to Nashville after graduation in 2002, he opened Kayne's Clothing boutique where he created custom designs for pageant clients, dancers, and country music artists. A year later he moved his custom design business to Norman, Oklahoma and bought an established formal wear boutique. He quickly gained a following of devoted pageant clients which put his custom designs under the spotlight and in front of judges. This strengthened his focus on the fit, silhouette, flow, and movement of his designs.

As a successful fashion designer and business owner, Kayne was selected to compete on Project Runway Season 3 in 2006, where he placed in the Top 5 designers. This experience, his charming personality, and eye for glamorous style propelled Kayne to his own celebrity status. He launched the Johnathan Kayne dress line and award winning shoe line produced by Benjamin Walk Corporation in 2007. Kayne starred on the TLC special Gown Crazy in 2009, and has also appeared on E!, ABC, NBC, Bravo, and The Style
Network.

In 2012, Kayne competed on the second season of Project Runway All Stars on Lifetime television where he developed a friendship with competing designer Joshua McKinley. This spawned a collaboration collection “Johnathan Kayne by Joshua McKinley” marking the first time in history that two Project Runway alum have collaborated on a collection. Kayne also moved his home and business back to Nashville, TN with a focused plan to be the Red Carpet Designer of the South.

Kayne continues to design the Johnathan Kayne dress and shoe collections. He also serves as a fashion expert for Country Weekly, Zuus Country, and NStyle Country. Dubbed as a "genius designer" by Heidi Klum and "a designer who knows how to make clothes and fit a woman's body" by Michael Kors, his designs have appeared on the world's biggest stars

Support the show

Support our show my creating a review and sharing to your friends.

https://podcasts.apple.com/BeautyCallPodcast

https://www.iheart.com/BeautyCallPodcast

https://podcasts.google.com/BeautyCallPodcast

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/067daae4-e305-4f16-be98-a36b6cf54df6/beauty-call-podcast-beauty-inside-and-out?refMarker=null

Please support me by subscribing and sharing with friends and family! Love you all!

Speaker 1:

The beauty call podcast starts. Now,

Speaker 2:

When you need advice, where are you going to call beautiful journeys? Migraine journeys is easy and loves to have casual yet four sessions on six love work-life balance diet fitness, nutrition relationship in life's ups and downs. Join the beautiful podcast and learn inside secrets to true beauty,

Speaker 3:

Happy holidays, happy new year and Merry Christmas from beauty call podcast. Thanks everyone for listening. This is my 36th episode, and I have one more episode to bring to you before our new year. Can you believe it? 2020 is almost here and we're going to have some great guests, some great topics, some hot topics that I'm excited about. Great giveaways and so much more. I will also be bringing to you a pageant 1 0 1 series that will be free to beauty call podcast listeners. So make sure that you subscribe to my show, reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram, if you want to get on the mailing list. And I will make sure that you have this free series to listen to, it will answer many of those questions that you guys have about pageantry, but also it's great for those of you who just want to increase your ability to speak in front of others or to have great interview skills. So look forward to that for 2020. It's my gift to you so much more is coming. I'm very excited and thanks so much for making 2019 a very successful podcast year. I love you all happy holidays and happy new year.

Speaker 1:

Hi everyone. And welcome to beauty call podcast. I'm your host, Janice McQueen. Well today's guest needs no introduction. Jonathan Kane is a fashion expert, a fashion designer. He is most known for project runway fame, but he has been such a fashion expert and icon in the industry as well as the beauty pageant industry. And he is dressed beauty, Queens and celebrities alike and so much more. He's got so many great things that are coming up in 2020. I'm really excited to have him on my show. Welcome to the show, Jonathan, how are you? I'm so well, darling,

Speaker 4:

How are you? Thanks so much for having

Speaker 1:

Me. I'm so excited that you, I mean, one of the things that we were talking about before the show started is the fact that you're entering into your second year a sponsor of the miss United States pageant system. And everyone knows I was missing the United States. And of course I love that system and the fact that it embraces all ages. So that is amazing. And, you know, thank you so much for that, but I thought we thought we would get started is if you could just let our listeners know our listeners know a little bit more about you and your history and how you got started. I mean, you have such a wealth of knowledge and history in the fashion industry.

