March 29, 2010
Good morning my darlings! Hope your Monday is off to a bright start. Please allow me to introduce our latest Plucky Pioneers, Rand Niederhoffer and Camilla Gale of Brooklyn boutique Thistle & Clover. The second I laid eyes on the T & C website I was smitten with the ladies’ sophisticated aesthetic. Since its opening in March 2008 in the Fort Greene neighborhood, the shop has become a major destination for up-and-coming designers and has won praise from the likes of Lucky Magazine and Daily Candy. Camilla and Rand have also launched their own Thistle & Clove jewelry collection (I have a slight obsession with their clover necklace—perfectly dainty!) and regularly hold trunk shows. Did I mention they serve treats to their Sunday customers? Furthermore, the two met while at university in Scotland (I met my Plucky partner Jane Lilly Warren at university in Switzerland) and described one another as “kindred spirits.” Clearly our type of girls! Below, the oh-so-darling Camilla and Rand…
Five words used to describe yourself.
CAMILLA: Driven, Outgoing, Loyal, Engaged (as in interested, not marriage wise although I am married!), Foodie
RAND: Fun loving, Adventurous, Hard working, Compassionate,
What inspires you creatively?
CAMILLA: Travel
RAND: I’m inspired by everything from fashion editorials, to art exhibitions, to girls walking down my block in Park Slope. When I’m at work, I draw on an (overly) large cache of websites and blogs to help me flush out trends that I’m interested in for the store.
Who were/are your design mentors?
CAMILLA: Not mentors per se, but these are the people who have helped inform my personal design aesthetic: Christian Liagre, Hans Wegner, Imogen Cunningham, Elle Decor and my mother!
RAND: My first internship out of college was working in the fashion features department at Harper’s Bazaar. The women there in particular Kristina O’Neil & Jenny Levin were these amazing, smart, industrious women who taught me a ton about the industry.
How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?
CAMILLA: Clean, light, airy, comfortable, minimal without being severe.
RAND: I’m a total romantic at heart. I love pretty liberty prints and abstract florals. So I always try to balance out my look with some menswear inspired pieces and/or detailing. Midwaist belts and oversize cardigans are a current favorite. I recently bought a great pair of brown leather APC boots that I just can’t get enough of.
What propelled you to found your own company?
CAMILLA: Having a wonderful partner to work with. And the limitless possibilities that lay in store!
RAND: Definitely the biggest problem I had before I opened T & C was that I could never whittle down all my disparate interests. The best part of owning your own business is that you get to have your hands in all aspects of the company. Camilla and I are completely involved in every single thing that happens at T & C. We choose the clothing, we co-author our store’s daily blog, we manage our business account, photograph and style the clothing for our online store and interact with the customers when they come into T & C. It’s extremely rewarding!
Most glamourous part of owning your own company?
CAMILLA: The fashion, the customers, the designers, the quality of life.
RAND: Getting to go to lots of fun fashion parties and rub shoulders with men and women in the industry that you really respect.
Least glamourous part of owning your own company?
CAMILLA: If anything goes wrong it’s always your own fault!
RAND: Working 7 day weeks lots of times. Oh, and swabbing our deck painted wood floors- for sure!
Best business advice you’ve been given?
CAMILLA: Create a business plan, always pay your vendors on time, and have fun.
RAND: Just go for it!
Creative businesswoman you admire?
CAMILLA: Adelaide Lancaster of In Good Company, Jenna Lyons of JCrew, Grace Coddington because she’s so amazing.
RAND: My older sister Galt. She dropped out of Harvard to set up her own film production company when she was just 22. She went on to win the audience award at Sundance that year. In a lot of ways, she sort of paved the way for me and showed me that it was possible to shape your own working life.
What keeps your organized and on task?
CAMILLA: The knowledge that if we don’t do it, it will actually never get done (we don’t have any other employees), plus the “stickies” program on our mac–i love love love lists!
RAND: Ha! My fabulous B.partner and bff Camilla! Also a Google Cal and my Smythson notebook, which I use to jot down all my on-going T & C projects.
Moment you knew you’d “made it”?
CAMILLA: Telling someone that I owned T&C and then being told in return that they knew and loved my store!
RAND: At T & C, we’re always trying to make our store better. We’re constantly building and expanding our platforms to reach out to new designers and bring in exciting talent to the store. That said, our opening party 2 years ago was an insanely gratifying moment. It was the culmination of about 7 months of prep work. We threw it in our store, which we had just finished renovating. Camilla and I wore matching Lorick dresses and we were surrounded by are close friends and family. We even convinced The Hideout to make Thistle & Clover cocktails for us!
Describe your typical work day…
CAMILLA: Get to work at 12, greet customers, check in inventory, peruse google reader for fabulous new brands and indie designers, greet customers, check off items on my to do list, greet customers, close store at 8pm.
