“No one can tell us how to express ourselves. There are different modes of creativity and different formulas, and all of that is subject to change. Life is not really fixed. All of it can change” – Pharrell Williams, excerpts from A Man Named Scott 2021

Earnest Streeter as DJ Earn Money in “Way Of The Samurai” © Michael Salvador

In my eyes, fashion runs deeper than clothing alone. Fashion is a feeling — it is a reflection of your soul. The looks that drive my passion are all-encompassing and an embodiment of an entire mood. It’s not just the clothing that defines a look, it’s your attitude. Fashion is an idea that comes to life, it allows you to get a glimpse of who someone is and lets you be who you want to be. Emotions, time periods, and melodies are a few of the themes that are embraced when choosing and appreciating any ensemble.

Fashion is an extension of how we think of ourselves and a representation of what we believe in. When we’re feeling our best we tend to vibrate on a higher frequency and those around us respond to that energy. Light is the only energy we can see and it is reflected in color. Our feelings of color are often deeply personal and rooted in our own experiences or culture. Our choices of color are fueled by mood and sensitivity. We choose a look because it invokes something in us and often it influences the decisions others may make about us. Fashion is a tangible vision that can express confidence, create conversations, or simply bring delight.

Who are you trying to be or embody? Who speaks from within you already? A warrior, a pageant queen, a skateboarder, a rock legend, a movie character, a mogul. Whatever it may be, you answer that call anytime you present yourself to the world. In current society clothing is not optional (though it should be, but that’s a different story), so you have to choose something — a 5-piece suit, a Grecian-styled dress, a pair of levis, work boots, and your most comfortable t-shirt. In any choice, the look is never completed without the right attitude. You can be nude and still make it fashionable. Fashion is an approach. Your stance can reinvent the wheel and bring your look from casual to iconic. Lady Godiva turned nudity into a statement. David Bowie pushed the gender boundaries of accepted beauty and sexuality norms. Costume choice is integral, but garments alone cannot capture your complexity. What defines fashion isn’t the apparel, as crafted as it may be. It’s the way you put it on. Fashion is established through mannerisms and immortalized by your posture, poise, and spirit.

Dara and Her Fine Bred Russian Wolfhound — © Wick Beavers

Fashion transports you through time. Every era has a definitive style that reveals the old affairs of days gone by. We all have a favorite era that speaks to us and helps us feel connected to our true selves or reawaken emotions of bygone times. Vintage threads arouse a sense of nostalgia and allow us to live simultaneously in the past, present, and future.

Fashion cycles us through periods and amuses our curiosity.

Trends are spawned through varying factors, including availability, functionality, or the hierarchy of an occasion.

Denim was invented in 1875 in response to laborers’ need for durable men’s workwear and has since become a staple item of clothing transitioning through the ages. High-waist and acid wash are reminiscent of the 80s and 90s, low-waist signifies the beginning of the millennium, distressed denim reigns in the modern day.

“Jewelry is like the perfect spice — it complements what’s already there.” Diane Von Furstenberg. High-end jewelry was intended for the most honored nobles and has since evolved into the realm of statement pieces and costume adornments. Pastels of the 50s gave way to neon and bright lights of the future, while the current state has returned to the neutral and monochromatic.

As we continue to revolve around the sun, fashion flows through time with us and moves us melodically. Music and fashion go hand in hand. Upon first glance at an artist’s or band’s style, you are immediately able to imagine how they might sound. In turn, you project your sound a certain way based on how you look. Soundtracks fuel fashion and fashion echoes a voice.

© Natalie Shau

Fashion is more than what you wear. It doesn’t have to be anything other than you just simply being you. Go beyond the cloth, wear what you feel. Wear something triggering, challenge the box your new Louboutins came in and be the high heel. Fashion is a sense of being, a right of passage, a support system, an explanation, an argument, an interpretation. Fashion is an expansion of a sense of self. As we transform from birth to adulthood our ideas and visions change. Fashion is as fluid as life and continues to unfold with us. Fashion is me, fashion is everyone. Fashion is a conduit to be indubitably you. It perpetuates our limited existence and the idea of it remains timeless even if that outfit “goes out of fashion” because fashion covers more than just your body.

The post FASHION RUNS DEEPER THAN CLOTHING ALONE appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You’ve mentioned that you two had a business before Rooted and Grounded. Was it in the same arena or something completely the opposite?

Travis McDaniel: I had a local service business in Florida before. So an online product business was completely new for us.

Kendra: Have you always had an entrepreneur’s spirit or did that develop with time after perhaps not being in love with working under someone else but rather for yourself?

Travis McDaniel: I have always wanted to work for myself. I went to school and got a business degree. But don’t feel like I learned a lot of practical things there. I never used my degree to get a “real” job. I started working for myself in 2007 when I got married. But also had two side jobs to help with income for the first year.

Kendra: Were there any business-minded folks you looked to for inspiration or guidance?

Travis McDaniel: Pretty much anyone who had a successful business. I’ve always been intrigued by self-employed people. Anytime I meet anyone with a business, I ask a ton of questions. You start noticing similar answers from the successful ones, and it shapes your thinking.