Speaker 4:

Yeah, no, thank you. So it kind of started, I mean, I don't know how far you guys want me to go back, but

Speaker 1:

We want to hear it all

Speaker 4:

Started, you know, I was born and here in Nashville, Tennessee, which I'm back in my hometown now. Um, and I was raised with, um, you know, we were a very large family. Um, I have, uh, eight uncles and aunts, so therefore a ton of cousins and I have five sisters and two brothers. So it was a big, big family and, you know, um, it's all just lower middle class working class phones. So, uh, you know, there's no one else in my family that's, um, really into fashion, but I got my, um, my start in the fashion industry, um, when I was pretty much a teenager. So, um, I had thought I was going to be a veterinarian. I worked at a vet clinic for four and a half years, and my first two years of college were all pre vet, but, uh, two of my sisters were beauty Queens. They had done scholarship pageants to help put themselves through college and competed in the miss Tennessee America system and went to miss Tennessee. A couple of times through that experience, I saw not only how they grew as young women and gain so much self confidence, but, um, also gained scholarship down, put themselves through college. So I saw it as such a viable, um, you know, path or a young woman to, um, to really get an education and save that expense of having to pay for it on her own or, or for, you know, the family members to have to, um, you know, have to pay for that. So that's kind of where I got started in, in learning about pageantry and, you know, I've always loved glamorous things from watching my favorites like Reba and Dolly on the red carpet or performing and things like that. So it was a very easy segue into pageantry when my sisters were doing it. So I was helping them, you know, um, and my step-mom work on their costumes, you know, sewing on crystals and beads and sequins and applicators and all things to, to make things, you know, um, more stage worthy, you know, we grew up quite poor. Uh, so with that many kids, you know, sometimes it was things, money was spread thin a little bit, but, um, you know, we always had a good time and it made us even closer to his, you know, you have to go through the struggles to, to get to the Hilltop. So, um, so we, uh, we all kind of supported each other and, um, I ended up, uh, after working at the bank, when I for about three and a half years, I, um, heard about a physician at the little boutique where my sisters got their prom and pageant gales, and it was called the clothes closet. And the gentleman that owned this, uh, that little boutique here in Nashville, he was looking for someone who, uh, was a sketch artist or, or could draw well. And I was very big into art throughout high school. And I ended up getting, um, uh, getting a position there as a sketch artist. So they would have custom clients come in, everyone from pageant girls to, um, country music stars or ballroom dancers come in that wanted a custom garment for whatever their, um, event was. And so I would, um, translate what they would tell me into a sketch. And then we would then send those sketches off to one of three designers, either, um, Claire's collection at the time, uh, or Steven uric or Sherry hill. And so we were doing trunk shows with them and I just became enamored with the fashion industry and became a buyer for the store. And, um, and then decided to change my major and went to does design school in New York city at fit. And haven't looked back since, so that's kind of how I got my start in this industry. And, um, and then went on of course, to have a couple of retail stores and, um, compete on project runway and project runway, all stars. And then, uh, ended up back here in Nashville, dressing a ton of country music stars.

Speaker 1:

Oh, wow. That's amazing. I mean, you just sort of felt you've, you've fell into it in a way, because you were naturally gifted and it just, of course so much hard work and so much talent guided you along the way, but what an amazing story to come from such humble beginnings to be able to dress celebrities and pageant Queens alike, and to have so much that you're doing with within the industry, because you have so much more than the pageant gown, you have, you know, gallons for plus size as well. And, and for bridal. So you really cover pretty much everything, right?

Speaker 4:

Yeah. You know, um, yeah, I've been building my business says, um, well, mass producing since, uh, right after I was on project for my, the first time thousand six. And, um, you know, I started my first collection and took it to market, um, you know, hoping to sell to a few stores like, you know, five or 10, and we ended up selling to about 30 stores. And then, you know, that grew to now we're in about 500 retail stores throughout the world. So it's been, it's definitely been a lot of work, but, um, you know, we've, I love my job and, you know, the whole, the whole passion that really motivates me to do this stems back from working with my sisters and helping them feel their most beautiful, you know, at that early crucial age of developing their, um, their own personality and self-confidence. But, um, that's really, what is my passion now is, is working with clients and sometimes seeing some of these young women that have literally no idea how beautiful they are, even though they're competing scholarship or beauty pageants, you know, whether it's them or a rebound, the red carpet we all deal with, um, with self-confidence issues. And, um, you know, we beat ourselves up from what the media tells us and from, uh, you know, things we hear along the way, but, um, you know, my, my job is to help people feel their most beautiful, or that's why we have the tagline for my company feel beautiful. It sounds so cliche or simple, but that's really the whole reason why I started started doing and why I really loved and love what I'm doing for career now.

