The first time I heard about Proto101 was when I was at the Northwest Flower and Garden show in February. I parked near Pacific Place and stopped in to check out a few stores. I noticed Proto101 on the main floor across from where Tiffany used to be and it immediately caught my eye.
And it’s a Seattle-based company!
Normally I hear about a Seattle-based company and go check it out because I know already that it’s Seattle-based. This was more of a reverse-learning thing for me. Once I walked in and touched all the fabric (it’s the perfect stretchy blend) I knew that I would like this clothing brand. It was later while I was walking around the store that I was told it was based in Seattle. I was surprised that the clothing seemed reasonably priced for being designed locally and sold at Pacific Place. I bought a short black dress with pockets and I’ve now worn this on a few trips and it’s part of my daily wear.
And then they messaged me for a collaboration
This is where as an ‘influencer’ it is so important to be true to the brands you represent and share. When I got a message from the marketing team inquiring about a partnership, I already knew this brand and it’s one I knew I could easily work with because that black dress had become a staple in my closet. I met Liyin one of the founders of the company and she was instantly easy to talk to and the kind of person you want to cheer on. This is the type of approachable and innovative founder we need behind more brands. Liyin even ended up hanging out at the Pass Life Workspace with me and some other local influencers earlier this summer too. And I’ve seen Proto101 popping up in a few other local spaces and it’s nice to see it more and more often in the Seattle community.
And this clothing brand gives back too
Every garment purchase plants a tree. Is giving back important to you too? Even in its starting stage this company is already forward-thinking about impact. What kind of clothes can we wear over and over again? What factories do they need to be made in that are better for our world? What kind of materials are better for the planet and the person who wears it.
What are my favorite proto101 purchases so far?
I was in the store for a short while one day and a man came in, tried on a shirt and bought a whole bunch of them so I bought a t-shirt too. I was gifted a pair of high-waisted wide leg pants and a long sleeve boatneck t-shirt (and I chose a color brighter than what I usually wear and actually wear it SO often now because it’s so soft and comfortable). I bought my kids the men’s knit chore coats in XS and it’s cool that this brand has items in the XS size because that is a really hard size to find. I bought another short dress with pockets, this time in navy blue
As someone who travels frequently, these are the kind of staples that I wear on a daily basis as well as when I head out on trips. I can dress them up or wear them as I run on the beach. And as a fellow Seattleite or someone who cares about this city too, I thought I’d share them just in case you end up loving them as much as I do.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)