Kendra: You’re all about home decor that in turn inspires. Which I get. I don’t like walking into a home and not seeing what drives the person who lives there. With that, what three things have driven you this far?

Travis McDaniel: The business initially started because we made a move. We sold our other business and needed an income. So it was sort of a necessity thing, which is common for a lot of people I think. But it needs to go from the necessity to make a living, to an actual vision at some point. That happened for us about 4 or 5 months into this business. We hired our first employee and our vision for what this could be grew. We wanted a brand that had inspirational word art on a multitude of products. We are Christians and most of our products are themed that way as well. The concept of creating attractive products that also served as a reminder of something deeper and truer, that has been our main driving force.

Kendra: When did fashion come into the mix? And was that an easy thing to start incorporating into the brand?

Travis McDaniel: Right now, our brand kind of looks like a wall decor company that also sells clothing. Truthfully though, clothing was just the second addition in a much longer product line. In the next year, we are launching pillows, journals, letter ledges, and mugs. Pretty much anything that we can put our word designs on. Our motto is “words that remind. words that inspire.” so that is the direction we want to go. The physical products themselves are almost secondary. The word art and it’s message, are the main concept behind the brand.

Kendra: As we look ahead to 2020, what’s in store for Rooted and Grounded?

Travis McDaniel: We have lots of new products in store for next year. We picked up seven new employees in 2019 as well as multiple additions to our building and equipment. I would imagine we will need the same amount of productional growth in 2020 to keep up with sales, and the vision we have.

The post Rooted and Grounded: Making Homes & Lives Feel Complete appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Over the past year, I’ve encountered dozens of creatives who’ve walked away from their day job to do what they do now whether it’s fashion, art or photography. You though, you’ve kept the day job as a chemist after all these years. Do you ever think one career path will win out or do you feel like you’re going to continue to thrive and kick ass in both for years to come?

Natalie: This is an interesting question for many reasons. When I first started my business, it was mainly a creative outlet for me; I didn’t imagine it as something that would ever make money. Then as my business started to take off, it became a challenge to see how far I could grow it. I never thought of it as a profit center.

As Grammatical Art became more successful and I was starting to weigh whether or not I could do this full time, my life became more complicated with my daughter’s autism diagnosis. What that meant was a lifelong commitment to her progress and success, and most importantly: medical insurance.

I could not walk away from my corporate job for the simple fact that I could not afford the level of insurance my daughter required on my own as a business owner. Do I wish that hadn’t been the case? Perhaps, but it did end up pushing me to continue to develop both the business and my career as a chemist at the same time. This is something I do not regret in the slightest.

Running a business and having a career is a challenge to say the least, but it has taught me to be very purposeful with my time, and both experiences make me better at the other. In my day job, I look at how a large corporation manages their bottom line and processes, and I leverage what I’ve learned and apply it to my business. In managing Grammatical Art, I see how decisions I make directly impact profitability and the happiness of my staff, and I take those back to my day job. It has made me a better decision maker, a more creative problem solver, and a more effective manager of people in the process.

Kendra: Grammatical Art has been going strong on Etsy since 2012, but have you ever ventured into the craft fair circuit?

Natalie: I have done some in-person fairs and comic cons, and I absolutely love doing them. I truly enjoy interacting with my customers in person. There’s nothing better than witnessing a customer get a kick out of your work in person. Because I operate online, I miss these opportunities, and the fairs really do provide them.

Kendra: As a whole, I enjoy so many of your products because I was/am a nerd. I grew up in the honors classes and was the outcast of my family for loving school. For me, summer vacation was pure torture. Did you feel any backlash growing up as one of the smart kids?

Natalie: I don’t know that I felt any backlash per se, but I am still a bit of a weirdo who’d rather vacation seeing the world’s libraries than the beaches. Plus it’s a bit easier these days as being a nerd is kind of a cool thing to be.

Kendra: Let’s talk about the team for a second. Jess is a librarian and Kate is a copy editor with a biology background. How did you three come together? A Grammar Loving Facebook Group?

Natalie: I lucked out here! Jess and I went to college together. We went to a small liberal arts school where the science people were forced to take writing classes and the English majors had to take some science classes. Our paths crossed back then and we’ve been fortunate enough to remain friends throughout the years. When she decided to stay home with her kids, we both benefited. I got some part-time help, and she was able to keep one foot in the working world. Kate is Jess’s sister, and she stepped in when Jess took a leave after she had her second son. Even though Jess has been back, Kate helps out when we’re slammed or need her writing skills.

Kendra: What I love and appreciate most about Grammatical Art is that you and your team are all very intelligent women pushing the power and importance of education through fashion. Since I was younger, it’s gotten better but women still face some backlash in terms of science. How do you feel we as a whole can stop science and math from being a total boy’s club?

Natalie: I think this problem starts young. We need to encourage more girls to go into STEM fields and we need to preach that message early. We need to continue to support them as they explore these fields. I truly believe in the adage of, “You cannot be what you cannot see.”