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's, uh, you, if everybody could feel that way and be as passionate about what they do as you do, we would be such a better world to just want to be able to help others along the way, and to feel beautiful. And it is hard. And for those listening who have either been on a stage, or you want to be on a stage, or you want to do something, then you just don't have that confidence just to know that you have advocates out there like you, Jonathan, that can make them feel beautiful without breaking the bank. I mean, you can just feel amazing. And, and you're known for fitting that gown to the figure and that silhouette of the gown just really embracing the, the beauty of the person. And it really does come across through your designs and onstage, your gallons are so beautiful and your shoes, especially, I mean, your shoes are just probably the most beautiful shoes I've seen, you know, especially for a pageantry, but for any occasion, they just, they just, there's something special about them as well. They just come across as a beautiful extension of the person. And that's what I love about fashion is if it can, if it can bring out the personality and the charm of the individual, then it's a win and you know, it's a win. So I want to go back to project runway because so many people, including myself, I absolutely love watching reality TV and love watching shows like that. And of course I want every one to win, but everybody that's on the shows brings such talent. And it's easy as I'm in passion who inspired you to go on the show?

Speaker 4:

Well, you know, I think, honestly, I don't know if anyone actually inspired me to go on the show. I think, I think we're all a collection of our life experiences. So I don't know if there was one, um, thing that did it, but I've always felt since I was a very small child, I've always felt like I was meant to do something big or do something lasting or great. And I, I can't explain what that is or why. I mean, so many people have influenced my life from the strong woman in my life, my sisters, my mother, my grandmother, um, and you know, my father is amazing as well, but like, I feel like the women in my life definitely, um, kind of shaped me more so, um, and, um, I think it's one of those things where, uh, I just kinda felt like I needed to do it and that it was going to be a great stepping stone. And, you know, as a designer, it's very hard to get your name out there. There are probably, I don't know how many, but there's probably tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of designers out there. I don't know how many designers, but there's so many of us out there and we all have a different creativity that we're trying to express. And for me, um, you know, when reality television, uh, became a big thing, it's, it's hard to think of life without reality television. Now I know isn't it that when project runway came out, it was the first show that, um, wasn't just about, um, kind of drama or the social aspect or, uh, crazy stunts and things like that. Like the biggest shows that were reality shows at that time, of course real-world being the number one. Um, then you had survivor and fear factor and that was pretty much it. So project runway was the first reality show that came out that, um, kind of studied and captured peepers people's creativity. So this was before all of the cooking shows like top chef and all those things. So project runway was the first, so that's why it was such, um, kind of in an enigma when it came out and so popular. And, um, so when it came out, I called my mom, like after watching season one, and I said, mom, you've got to watch this show on Bravo. It's called project runway. And if it gets picked up for, you know, multiple seasons, I promise you one day I'm going to be on the show. And she was like, okay. I mean, I had never called her and been so like exact and like resolute. And I just felt like, okay, this is finally a show. I w I wasn't going to go on Fairfax or any bugs. So I was like, dies. So I was like, all right, I, um, this is a show I can do, and this is how I'm going to get my name out there even more so then where I'd gotten at that point in my career so far, that's amazing. Was that the moment that changed your life, do you feel, you know what? I think it was definitely part of it. I mean, there's been so many like memorable moments already that had just been, um, really humbling and just beautiful, special moments in my life so far, but it was definitely an incredibly exciting time. You know, I was the only, um, designer on my season that wasn't from LA New York or Miami. So I was from at the time Oklahoma, so, which was not considered a fashion capital of the world. So, you know, here I was this little Southern boy that had made it on this show and, you know, I was, I doubted myself every step along the way. I mean, I felt confident. I, I could at least make it past challenge, number one, hopefully, but someone's got to go the first episode. You know what I mean? I didn't know how it was going to turn out, but it was an incredible experience getting to be there and have some of my, um, my favorite fashion icons and designers, um, compliment and critique my

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's, uh, that's impressive. They just really stuck your neck out there and you went for it. And it really was. I, you know, your, your talent speaks for itself, but anytime you can get in front of a larger audience, it gives you the opportunity to show who you really are and all of your gifts. So I'm so glad that you had that success on that show. And so I have to ask you as far as like you're designing and all the things that you do, what is your favorite thing to design and make?

