Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Lee Leach.
Esther Lee, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. I have always had an interest in the media and content creation. During my teens, my sister Davina and I created a television production company and produced a teen magazine show called ‘Vibe Central’ and then a travel show, ‘Access Caribbean’. I hosted and produced these shows and really learned how to build a brand from the ground up. I also began my career as a journalist, covering politics and current affairs for a newspaper. I was then recruited by a fashion and lifestyle magazine and over the years became the Senior Fashion Editor. I edited, wrote and styled for the magazine and also attended London and New York Fashion Weeks to cover the shows.
I moved to London in 2007 to get my Master of Arts in Fashion Journalism at the London College of Fashion. The college is a part of the University of Arts London and many fashion industry stars have attended. London was such a fantastic city to study, and innovation and creating unique content was a huge part of my education. I met my now-husband at the Notting Hill tube station at the end of my degree program, We started dating and then moved to New York together and then San Francisco. Five years ago we moved to Cherry Creek in Denver and this is now home for us. In January 2019, I launched Cherry Creek Fashion, a monthly online style magazine which has been growing steadily in the market.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road is not usually a smooth one when you are an entrepreneur. My biggest struggle is having enough time to create all of the projects that I want to do for the brand. As an independent publisher, I wear many hats and I am also the mother of a three-year-old boy so there is never enough time! What I have learned is that being organized and planning ahead really helps with the workload. And also enjoying where you are in the moment if that is work or with family, and not feeling guilty about balancing everything. The advice I would give is to reach out to others who are doing similar things. I have a fantastic network of friends and colleagues who I regularly reach out to for feedback. A lot of people are always willing to lend an ear so don’t hesitate to ask for advice!
What should we know about Cherry Creek Fashion Magazine? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the Publisher and Editor in Chief of Cherry Creek Fashion, a monthly insider style guide to the Cherry Creek district and other areas in Denver. The magazine features interesting and inspiring personalities through the lens of fashion. We cover style, beauty, culture and living every month. Cherry Creek Fashion is a digital brand with a new issue released on the first of every month. Readers can find the magazine at www.cherrycreekfashion.com or subscribe to get the magazine in their inbox every month. I am really proud that the magazine is a leader in the market for featuring inclusive and diverse stories. We still have so much more to do on that front but I am happy that we have set that standard from very early on.
Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
The best advice that I can give is to reach out to others who are in your industry or achieving what you would like to do. Learning about the journeys of others and how they built their brands always motivates me. It is also important to believe in yourself and your dreams.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cherrycreekfashion.com
- Email: esther@cherrycreekfashion.com
- Instagram: @cherrycreekfashion
- Facebook: Facebook.com/cherrycreekfashion
Image Credit:
Photography by Caroline Miller, Danielle Webster and Esther Lee Leach
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