As a female scientist and business owner, I work to be an example not only for my daughter, but for those around me as well. I would like to be able to talk to more classes of young girls and to host events where I can answer specific questions about what it means to manage a lab or to run your own small business. I would challenge other women in STEM to do the same. We have to lead by example and show young girls what they can be when they grow up. They don’t have to be a scientist, but they should have the example so they can see if they’re interested in the field. I think that’s something people in my position can specifically do.

Kendra: To wrap things up, let’s talk about what’s coming up for Grammatical Art as we finish up 2019 and start 2020. Are you adding new products in the new year? Lines?

Natalie: We are always creating and adding new designs and products. We like to listen to our customers in what they want and what they would like to see and give that to them. I’m really into hand lettering and calligraphy, so I’m hoping to expand more into that arena with fun, custom designs for our customers.

2019 has been a year of a lot of changes for both of my jobs. At Grammatical Art, we’re in the process of recapping the year and moving forward for 2020. One of my strengths is not being afraid to try new things and learn from them, so there’s definitely more to come.

The post Grammatical Art: Fashion with All The Right Marks appeared first on ZO Magazine.

With a passion for what she calls “pink early 2000’s,” Sarah started to think of how she could bring that to life back in 2013. Five years later she opened her first Cotton Candy Apparel store and soon realized she wasn’t alone in her love of all things pink and 2000s.

Kendra: The aesthetic of your brand is wonderful. Pulling from the ’90s and early ’00s, you give off a real Mean Girls meets Paris Hilton vibe that cannot be denied. Who were some of your fashion inspirations during that time that you call upon when creating new designs?

Sarah: Considering that I am 22, I lived at the height of Bratz, Mean Girls, My Scene, and a lot of pink plastic heels with fake fur in my childhood. I consider that time so sweet but because I was a rebel girl who felt rockstar, my biggest inspirations who I was and am very inspired by are Megan Fox, Hello Kitty, Dior, Chanel, movies like Heathers, Clueless, Bratz Rock Angelz, the latter really inspired me as a child, at the time they made their own magazine and all that.

Kendra: It’s crazy to think the year 2000 was almost 20 years ago. That year I was transitioning from boy band fanatic to an angsty emo-laced teen. But throughout the last 20 years, we’ve seen so many things come and go from Hannah Montana to iPods to saying “that’s hot.” For you, what three things will forever be relics of the first 20 years of the 2000s?

Sarah: Definitely Bratz Cloe (first edition), those Juicy Couture sweatsuit sets Paris Hilton – only as I was a child at the time, mine were Hello Kitty, and finally, those feathers lined with pink ribbon and stuffed with fur.

Kendra: On top of all the pop culture and fashion inspo, you pull from, there’s also a heavy Latina influence throughout your brand. Was that something you wanted to make sure stood out as a brand based in Mexico?

Sarah: Of course! I have always been a fan of brands in the United States or the UK, but there was still an equally cute brand but Latin to identify 100% so I made it!

Kendra: Moving forward into 2020, how are you looking to grow Cotton Candy Apparel and when are you planning on restocking the “That Bitch” tee? Because I needed one like, yesterday.

Sarah: I have many plans for Cotton, for example, to solve the mistakes that I have had now, to have more in the products, and to travel.

The post Cotton Candy Apparel: New Millennium Nostalgia appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: You’ve said you’ve been a creative person since you were little, but did that always translate into what you were doing for a living as an adult or did starting Strange Kind of Grown Up, in turn, allow you to live more like a well, strange kind of grown up with more creative freedom?

Katy Maher: My day job is working in higher education administration, which I’ve been doing for about eight years, and I originally picked that path because of the creative opportunities I saw with it. I started out working in the residence halls as my first job where I got to do a lot of event planning, designing educational materials, creating resources for students, etc. While it was fun at first, over time I realized that being creative wasn’t celebrated at all – if I spent a lot of time making handouts look clean, they probably still had over a 50% chance of ending up in the trash. And, to be frank, it wasn’t an important enough part of my job to result in any kind of benefit to me (as in, I could have made terrible flyers and been paid the same amount of money at the end of the day).

There were a lot of things that stifled creativity too – strict rules and protocols, long hours especially being on call for emergencies, and it just became something that burned me out rather than lit me up. Now I work for an academic department managing finance and HR, which I like a lot despite not being much of a creative outlet (except sometimes I’m allowed to design business cards and once I got to make programs for a graduation event). But, I can still use my design eye and problem-solving skills to be good at my job, while also reserving more of my creative energy to do my own thing after 5:00 pm.

I started a shop on Etsy (which has now become Strange Kind of Grown Up) around the time when I started my first job – partially to have an opportunity to create things, and also partially to have an outlet that was uniquely mine to create and experiment with, rather than playing by someone else’s rules all the time. It has been nice to have a space where I can make the decisions and try something new since universities aren’t exactly known for being highly flexible and creative environments.

Kendra: When one is coming up with what their brand is going to be about, they can go in so many different directions. How did you land on feminism and equality as being the basis for your overall aesthetic?