Speaker 4:

Oh my gosh. It's probably, it's definitely a gown. I mean, if you watch season, um, both seasons that I was on any time that I could make a gown, what I love to do, I just think there's something so special about an evening gown, and whether you're wearing that to your first prom or to, um, a pageant or to, you know, the red carpet or to accept an award or, or even just to your daughter's wedding, there's just something so special. Those are the memories. If you're getting that dressed up, then it's a special memory and it's a special moment in your life. And some of those milestones, um, you know, are, are lasting that you have, um, photos of, of those moments and you look back and some of those are some of your, some of the times that you've felt your most beautiful. And, you know, even as, as we get older, we look back at those and we're like, gosh, I was, I hated on myself so much at that point in my life, but looking back I was hot. I was, you know, it's like, it's so funny. It's just like, I guess that's what they mean when they say, you know, you get wiser as you get a little bit older, but I think that's part of what is really helping me in this new phase of growing my business is like really trying to, um, to touch as many young women as I can with like, helping them feel beautiful, like just really making them understand how gorgeous they are. Because a lot of times I think people, um, when they see someone that they think is beautiful, I think they assume that they get told that all the time and some people do. Um, but I think there's a lot of people that, um, you know, that kind of moves through the world that definitely are not told as often as they should be and empowered and supported as much as they should be. So, um, if I can just do that, uh, as much as possible to give a little bit more self-confidence to, um, to the young one, and then I guess workload then, um, I've absolutely left the field by,

Speaker 1:

Wow, that's amazing. It's so you get so much more than the dress to get the, the memories and you really are giving them the confidence to feel their best self. So of course, that comes along with it and your talent, but what do you think that your makes your design so unique?

Speaker 4:

You know, I think, I think I'm a little bit of a risk taker. I think a lot of designers are, um, you know, one of the things that I really love to do is I love to modernize classic silhouette. So like I love old Hollywood movies. Um, I love, you know, classic music, um, Hollywood stars, every one from Patsy Cline to, um, to of course, Marilyn Monroe and Dolly Parton is always one of my favorite people in the world. But, um, you know, it's one of those things where I get inspired by so many things, but, um, but I think it's, it's the most gratifying when I can, when I can deliver a design that is something new and different that, uh, that excites people. And, you know, I've, I've been, uh, producing collections, um, on a mass production level since 2007, right after I was on runway the first time. And it's just, um, you know, it, it used to be super scary and nerve wracking, and I still get a little nervous before we launch a collection, but for the most part, um, now I just, I have enough people around and supporting me that I, I just trust my gut, that people are gonna love what I put out from season to season. Um, our guests collection, the collection, we do a fall and a spring collection. We don't do four collections just to, um, but you just kind of, you get to a point where you just have to turn off all the noise from society and the world, and you have to just, um, let your creativity and your heart out, uh, in the designs. And, um, you know, the, the two adjectives, I always try to think of when designing to differentiate myself and took a long, long time to figure out what did differentiate my designs from other designers is, is really sexy and dramatic and sexy. That's a word I, I use a little loosely because, you know, some people, um, they're like, oh my gosh, she dressed, you know, prom girls or young girls going to their first pageant or formal event. And sexy is not a word people want to hear. So, um, obviously you have to realize that sexy can be something without, um, without being vulgar. You know what I mean? And also, obviously I'm not thinking about sexy when I'm thinking about design for a nine-year-old. Um, but as a whole, um, the core of my clients are, you know, 18 plus, um, so sexy and dramatic is definitely what I'm trying to think of it. And like I said, sexy means so many things. It doesn't mean you're showing any skin, but maybe the fit is a sexier, more fitted fit. Um, but those two adjectives are the main things that I'm thinking of to differentiate myself and, and try to, um, try to always pay homage to that classic silhouette as well.

