Whether you’re new to the scene, or a dance music veteran, the draw towards identifying your place in the industry may come along at some point, and I encourage you to follow that temptation.
Dipping your toes into the electronic dance music industry means discovering your talent and expanding on it through networking, creating, and executing. There are so many facets of this industry that call for talented individuals to help it prosper.
The number of inspiring individuals dance music has introduced me to is mind-blowing, as shown by the other worldly events like festivals that they create. After opening my eyes to all the opportunities this industry has to offer, I wanted to start with one of the most fun ones, fashion. I sat down with the owner of Sea Dragon Studio, who festively goes by Jesseca Diskobaal to talk about all things holographic, and to understand the lifestyle that festival fashion has to offer its curators. Spoiler alert: it is INCREDIBLE.
How did your rave wear company start?
The idea for Sea Dragon Studio blossomed after a couple of trips to Shambhala Music Festival in British Columbia, Canada. Jesseca’s roots in fashion came from her mom being a makeup artist, and her dad
being a hair dresser for film, and with her background in jewelry, she knew her creativity was bursting at the seams. After a year working full time AND making sure Sea Dragon was up and running, Jesseca courageously quit her full-time job to immerse herself in festival fashion as a career, and hasn’t looked back since.
When did you know your company was taking off?
“One of Sea Dragon’s most defining moments was when we were featured in a New York Times article on fashion at Burning Man. One of my friends saw the article and sent it to me. That’s when I knew Sea Dragon had made an impact.” This goes to show that when you put your heart and soul into something, others notice. Jesseca started her Sea Dragon team after attending a marketing seminar, and actually ended up hiring the keynote speaker at that event to do all of Sea Dragon’s marketing. Jesseca was not afraid to propel herself into knowledge about starting her own business in the festival fashion industry, and taking these leaps got her to where she’s at now.
How has your company positively impacted your lifestyle?
“I am constantly traveling the world to visit the shops that carry my merchandise, which are located all over, from the United States to Australia. Finding my niche has allowed me an exciting lifestyle full of traveling and festival-going. We recently set up at the London Edge trade show in Las Vegas, and it was amazing being around and being apart of all the alternative fashion there.” Her passport has more stamps than a post office, and her creations are being worn all over the globe. Sea Dragon’s commitment to comfort and functionality are notable, because everyone wants to look cute, but no one wants to be uncomfortable at a 3-day festival.
What made you want to start a rave wear company?
“One of the reasons I actually started making my own costumes is because I often found that my festival outfits, fab as they looked were actually super uncomfortable. I finally had enough when I bought these amazing sequin shorts but had to take them off after an hour of dancing because they were cutting my legs to shreds every-time I made a move. I created Sea Dragon to not only look fabulous, but also feel fabulous. We trial every new design before it hits the rack to make sure it’s comfortable & functional for all your festival needs. We add pockets and zippers wherever we can and our Sea Dragon Skin fabric literally feels like a second skin, it’s magical. We want you to look as good as you feel, and we know you’re going to feel amazing!”
Let’s get a behind the scenes look at your business. What tools and apps do you use to run your store? How is shipping and order fulfillment handled?
“I’m a bit of a technology nerd so I love trying out whatever now apps, hacks and gizmos cross my path. We make most items to order, so prepare, pack and double check every order by hand in our workshop each morning. My favourite tool at the moment is my smart watch, it’s such a huge help for getting organised, setting reminders & returning messages quickly.”
What are your recommendations for new store owners?
“I think it’s so important to be passionate about what you do. Passion shines though and it’s what will set you apart from the others. If you’re excited, other poeple will be excited too. Also, these things take time, you have to love what you’re doing and you have to be ready to grind for it.”
EDM is more than just music. The industry has so much to offer when it comes to finding where you fit in. I encourage you to create. To use your talents, and put yourself out there, and to give back to a scene that’s given so much to you. You’d be surprised at what you may discover. New connections, friends, and family come out of the woodworks when you share your skills in a way that will not only benefit others, but yourself. Let others like Jesseca inspire you, use your passion for dance music to fuel your imagination and become the best that you can be.