Katy Maher: Honestly, it has been a journey coming up with what I wanted my business to be about – though it has always been the same general style of drawing. I started just drawing random things that I thought were cute or funny or relevant, and I did that for years before I started incorporating any kind of equality-related message.

It wasn’t until Trump was running for president that it clicked for me that I could use drawing both as a personal outlet and a way to connect with people. My first “political” design was a simple floral that said, “resist.” I doodled around a bit but kept coming back to that design as something that represented what I wanted to do with a business – be both a little playful and a little political.

Over time my shop kind of evolved into something political because that’s what was resonating with me, and it also was attracting people to my business who I identified with, so I have been going in that direction ever since. I have the nicest and coolest people stop by my shop and send me kind messages. I’ve interacted with people who work on political campaigns, or are studying different areas of policy or law, or are buying a shirt to meet a particular political candidate, and I’m very lucky that people share their stories with me on social media and through Etsy.

Kendra: While you cater to grown ups, you also have so much apparel for kids and let’s be honest, your designs are a long way away from those “Ladies Man” tees we often see on little boys and whatever crazy ones they aim at girls. How important do you feel it is to teach kids about feminism, human rights, and so forth and so on? Because if I’m being honest I don’t think I heard the word feminist until either high school or…maybe even college.

Katy Maher: Actually, I became “Strange Kind of Grown Up” with the idea that my focus would be creating cute stationery that was also a little sarcastic or mean, and I didn’t intend to be political at first.

The name is a very obscure Friends reference – it’s from an episode where Joey can’t figure out where Monica and Chandler are moving to because they tell him the house is in escrow, so he’s looking for Escrow on a map. Mike then tells him that he’s a strange kind of grown up, which resonated with me in that you don’t have to have all of your shit together in the traditional sense to be thriving and happy.

As I became more engaged politically and actively seeking out ways to do good with my business, it naturally came out more in the drawings that I wanted to do for my shop, more so than the snarky humor (or perhaps in tandem with snarky humor) – so while I didn’t intend for my shop to be equality-focused, it’s something I care about and have become really excited about creating, so I just sort of ran with it.

I didn’t add apparel to my collection until about a year ago. A previous customer sent me a message on Facebook asking about my t-shirts and the sizing – and I said “what t-shirts?” because at the time I only did stickers and cards. She sent me a link and to my surprise, a company had photoshopped some of my sticker faces onto a t-shirt that said something about little girls with dreams becoming women with visions (I remember it distinctly because it sounded like they were saying that the girls were having hallucinations, and not like a vision for the world, which is what they meant). When I told her that it was a rip off she said, “Well I’m definitely not buying it then, and let me know when you start carrying t-shirts.”

I immediately started doing research about how to get t-shirts printed and getting samples of the different printing styles and weights – and about two weeks later I launched a t-shirt line for both adults and kids. That said, I think I’ve made “Strange kind of Grown Up” sort of a misnomer for myself – since I don’t cater to only grown ups, and I don’t think being a feminist is particularly strange. I have been thinking about a name change a lot recently but I haven’t committed yet.

I’m ultimately super happy that I got ripped off because it gave me the opportunity to sell t-shirts and they did my market research for me (there were thousands of likes on the Facebook post of their crappy photoshop job). Being able to offer my artwork on something specifically meant for kids means so much to me and has really shaped my brand even further into being equality and education focused, because I now know that I’m reaching a lot of kids and families and have the opportunity to spread a message in an approachable and cute way, and create meaningful alternatives to those “Ladies Man” and other weirdly gender-stereotyped shirts you mentioned.

Not to mention, kids are way more aware of the world than I was at that age (and like you said, probably even more than college-aged me). One mom sent me a message saying that her son is the self-proclaimed President of the Elizabeth Warren fan club at his elementary school, so she was buying him my Plans t-shirt, and another bought matching Supremes shirts for her four kids for their holiday card. In some ways, I think it is less about educating as I had originally thought, and more about providing opportunities to celebrate and affirm things that kids and adults are already.

Kendra: With us being in the midst of an election year, do you feel increased pressure to come up with designs?

Katy Maher: I do feel some pressure to come up with more and more designs as the election approaches but fortunately I also feel very inspired by the amount of political activism and the platforms of the Democratic candidates who are running. It’s kind of equal parts obligation of making election-themed things because of the basis of my shop, and excitement about the opportunity to create more things that resonate with people because there’s a lot to talk about right now.

Kendra: What people may not know right away is that Strange Kind of Grown Up is very charitable. You donate to various causes but have been donating part of your proceeds to ACLU since the start. Is that something that you wanted to do even before you began this venture? Give back, especially to ACLU?

Katy Maher: Even before my focus was on drawing feminist and equality-related designs, I was donating a portion of proceeds to the ACLU. I didn’t advertise this at first, but especially now that the designs that I make are equality-focused I think it’s important that I also make a monetary contribution on top of raising awareness. I think it is something that customers appreciate too, knowing that they are not only supporting social change internally but also tangibly at the same time.