Speaker 1:

I almost think about charismatic is a word that describes you, just very charismatic, the, the lines of the gown, the beauty of the shoes, everything that you do comes with some sort of you're right. A Hollywood flair of, of, uh, almost yesterday, which is what we need more of glamour, glamour, and sophistication. And I just, what I think about when I see your designs just beautiful, um, in sexiest word, You can do charismatic with a K and have your own little,

Speaker 4:

You better stop at creating ideas over there. You better stop it. I'm gonna have to,

Speaker 1:

Oh my goodness. Well, what is your favorite material to design with her? You know, cause you know, we, as the women that are wearing the gowns, we sort of know what looks best on our bodies, but there's so many great materials out there. And sometimes we don't know what's best, but talk about,

Speaker 4:

There are so many delicious fabrics. So, um, some I'm going to have to give you like two or three for like a tried and true. I have it in my collection every single year, just because I think it's just such a beautiful fabric and the feeling of touch and everything is stretched velvet. So it's also, um, the richest colors of, um, of fabrics in that it doesn't really reflect any light because it has the nap or the pile of the tiny hairs on the top of the fabric from the way that it's created. But so that those little tiny fibers on top of the fabric that may build that feels so soft, they also absorb absorb the light. So they don't reflect light. So black velvet is the blackest of any fabric that you're ever going to get. You know what I mean, if that makes it slightly gray or less, less rich. So I love that aspect of velvet. And when you put beading or crystals on velvet, it makes it even more dramatic because the fabric isn't competing with the shine or the smart power, the sparkle of the beads or the crystals. So that's one of my favorites, another favorite just for the movement and the flow of the fabric is silk chiffon. And, um, it just is the lightest most delicate of all the fabrics and it just floats and flows and looks very fluid like water. And I love that, um, that feeling on stage when fabric really floats and moves really beautifully. Um, and then last but not least would probably be from a sewing standpoint, um, would probably be double phase silk, uh, crave back satin, which is like a really thick rich silk that's crepe on one side. And it's has a satin finish on the other side, but it's so close. It's like butter. Oh wow.

Speaker 1:

Oh wow. Great, uh, new, great insight. And, um, it's good to know. I mean, as far as like fabrics, that looked good on stage and that they, if they so well, they probably feel great and they probably look better on stage. So that's really good knowledge to have. So, so I have to ask you all the youth dressed so many celebrities, so I'd love to know, you know, who have you dressed and if you could dress anyone in the world, who would it be?

Speaker 4:

Oh my gosh, that's such a big question. Okay. So I said, so I've just had done a beep. Why like, you know, I will, I'll rattle off a few. So, um, some of my favorites are some of the country music stars that I grew up listening to and idolizing, and some of them have even like shaves me on how to handle myself, um, with the tiny bit of fame that I've had, but is, um, Dolly Martin first and foremost, she is just such a legend that, um, always handles herself and her company and her fans with grace. Um, and that's very hard to do in a challenging busy world. Um, for sure. Uh, so Dolly Reba McEntire, um, has become a good friend and Tanya Tucker is, um, probably one of the closest country music stars that I've become really close to. She's just a riot and so funny, um, and really just such a sweetheart. Um, so she's been amazing. Pam Tillis, Terry Clark, um, Jennifer Lopez, um, um, comedian that I'm in love with, um, her name is Angela Johnson, so she was born quickly on mad TV and, um, she does the beautiful male skit, um, in her act and that kind of catapulted her to fame. Um, she's amazing. Um, oh my gosh, I hate that I'm forgetting people, but like rascal Flatts, uh, works in done, um, um, Lee Brice and his wife, Sarah Bryce. Um, uh, let's see, honestly, I can't think of any more right now. There's a lot of like newer country artists, Lindsay L um, uh, Jason Aldean, his wife, Brittany, Aldin a lot of country music stars. So, so that is an area That was one of the reasons why I decided to move back home here to Nashville was, um, there was a lot of good business reasons, but one of them that I felt, um, compelled was to be closer to family. And then also the country music scene, knowing that these are my people, these are people that, you know, probably were born and raised in, um, less than favorable conditions and, you know, little small towns and they pursued their dream to become, you know, a country music star and then some of them legends. So it's been, um, it's been pretty awesome to be my authentic self and working with these people and feel very happy and confident just to, um, to help them shine a little bit. Um, so then going back to the second part of your question of who I would love to dress, I mean, I have a list, girl, let me just tell you, I do, I literally have a list printed on my, on my board of people that are, are still on the list that I haven't been able to work with yet. First and foremost in the country, music genre would be miss Loretta Lynn. So, you know, she's, she's 84 years old these days. So times time's ticking a little bit as much as I hate to say it. So I've got to get on that one for sure. Um, but I think I'm going to finally call in, I never call in a favor ever, but I've become so close with Tonya and she's dear friends with Lorena. So I think a mom would be like, Tang, are you going to have to hook a brother up? So, uh, Loretta's one. And then of course, Celine Dion, um, uh, Julia Roberts, um, Adele, uh, Chrissy Metz, uh, from this is us. I wanted Lizzo of course, why not? Um, so I think, I think that Carrie Underwood, I had addressed Carrie Underwood yet, believe it or not. So that's got to happen. So with that big one out there, um, but you know, I'm, I'm at a point in my life where I we'd been very, very blessed and like this past year we had, uh, 20 gowns at the CMS, which was more than we've ever had. And, you know, that was pretty much mostly without, um, without, uh, reaching out to anyone that was kind of like through our relationships that we built here and just getting our name out there. And every year we do more and more, um, at the big award shows here in Nashville and in Vegas. So, um, I love it when it happens organically. So I think it's much more authentic and gutter, but, um,

