by Colleen Miller, photos courtesy of Lauren Arnold
Lauren Arnold, a first-year production design major with a concentration in costume design, began her business with only an idea. Originally from Coral Springs, Fla., Arnold started out wanting to benefit the children and families of the Miami area. Since art and entrepreneurial aspirations go hand in hand, she found a creative way to make money. Both require a vision and passion for your field. Arnold is the proud owner and founder of Once Upon a Wish, a character entertainment service.
What began as a personal project to create a Halloween costume, soon morphed into a complete dedication to costume design. In June 2015, Arnold began employing not only herself but close friends to wear her creations at community events and birthday parties. Arnold said, “the most rewarding part of the business is seeing the kid’s faces light up.”
The dresses worn by the performers are handmade by Arnold which can take three to five months to create. “Character integrity is super important,” Arnold said, and that’s why time and attention to detail is necessary. “There’s no pattern, no sketching, just everything from my imagination,” Arnold said. “It’s a really good feeling to see the finished product.”
Once Upon a Wish’s source for inspiration comes from cosplay. “I would go to cosplay conventions and see all these amazing costumes,” Arnold said. “Those people inspired me to make more costumes, then I thought, I could probably do this as a career.”’
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As with many new businesses, Once Upon a Wish faced its fair share of challenges. Initially, finding events to book was the biggest concern for the company. Since Arnold is more familiar with her business network, she books three to four city events per month. Still, they are regularly looking for new venues and groups to reach.
According to Arnold, “business owners have the unique opportunity to curate not only their clients’ experiences but their own work environment as well. Having the patience to strive for perfection is crucial for success. Most importantly, new entrepreneurs must be prepared to jump in feet first.” Arnold’s business journey began with a simple phrase, “let’s see if this works.”
To see more about Lauren Arnold’s business, follow @_onceuponawish on Instagram.