I send everyone a message following their purchase to let them know about the financial support they are providing and get lots of appreciative responses. One of my favorites ever reviews said something like, “I’m glad that a portion is going to the ACLU because otherwise, I would just be contributing meaninglessly to capitalism.” I also donate to a variety of other organizations and try to cycle through depending on time of year as well as what is most pressing in the world at the time, and eventually I’d like to create a rotating monthly or bi-monthly schedule of organizations that we are supporting so that I can also take the time to highlight the good that those organizations are doing and create some awareness in my audience, since I also see it as an opportunity to introduce people who have purchased from me to other groups that do good in the world.

Kendra: Stepping away from the business for a second (kind of), let’s talk about Maggie your feline assistant. If she were to design your next product, what do you think she’d come up with?

Katy Maher: First of all please always ask me about my cat, forever. And actually, she doesn’t know this yet but she’s about to be the recipient of my first sample of a pet t-shirt with one of my holiday designs on it – and if I like it hopefully I’ll be able to offer pet shirts in the coming weeks.

But she definitely wouldn’t be designing any pet apparel since she, like most cats, hates to be dressed – she does it to appease me on special occasions because she is very generous. She’ll always pose for a holiday photo, and she was just Bob Ross for Halloween. She didn’t mind the button down but she really didn’t like the beard.

She does like to do exactly what I’m doing, so perhaps she would introduce a pet bowl that matches whatever mug I’m using so that we could enjoy a beverage together. I think she’s definitely an Elizabeth Warren supporter (a democrat, even) so she’d come up with something in that realm as well. She’s a little mean too so I think her aesthetic would be a little less playful and a little more punchy.

Kendra: As the year goes on and we head into 2020, what can we expect from Strange Kind of Grown Up?

Katy Maher: Honestly it’s tough to tell – I never expected to be in the apparel business in 2019, so I’m excited to see what possibilities arise in 2020. And as the election season evolves, that will have a big impact on my focus. One idea I’ve been working on is creating a line of fabrics with political figures as well as other diverse characters (sort of like my diverse mermaids design) to support other makers who create clothing, bows, and other items, especially for kids, and may have a hard time finding cute patterns that are also representative. So that’s something I’m looking forward to in 2020, as well as seeing what other ideas come across my plate.

The post Strange Kind of Grown Up: Invigorating Looks appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: The art of crochet boggles my mind. Perhaps the coordination one needs with the needles? Nevertheless, is this a skill you picked up as a child?

Erin Hansen: Oddly enough, I did not. Both of my grandma’s crocheted, but for some reason, I never learned! I taught myself about eight years ago after becoming a stay at home mom. I read a lot online and watched many Youtube videos.

Kendra: You’ve been on Etsy since 2011. Is that when Simply Made By Erin all began or was that just when you embarked on the online world?

Erin Hansen: I jumped online almost as soon as I started crocheting. I didn’t think it would go anywhere, but to my surprise, a few months later, while on vacation, I heard the Etsy cha-ching (meaning I had an order) come through on my phone, and then another one, and another. It pretty much took off after that. My original Newsboy hat design is what brought in my first rush of sales, and it’s still my most requested item today.

Kendra: What were you doing before all this? Were you holding down a 9-5 you grew tired of?

Erin Hansen: I was, I worked at my families company processing the payroll and benefits and was in banking before that. My husband had a great job opportunity which took us away from our family in Arizona all the way across the country to Connecticut. I had a three-year-old son at the time that I wanted to stay home with, so I decided not to go back to work after the move. We are now back in Arizona and loving it! I’m still working from home, but my son is now 11 and in school full time.

Kendra: This time of year must be your busiest. Do you spend the warmer months creating and then the fall/winter fulfilling orders?

Erin Hansen: It’s so busy! I do a lot of pattern designing in the warmer months, and then it’s down to the grind in the winter months, making all the things! My items are typically made to order, but I do stock up for a local boutique I’m a vendor at called The Farmhouse in Kingman, AZ. They offer a winter market that I’ve been working on building stock for.

Kendra: As time goes on, will you look into adding crochet clothing like sweaters?

Erin Hansen: It’s always been a dream of mine to start making garments. I’d love to, but unfortunately, they are very time-consuming. I try to keep the items I sell down to an hour or less of labor, otherwise, it’s a bit hard for me to fit them into my schedule. I do occasionally write more time-consuming designs that I sell as a crochet pattern only and not the finished item.

Kendra: Alongside the wonderful headwear you have available, you also have a lot of home decor. How do you pick and choose what type of home decor items you’ll take on and add to your store?

Erin Hansen: The first item I ever crocheted was a basket, but hats were big sellers back when I started, so I switched gears a bit. Years later I needed something to occupy my slower months, so I went back to baskets. They sold well, so I’ve slowly added new designs such as planters and hanging baskets. I typically make what I like to use in my home. I’m all about the modern farmhouse style right now!

Kendra: As we say goodbye to 2019 and hello to 2020, what can people expect from Simply Made By Erin?

Erin Hansen: Wow, what an exciting year this has been, full of some great successes!! Next year (around March) you can expect to see me featured on The Make and Do Crew Blog with an exciting new crochet design! I have some really cute planters coming up for Valentine’s Day, and I always try to come up with a few new hat designs for winter. I have nothing set in stone yet, but once the busy season starts to die down, my mind will start to open up to new ideas.