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it feels better. I'm I'm with you. I don't like asking for favors or asking. I like for it just to, I like for it to happen, just because it's meant to be, and it doesn't always happen that way in the world. It doesn't, doesn't hurt to ask, you know, it doesn't hurt to put it out there, but I'm with you. I think when things are meant to happen, it becomes maybe part of who we're supposed to be a little bit more easily. It's not, we're not pushing, it just happens. And so that's a beautiful 20 gallons. It's the CMA awards. That's pretty, that's pretty amazing.

Speaker 4:

Yeah. No, thank you. I know we, my team and I, we were working around the clock. I couldn't have done it without such amazing friends and team and support system. And we had a little watch party that night and then went into, um, some of the after parties. Uh, and it was just such a special night. I mean, it, there were so many of our downs on stage and, and, um, and performances and on the red carpet and, um, being able to design stuff for Dolly and Reba for that big night was just a dream come true for this little country.

Speaker 1:

I love it. So you have so many things on the horizon. I know we talked a little bit about it throughout the show, but if you could just share with everyone, all the great things that are going to be happening next year. Sounds great.

Speaker 4:

Oh my gosh. So get ready. So, um, 2020 is going to be a bang in year, for sure. So we, um, we launched a new line to our retailers this past August, and it will start shipping this month. Um, so Merry Christmas to everybody, but we, um, we have collapsed, um, I've collabed with my good friends over at Sydney's closet and they are a plus size exclusive, um, formal wear companies. So they've been in business for, I believe eight years now. And, um, their business has just blossomed. I mean, they have literally, um, done so well and they are in so many stores and they're starting to be a big, um, a big movement of plus size former stores. So just form aware that only offer plus size. So Sydney's closet, they, um, they started a size 14 and then go up as high as anyone needs from there. So, um, so we partnered and our new line called Jonathan King for Sydney's closet will be out, um, this new spring collection as our first inaugural collection. And when we launched it, we, we really, we had like, uh, a good goal. We were all kind of, um, shooting for four stores that would be interested as well as like, um, sales for launching the line. And we more than doubled our expectations. And like everyone has been so excited and welcoming of that collection. So that will be in stores this spring. So all my curvy girls get ready, look for the JK for Sydney's closet life. Um, we also, uh, launched this past year, um, actually our lie in 2018, we launched a private bridal line. So a lot of our bridal stores that we sell to are formal wear stores that carry bridal. They have picked up our, um, our private party line of private bridal. And what that basically means is it's a bridal line only for our retail stores. So it's not sold online at all. Um, and, um, basically just go in your local, uh, formal wear store and asked to see, um, JKS private bridal line. So, and they will be glad to show it to you. Um, and you can find a store locator on our website. And then of course, another big exciting thing you had mentioned our shoes earlier and, you know, pet girls kind of put our shoes on the map, but, uh, we have had a ton of, uh, a ton of red carpet exposure as well, um, with our shoe line and, uh, everyone from Tanya Tucker, uh, Reba McEntire, Sheryl Crow, all those people have worn our shoes, um, for photo shoots or on the red carpet or in daily life. Um, so we are launching a new line of our shoes. Um, and I tell you my pageant girls, you're going to love them. So one of my top shoes right now is called the suntan and we are doing, um, girls just loved the fit and the comfort of that one with the design. Thank you so much. So, um, you know, and a lot of people don't realize because I've been doing shoes, uh, since 2000 sentence we're on our 12th year, um, having a shoe line. Um, but the whole reason I got it, I was hired to do that was, um, because of some shoes that I customized for some of my models, um, for my very first trade show, when I started to mass-produce and Benjamin Walker recognized that the design was really beautiful and they hired me to come on board, you know, having sisters that always complained about their, their feet hurting, wearing their high heels. Um, we wanted to focus on comfort as well as design and making them make the legs look long and lean and beautiful. Um, so we tripled the padding. We use a lot of Swarovski crystals, so that's why a lot of girls are like, oh my God, your shoes are so comfortable. So there is a reason behind that. So definitely check out our new, um, our new shoes this next year. We're going to be doing a whole big marketing push on that. And, um, last but not least study, some of the other exciting things coming up for 2020 is, um, wearing our second year as the sponsor for the miss United States pageant system as the wardrobe sponsor. So, um, for their opening number and shoes, um, as well as opening number dresses for the Royal international miss pageant system. And we've got, I can't talk about it yet, but we, um, responses for so many of the pageants like miss high school America and stuff like that, but we, uh, have some other big sponsorships that we are working on that, um, we will be releasing, um, on our social media and marketing through those channels as well. So that'll be a big year in 2020.