RAND: It completely varies. Right now we’re working on our two year anniversary party & launch of our Thistle & Clover Diaries second issue. So we’re doing a lot of work in Illustrator and editing text from our designers. Not to mention securing alcohol, food and party treats for our attendees!
Your dream project?
CAMILLA: T&C Paris!
RAND: Camilla and I have actually already embarked on one of my big ones! We’ve just started producing our own jewelry line at the store. It’s a small collection of 14k rose gold and yellow gold charms and earrings. One of our designer’s Max Steiner of the ever-popular origami Peace Cranes has been helping us realize this dream!
What goals do you have for your business in the future?
CAMILLA: To expand the T&C client base with more online shopping capabilities (right now we just have select pieces on our covet list).
RAND: I’d like to expand our Thistle & Clover Tailored Event Night programs. Since we opened, we’ve been holding cocktail party/ meet and greets/ trunk shows for our designers and Fort Greene customer base. It’s a really fun way for our shoppers to interact with some of their favorite T & C designers. I’d definitely like to add in an actual structured Q and A component into the mix so there’s a more definitive way for them to share some of their industry experiences.
Advice to other budding creative entrepreneurs?
CAMILLA: Just take the risk.
RAND: Find a business partner who you love to work with and who compliments your own style. Starting your own business can be both incredibly rewarding and incredibly trying all at once. It makes the whole thing much sweeter when you have someone to share the experiences with.
Be sure to check in tomorrow to see the Thistle & Clover Cheat Sheet—Camilla and Rand’s top picks for film, travel and more! Thank you ladies!!!
(images courtesy of Thistle & Clover and Cherry Patter)
March 23, 2010
Thank you for creating this fantastic cheat sheet Jane—you outdid yourself yet again! Thank you as well to the lovely Dabney Lee for being this week’s Plucky Pioneer. Be sure to check out both her stationery and home accessories. Both make me weak in the knees! Oh and I love that Dabney has a signature bloom and color (fuchsia peonies)…I need one! Until later… XO Katie
March 22, 2010
Morning lovelies! I’ve gushed about this California girl before and am absolutely ecstatic to share her with you today, that’s right, today’s Plucky Pioneer is Dabney Lee! The owner of her own eponymous home accessories and stationery companies Dabney Lee is the queen of preppy chic. The girl literally does wedding invites, personalized ice buckets and everything in between! I absolutely adore her home accessories products (just look at those monogrammed lucite trays—swoon!) and am certain you will too. I also can’t help but mention that Dabney just recently gave birth to triplets named Poppy Jane, Bennett Stewart and Elsie Clementine! Can you even imagine??? Judging by their mama’s style, they’re sure to be the cutest trio in New York! Below, the darling Dabney Lee in her studio.
Five words to describe yourself.
planner, new mother, energetic, dreamer, thankful
What inspires you creatively?
i love tearing out pages and pages of inspiration from fashion and decorating magazines. i plop down on my sofa and get lost in the pages for hours. i live in new york so inspiration is all around, from manhole covers to artwork on the sidewalk. it’s hard not to be inspired in this city!
Who are your design mentors?
i’d have to say my grandmother. she has always been classic americana from the way she dresses to the way she decorates. she taught me less is more and to always go with what you are drawn to, and for that i simply adore her.
How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?
in our studio we are all about clean lines and bright colors. we have a bright green statement wall and it’s my favorite thing in the studio. at home i am more beachy, comfy, classic. i hate clutter and try to keep things tidy and neat. with our triplets coming home soon, i am not sure how long that will last!
What propelled you to found your own company?
i have always loved paper and i started a fun little side business when we were living in atlanta. then when my then boyfriend (now hubby) proposed and said let’s move to new york. i said to him, if i do that i don’t want to work and i want to try my hand at this stationery thing. that was in 2004 and we did our 1st trade show in may of 2005 and haven’t stopped since. i love the freedom my business gives me to be creative and spend time with my family. what more could you ask for?
Most glamorous part of owning your own company?
being able to do what i love for a living. it seriously can’t get any better.
Least glamorous?
accounting + billing. i absolutely despise it. being a small business owner, you have to do most of that stuff yourself in the beginning and it’s just awful, especially for us creative types. most people would say the long hours, but i really don’t mind them. i get so much more accomplished in the wee hours of the morning and have been know to pull all nighters.
Best business advice you’ve been given?
one of my best friends, who also has her own fabulous business, once told me “don’t take it personally”. we pour our heart, soul, blood sweat and tears into our companies and if someone isn’t happy it’s hard not to take it personally. once i realize that i “can’t take it personally”, i am able to remove myself and really focus on improving our business and turn a negative into a positive.
Creative business women you admire?
lauren rauter, rock paper scissors (my bff). she is always inspiring me to challenge myself, to be better and think outside of the box!
jenna lyons, creative director at j.crew. she has turned j.crew into a style mecca! don’t get me wrong, i have always LOVED j.crew for it’s classic americana style, but she has given it a chic new spin on their classic style. i can’t get enough!