The post Simply Made By Erin: Crocheting New Possibilities appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: It’s not uncommon for us to find a new path years after another career but your story started way off from jewelry and creativity as a Navigation Officer. Do you ever find that there are parallels between the two, or perhaps ways you pull from the past in terms of workmanship, work ethic, etc.?

Sacha Pilgrim: I have always had a love of art and creativity. I feel that desire is part of my being- both my parents are artistic in their own way. My career choices have been unique and non-traditional, especially for a woman. There are not many women in the maritime industry and I feel that pushed me even harder to succeed. My jewelry creation parallels my career as a marine officer in the sense that you truly have to work hard to reach your goals. Having a handmade business is a real challenge- and I love challenges

Kendra: What initially drew you towards jewelry?

Sacha Pilgrim: Oddly enough, it kind of happened by accident. I had been trying to find a way to express myself creatively. At the time I was working a stressful job as a manager at an airport and I needed an outlet, a way to distress at the end of the day. I was researching the costs and portability of getting a kiln (which isn’t practical when living in an apartment) and I discovered polymer clay. I then decided to make my family and friends jewelry for Christmas. They loved their jewelry! But the best part was that I fell in love with designing and making jewelry; from there Sassy Sacha Jewelry was born.

Kendra: As a Navigation Officer, you got to travel and you’ve noted your pieces are often inspired by the world you’ve gotten to take in. What place would you say has been the most influential to your design aesthetic?

Sacha Pilgrim: That’s a tough one! Honestly, I have so much love for the diversity of the world and its people. I feel it is a combination of people, places, sights, and sounds that inspire my pieces. For example, my earth tone fall pieces are inspired by the beauty of the leaves changing colors along the Cape Trail in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. My colorful house pieces are inspired by Jelly Bean Row in St. John’s, Newfoundland and a cute neighborhood called La Boca in Buenos Aires, Argentina. My more abstract vibrant pieces are a mix of my creative energy and feelings and memories I have of traveling.

Kendra: We must mention that everything is handcrafted. Do you feel that gives every piece a unique stamp?

Sacha Pilgrim: ​Each piece is completely handmade and therefore unique in itself. I can recreate most of my pieces but there may be slight differences due to the nature of them being handmade. My process starts with molding and shaping the clay and then adding designs or textures. After baking, it’s the fun part. I use vibrant alcohol inks to bring my pieces to life.

Kendra: Growing up I was obsessed with What Not to Wear and I remember they’d often say how a pair of statement earrings or a necklace could elevate an ensemble. How does it feel making pieces that will eventually go on to take a customer’s outfit to the next level? Like the sort of icing on the cake.

Sacha Pilgrim: My goal is to add that pop of color and statement to every woman’s wardrobe. When I receive a positive review or message from my customers- it makes my day.

Kendra: As we head into 2020, what are your plans as far as the business is concerned? Adding new pieces? Lines?

Sacha Pilgrim: Grow, grow, grow! I would love to elevate my business to the point where I don’t have to work a 9-5 to pay the bills. I am constantly adding new pieces and I am hoping to expand my exposure by selling in more stores and at more shows.

The post Sassy Sacha Jewelry: Waves of Creativity appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: When it comes to fandoms, Alison-Wunderland has you covered! Is it safe to assume that perhaps a certain Lewis Carroll story was your first fandom? If not, what was?

Dawn: Alice in Wonderland was one of my all-time favs. When my daughter was little, I played it for her on repeat a few times a night before bedtime. I also felt connected to the character in an odd unexplainable way.

Kendra: You’ve been on Etsy for a handful of years now. Was that when you started Alison-Wunderland, back in 2014?

Dawn: I opened up my online shop in 2014 on Etsy, but have been selling online for many years before that, selling a mixture of oddities, from jewelry and accessories to clothing and supplies for the DIYers. Now I try to focus more on fandom based items that I relate to and/or love.

Kendra: What were you doing before this family business took off?

Dawn: Before Alison-Wunderland, I was in the corporate world as a strategic account coordinator. But I always had a side hustle. Being a single mom it was necessary to have a supplementary income. In 2010, I took the leap and left my 9-5 to pursue online sales full-time. This enabled me to focus on what I loved most, being there for my daughter and pursuing my passion…and I haven’t looked back

Kendra: Me and my mom get along but I don’t think we could ever partner up like you two have. Are there ever moments when the dynamic shifts from partners to mom and daughter?

Dawn: LOL, all the time! Sometimes I feel like the mom, haha. My mom is my best friend, Literally! Working together is nothing new. Before Alison-Wunderland, we also worked in the same corporate job (our cubicles were next to each other) AND quit on the same day. Yes I know, crazy!

Fast forward to almost a decade later, we are hanging on. It’s a little tougher now with all the overnight pop up shops and big retailers, but we try to stay in the game by offering one of a kind designs and products.