Speaker 1:

Wow. So many great things happening for you are so excited because you're going to have more for us to wait.

Speaker 4:

I know, I know. And I tell you, I promise you our new spring collection of the dresses as well. Um, my other designer from project runway, Joshua McKinley, um, we've been working together for like nine years now and he, uh, his collection is looking amazing that we collab on together and our new, um, fall collection, which we launched to our retailers in March. Um, and we'll start shipping in July, August. I promise you ladies, it is going to be our best yet. So I just, I can't wait to share with the world, all the new things that we have coming.

Speaker 1:

That is amazing. So how can we, and of course, everybody knows, but we have to say it, but how can we find you? How can we see all your beautiful things so that we can see what's going to be launched in 2020? What's the best way to find you online?

Speaker 4:

Yeah, of course. So, um, there's several ways. So my website is one, so absolutely Jonathan kane.com and our, uh, social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, all of those things. We, um, we of course are very active on those. And, uh, we post, uh, a lot of new things up to date. We do have a brand new website that we just launched. So all of our social media handles are on there as well as all of our new collections for fall. Um, I'm sorry, not for fall for spring. Um, and then also, um, some other fun things like you can learn about me and my history, as well as, um, see all of our retail stores, there's a store locator. So you can put in your zip code and find stores near you as well as apply to be a model for, um, one of the faces of my grand. We, you can do that at the very bottom of my website under the model submission or internships submission. So it has a lot of cool new features that we haven't had on our website before. Um, and of course that store locator will guide you to all of our retailers. There's probably a retailer, um, near you, if you just go to our store locator and, and look for one of our, uh, really supportive for you,

Speaker 1:

That is amazing. Well, thank you so much. It has been such a pleasure talking with you. I'm so excited for your success. I've watched you throughout the years. I've been one of your biggest fans, and I just cannot tell you how exciting has been speaking with you. And I know that you're going to be able to address all those ladies that you have on your list, because you said it out loud. He said it on the show. And I know that, um, it's the, world's going to bring that to you because you've just worked so hard, Jonathan, and we're all just excited to get to know you better.

Speaker 4:

Well, thank you, darling. No, it's my pleasure. And, uh, yeah, congrats to you as well for being a title holder and, uh, you know, sharing your love and passion for the podcast. And, um, I hope I get to work with you soon and have your next,

Speaker 1:

I hope so, too. Thank you so much for being on our show.

Speaker 4:

My pleasure. Thanks guys.

Speaker 1:

Thanks so much for listening. Make sure to follow me on Facebook and Instagram at Beautycon podcast and subscribe rate, and review us on iTunes. Thanks again for listening.

Speaker 5:

[inaudible].