What keeps you organized and on task?
lists, lists and more lists. we have a fabulous super notepad that we sell and we go through a ton in our studio. we are also implementing a new internal system that should help us be organized and then some.
Moment you knew you’d “made it”?
i never really feel like i’ve “made it” personally. i know we’ve had some HUGE moments and for those i am incredibly thankful. i think having a staff that enjoys working, a family that is super supportive and customers that rave makes me feel like we’ve “made it” as a company, like we’re doing something right.
Describe your typical work day.
grab an iced tea on the way to work (unless i make it at home), check in with everyone at the studio, gossip session, check and answer emails, invoice {blah}, lunch, phone calls, design, go home.
What is your dream project?
a collaboration with j.crew or tory burch.
What goals do you have for your business in the future?
establishing + maintaining great relationships that will help us to get to the next level to do things we really love and can get behind. i would also LOVE to get even more organized if that is possible.
Advice to other budding creative entrepreneurs?
do what you love and hire a bookkeeper asap!
Be sure to check in tomorrow to see Dabney Lee’s Plucky Pioneer Cheat Sheet — her top picks for fashion, film and more! Thank you Dabney Lee!
March 16, 2010
Thank you to the lovely, inspirational Sarah Waldo Jagger for being this week’s Plucky Pioneer and to the talented Jane Lilly Warren for yet another beautiful cheat sheet! I seriously can’t get enough of that white tee/vintage jewels/converse combo! Lots more to come this afternoon… XO Katie
March 15, 2010
Hello my darlings! I found today’s Plucky Pioneer, Sarah Waldo Jagger of Sarah Waldo Organics, via her brilliant blog, Going Starfishing. One glance at Sarah’s Jackie-Kennedy-Moroccan-pouf-wedding-dress header and I was sold. I eventually drifted to her company’s website and my admiration soared to even higher heights. A graduate of the highly esteemed Parsons School of Design, Sarah creates the most darling, socially-responsible and environmentally-friendly children’s clothing you ever did see. All the pieces are made of organic and natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and silk and are colored with low-impact or plant-based dyes. The pieces are also all made here in the United States by people who are not only paid a livable wage, but also receive full benefits…truly admirable! As for Sarah, the Cape Cod native previously worked in the children’s wear design department at Polo Ralph Lauren and was the first ever children’s wear designer to be nominated for the Parsons Designer of the Year Award. A quick tour of her blog and you’ll also learn she’s stunningly gorgeous and funny to boot! Without further ado, Sarah Waldo…
Five words used to describe yourself.
Passionate, generous, resourceful, committed and thankful.
What inspires you creatively?
Children! I love their energy, innocence and joy.
How would you describe your personal design aesthetic?
It’s preppy, classic, and beachy. They’re fun, easy clothes kids feel great wearing that parents feel great about buying. [Below, Sarah at her wedding with her flower girls---she made their adorable dresses and boleros!)]
What propelled you to found your own company?
I was working in the industry during school for companies I’d dreamed of working for. However, I quickly found myself really uninspired working in the corporate world. I didn’t want to work in a place that required me to compromise my social and environmental beliefs. Also, the thought of not being able to spend my summers on the Cape was pretty depressing!
Most glamourous part of owning your own company?
I can wear my slippers to work.
Least glamourous part of owning your own company?
I wear my slippers to work!
Best business advice you’ve been given?
Don’t wait! it’s never going to be the “right” time or get any easier, so just jump right in!
Creative businesswoman you admire?
Stella McCartney has set the bar so high for responsibility without compromising design.
Generally, I admire all the creative business women who can balance motherhood and with work and model doing what they love for their children.
Moment you knew you’d “made it”?
When Violet Affleck was spotted wearing one of our pieces!
Describe your typical work day…
In the life of a small business owner, there is no typical day. I always seem to have a million things to do, but it always seems to start the same way: I get up early with my husband (who is a high school teacher) and pack his lunch while he makes us oatmeal. Once he leaves, I throw our pup a ball for a bit before settling in with my tea and google reader. [Below, Sarah and her new puppy...awwww]
Your dream project?
Innuagration day outfits for Sasha and Malia Obama.
What goals do you have for your business in the future?
Growth! Both here in the U.S. and expansion into Europe, while eventually adding boys clothing and layette. Getting to the point where I was getting a paycheck would be really nice.
Also, starting little shop would be such a blast–perhaps something seasonal like John Derian’s Provincetown shop that he runs out of his house in the summer. [Below, Sarah and her handsome hubby on their wedding day.]
Advice to other budding creative entrepreneurs?
Make sure you really LOVE what you go set out to do. It’s not easy or glamorous to grow a business from the ground up–you won’t sleep much, you may be working other jobs to pay the bills. But, if you believe in what you’re doing it’s all worth it. You don’t want to be burnt out on your dream by the time you get there!
Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see Sarah’s Plucky Pioneer Cheat Sheet — her top picks for travel, fashion, art and more! Thank you Sarah!!!
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