Kendra: Nevertheless, it’s a whole girl power movement and I love it. It’s a lot like the products you have. A lot of Golden Girls and Hocus Pocus. Two very female-heavy fandoms. Do you feel like the power of those two fandoms showcases more of a love and appreciation for female bonds, a love of nostalgia, or a little bit of both?

Dawn: I think it is a combination of the two. I love all the old shows and movies and like I’ve mentioned, my bond with my mom is unbreakable, and I’ve been lucky enough to share the same bond with my daughter (who is now 24). We are a trio of strong, independent women. So I think without even realizing it, those are the designs I tend to lean more towards.

Kendra: What are some future fandoms you have ideas for that we may see sooner than later on Alison Wunderland?

Dawn: I’d like to focus on adding more ‘80s and ‘90s themed products. I love the ‘80s aesthetic, so thinking more ‘80s patterns, colors, TV and song references, etc. But I’m always open to new suggestions too!

The post Alison-Wunderland: A Family Fandom Affair appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: Kids have a myriad of interests, but what did your family think when you pursued learning to sew and then actually excelled at it?

Daisy Viktoria: My mom taught me to sew when I was little! I was always encouraged to continue to learn and experiment with sewing, and my family loved to show off my work. They still do! I recently created a historical gown for one of my cousins in Sweden.

Kendra: When it came time to grow up and head off to college, you took a route that those who know you for fashion would not have expected. You went on to earn an MS in Chemical Engineering and I won’t pretend I know exactly what that is. I just know it takes someone with quite the brain to do. While that’s the degree you have now, was there ever a moment when you were in high school that you thought you’d head off to study fashion in Paris or stateside at somewhere like FIDM?

Daisy Viktoria: Math and science have always come very naturally to me. It’s probably why pattern drafting is a natural skill! I started altering and then drafting patterns as early as elementary school. Making clothing and costumes was never part of my school curriculum but something I just did. A part of me! While I did intend to study theatre at one point and considered going to fashion school, I knew I had the experience to prove my skills in costume design and clothing construction, even without school.

I love math and science, and if I wanted the option to work in engineering, I knew I would need a degree for that. I graduated with the highest honors and then earned a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. With that education, I gained a level of problem-solving and critical thinking that makes me unique in my current field and allows me to look at challenges from a logical perspective.

Jessie Lou Floyed

Kendra: Are there any parallels between your science background and your current state doing fashion design?

Daisy Viktoria: Fashion design is, in essence, a type of sculpture, or building. Anytime you are creating structures, there is an engineering component in the stability and combination of materials. So much of sewing (pattern drafting, pattern sizing, fitting) is based on math. Being able to visualize in 3 dimensions helped me in calculus, just as it helps me to plan and execute a clothing design. I can see a structure in my head and break it down into its components. From there, a lot of the technical process starts with math! This is the other part of fashion design, the counterpart to the artistic inspiration. The ability to learn and execute the technical side is such an important underlying skillset.

The other part of this is business. In order to run a business, you need to have the ability to analyze and adjust. You must be open to new ideas and have the drive and motivation to research and find them. The demands of a science-based education prepared me to move forward, regardless of the level of challenge. Critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to find and synthesize new solutions are important skills for business owners, and these were highly emphasized in science. I know there is nothing I cannot figure out if I choose to drive myself toward the solution.

Kendra: Designing and executing many corsets over the years, you’ve become synonymous with your corsetry but it always seems like that piece of fashion is set aside as either for costume or lingerie when once upon a time women wore them as everyday wear. Why do you think corsets have become more niche than they once were?

Daisy Viktoria: Corsets retain a timeless beauty which reminds us of a romantic age. Corsets allow us to have an element of fantasy and whimsy in our lives. Corsets themselves evolved quite a lot over the years, in name and silhouette, in construction and materials, even by culture and region.

What we typically think of as a corset now is derived from the Victorian era. This silhouette has become idealized for so many of us who seek to feel that timeless beauty, a fairytale elegance, and even a strong feminine power. As undergarments have continued to evolve to support current fashion silhouettes, corsets have become an extra special piece that can bring so much joy to the wearer.

With the evolution of fast fashion, we now have garments that are inspired by corsets, in addition to traditionally constructed, high-end corsets which are truly a worthy experience. A properly fitted and well-structured corset is a comfortable and beautiful piece that can make us feel so beautiful.

@mashamodels

Kendra: Being that you design everything from costumes to fantastical bridal wear, where are you picking up little hints of inspiration? Do you take notes at conventions, read bridal magazines to see how to elevate basic gowns to your couture-level?

Daisy Viktoria: Inspiration is everywhere! I feel most connected to myself and my inner guidance when I take time to reflect in nature. The shapes, the energies, the ways the forces of nature interact with one another, all hold such a natural inspiration for me. I love various art forms and often feel inspired by the feelings and energies surrounding other types of art. I love going to museums and being among paintings, sculptures, and other artworks created so long ago by such creative individuals. I love performance art and channel the evoked feelings into my artistic inspiration. I have a lifelong immersion in historical reenactment, fairy and fantasy art, costumed festivals, and this is such a natural part of where I draw inspiration.

Kendra: As a designer, what are some of your goals as you continue to grow with time?

