Life and Work with Jaclyn Robichaud Doyle

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaclyn Robichaud Doyle.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My origin story when it comes to how I became a designer is a little stereotypical in nature. I was a punk teenager (and, lets face it, a punk adult too), and I couldn’t find clothes that I wanted to wear in stores. So I did what any punk would do, I cut up all of my clothes and despite not knowing how to sew, put them back together by hand stitching them. When I finally worked up the courage to wear one of my Frankenstein creations to school, one of my friends asked where she could get one of her own, and I had my “lightbulb” moment. There are moments where I still can’t believe that I’ve been able to build a business around it. Especially when I consider how many times I was told “no” and “you can’t do that”. But as we’ve established, I’m a punk at heart, so when you say “you can’t do that” to me you might as well be cheering me on with a pep rally and full cheerleading squad.

I went to a technical high school, and studied art my sophomore through senior year. I was surrounded by creative peers and professions and was encouraged to pursue an artistic career. I think it was the combination of this environment combined with how stubborn I am, especially when someone tells me “no”, that brought me to this point in life. When I was a senior, I finally taught myself how to use a sewing machine. My nickname was “Jack Attackk” , so the name of the brand was pretty much chosen for me. Everyone called my work “Jack Attackk Clothing”, despite my half-hearted efforts to change it, so I embraced it and moved forward with the dream of building my brand. Everyone would always question the name, especially the intentionally misspelled “attackk”, but after accepting the name that the people who knew me best had bestowed upon me, I never felt that a different name fit our brand enough to change it. It just feels right. We have 2 k’s for a few reasons. Firstly, it gives Jack Attackk 11 letters, which is my lucky number. Secondly, I preferred graphically how the 2 k’s mirrored the 2 t’s in a logo and in print. And probably most importantly, it helps us stand out from the thousands of other people who thought “jack attack” was a cool nickname.

By the time I enrolled in college, I had already created a studio in my basement, and was making custom pieces for clients to help pay for my degree. I also started a fundraising group called Finding Hope with Fashion where we would put on a fashion show every year and donate the proceeds to various charities. Creating the collections for those shows on top of my school work contributed to both developing my signature style, and the maturation of my favorite couture techniques.

As a brand, we try to design for the woman who has a little bit of an edge. I think most of us can agree when I say: why should I go through life looking like everyone else? I’d rather not be normal. Jack Attackk Clothing strives to elevate traditional punk elements and combine them with classic feminine elements to create a balance and a range of style that can satisfy a punk who still likes to be “pretty” as well as a “girly-girl” who wants to add a little edge to her style. I always describe my customer as a woman who’s a little mysterious; if you saw her on the street you’d want to know more about her, but also a little intimidated by her.

Making woman feel like the badass that they are, regardless of their shape and/or size, is what motivates me most as a designer. In an ideal world, I want every woman who wears our clothes to feel unapologetically powerful.

I find most of my inspiration from music and travel. My husband is in the Army so I’ve been lucky enough to see some beautiful areas of the country that I don’t think I’d have seen otherwise, and have gone to some incredible live shows that really pump me up to create new stuff. If you have a chance to go see a concert at Red Rock Amphitheater, seriously do it. I also gather a ton of inspiration from the incredible artists I’m surrounded by in my studio at Western Avenue Studios in Lowell, MA. The artistic energy in the building is palpable as soon as you walk through the door. And last but certainly not least, I draw a huge amount of my inspiration the women that I have the pleasure of dressing, as well as the fashion icons I dream of dressing. Every new customer has a new story that I consider when I’m creating for them, and it’s really helped me evolve as a designer. I absolutely adore my job.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve had very many people in my life tell me that I had no business running a business. I’ve taken every “no” I’ve ever heard and used it as motivation to prove that person wrong. My advice to any young person starting out to listen to your own voice and your gut before you listen to any outside advice, but make sure that you’re taking everything into consideration before you make any life-alter decisions. Life is about balance. But at the end of the day, I’ve always subscribed to the mentality of “I’d rather try and fall flat on my face than always wonder what would have happened if I had.” I’d continue on this “every failure is a lesson” tangent, but I don’t want to sound like an after school special.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jack Attackk Clothing – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a designer, I’m most known for my hand-sewn details. I’m obsessed with lace, beading, and embroidery. I’ll add these techniques to almost all of my pieces. I want everything that I make to feel special, like something more than a piece you’d find on a rack at a department store. I’m also known for sneaking pockets into just about everything, because women deserve functional fashion.

I do a little bit of everything from t-shirts to editorial gowns. But when you ask people what they like most about Jack Attackk Clothing, they’ll either say my jackets or my gowns. I love creating both so I could never focus on just one.

I’m also known for creating for all body types. I interned for a tailor for two years while I was in college so I could learn, in great detail, how to fit all body types; most college programs only focus on designing for a model’s figure and I knew I didn’t want to build a career designing for only one type of woman.
I’m most proud of the messages I get from my clients telling me that they’ve never felt more beautiful than they do in my pieces. The fact that I can help these women look in the mirror and see the beauty that everyone else sees in them literally warms my lil’ punk heart, and gives me the energy to keep going when times get tough.

I think the fact that I connect with my “customer” and see them as a person and not a demographic sets me apart from others in my industry.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I love any book written by or about fellow artists. Reading about someone’s journey inspires me to continue my own. I’m not a huge app person, to be honest, I have the basic social media apps really out of business necessity than anything else. I will admit that I love Instagram for the images produced by other artists (including my incredibly talented friends), the instant gratification is pretty satisfying. I’m also more of a music girl than a podcast girl, but “The Last Podcast on the Left” is pretty rad.

Contact Info:

• Address: 122 Western Avenue,
  Studio 223
  Lowell, MA 01851
• Website: www.jackattackkclothing.com
• Email: jackattackkclothing@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jack_attackk_clothing
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jack.attackk.clothing
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/JAClothingCo

Image Credit:
Model: Jillian Bent, Photos: Theresa Conn

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