Daisy Viktoria: I am very excited to continue moving forward with fantasy couture designs! I am always challenging myself to be creative, and that means taking time for personal development and self-care so that my mind has the clarity to synthesize new ideas. I want to always be learning and growing, always finding new ideas and new things to try. There is a balance with running a business, and a personal goal is to hold on to my artistic spirit in the world of business. I hope to give myself the tools to always find my joy in designing and creating, no matter what the piece turns out to be.

Kendra: What do you have coming up as we get ready to leave 2019 behind and enter 2020?

Daisy Viktoria: So many exciting ideas! This year, I began a series of PDF tutorials. Through both historical reenactment and cosplay, I have taught so many skills to others and have had requests for lessons that I am finally able to provide through tutorials. I will be continuing that series through PDF format, exclusive Patreon content, and YouTube videos. I will be sharing more of my behind the scenes work, both construction and photoshoots, on Patreon and YouTube as well. And what it all stems from, creating beautiful fantasy pieces – I am challenging myself to stay true to my inner being and to grow as an artist this year. I have already cut back on smaller commissions so that I can provide myself with the resources to create larger projects. Using some of that time to document and create educational content is very enriching for me, and I hope to enrich many more lives with my creations.

Abigail Robertson with Makeup by Caitlin Yoes

The post Daisy Viktoria: Engineering, but Make it Fashion appeared first on ZO Magazine.

Kendra: I’ve talked to a lot of people who are a few years into their own business but you just started this year. That’s exciting! Are you learning something new every day?

Krystal: Just starting my business this year has been exciting! I find that I am constantly seeking out new information to learn and absorb so I can better my chances of being a contender in a very saturated e-commerce market. Whether I am commuting, working out at the gym, or I’m home crafting, I am almost always watching Etsy business coaches on YouTube, tuning into webinars, or googling things like “ways to improve SEO.”

Kendra: You’ve mentioned that you were tired of the fear of failure holding you back. As someone who has been in the boat more often than not, what finally pushed out to paddle towards your goals instead of just waiting for the wind?

Krystal: I realized my life was filled with these huge, repetitious waves that kept crashing down on my husband and me (job loss, financial instability, the challenges of parenting, coping with depression and anxiety, being in a car accident, moving states, and so on).

“Smooth sailing” was just a term and nothing more. The timing was never going to be “right.” I just needed to take the plunge. I had begun forming Love Always Design Co. at the beginning of this year and I just knew this was it. Sink or swim, kid.

I’ve always been a creative and knew that I would never be fulfilled working a typical office type job, which up until this past August is what I did. I managed an office for a local landscape company. I needed to be all in and not just hope that my hobby would magically turn into a career.

Kendra: Another thing we have in common is dealing with depression and anxiety. Was bracelet making something you found helped you cope on the bad days?

Krystal: Crafting and things that challenged me to think creatively have been a great way to cope with depression and anxiety. I needed to keep busy to stay distracted from my thoughts. Through the years I’ve picked up journaling, photography, drumming, baking, making head chains, painting, designing vinyl decals, creating gift boxes, custom vinyl shirts, keychains, and bracelets. Bracelet making wasn’t the original intention for LADC, but it became one of the things I enjoyed doing most that also felt like a viable business option.

Kendra: In the past, you’ve dipped your toes into starting something on your own. Was it always jewelry based? What drew you towards bracelets and keychains?

Krystal: My first business venture was in photography. I thought that was my calling and so my friends who already had a photography business helped me get started. I quickly realized it was hard to book shoots with strangers when I was already working full time and had a newborn, so that fizzled out.

I became known for my baking, particularly my fudge, back in Colorado and was convinced by others to turn that into a business. I made it through one holiday season before the pressure of fulfilling orders while working two jobs got the best of me. Then there was my vinyl business. I loved the freedom of creativity but didn’t particularly love doing custom orders which was most of the work I was asked to do.

I’m not even sure how I landed on keychains and bracelets. I think my mom and I went to the store one day to get some bead cord so she could fix a broken bracelet. The store was having a sale on jewelry supplies, so my mom and I loaded up on materials. I loved it! I could sit down at the table and lose track of the time and my thoughts while I created these beautiful things.

Kendra: Are you only on Etsy right now or have you tapped into the local farmer’s market and craft fair scenes?

Krystal: Currently, I am only selling through Etsy and marketing/branding through Instagram, Facebook, and my website. I have started visiting local craft fairs and boutiques to take note of how other handmade businesses do their setups. I plan to start getting into doing pop-ups and would like to see my products in brick and mortar boutiques next year.

Kendra: Will you start expanding to other forms of jewelry like necklaces, rings, and earrings as we head into 2020?

Krystal: As we head into 2020, I plan to take my product lines down a few different avenues. I’d like to do a collection of head chains, a collection of gift boxes, and a collection of hair accessories for boys/men with long hair. My five-year-old has hair down to his lower back and I find it insane that seldom do you come across hair ties and headbands that are marketed as gender-neutral or for males.

The post Love Always Design Co.: Never Too Late to Dream appeared first on ZO Magazine.