Local Gem: ATX Street Style
Today, we're featuring the lovely Shelley Neuman. You might know her as ATX Street Style. We've been following this babe around for a few years now, but never really had the chance to reach out and connect. Now, she's a huge supporter of #bossbabesATX. (Crazy how this whole meets and retreats thing ACTUALLY works, right?)
Photo via Shelley Neuman, Text by Ashlee J. Pryor
Today, we're featuring the lovely Shelley Neuman. You might know her as ATX Street Style.
We've been following this babe around for a few years now, but never really had the chance to reach out and connect. Now, she's a huge supporter of #bossbabesATX. (Crazy how this whole meets and retreats thing ACTUALLY works, right?)
Get to know Shelley:
Q: What inspired you to start ATX Street Style?
A: After I graduated from UT with a photojournalism degree, I started feeling a little creatively stifled and lost as to the direction I wanted my life to take. I had stopped taking photos, and decided I needed to start a new project to get myself back into the groove I was in while in school. I was obsessively looking at street style blogs, like The Sartorialist and Tokyo Fashion, and began to wonder if anyone in Austin was documenting street style in our quirky little city. To my surprise, no one was. A few people had started similar blogs, but had given them up. I had/have a passion for documenting the world around me and a budding interest in fashion, so I decided to give it a go. At its inception, I had no idea the doors that starting ATX Street Style would open for me.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?
A: Never ever let doubt in your own abilities stop you, but before you start anything, do your research. Google until your fingers hurt, read until your eyes bleed, and absorb as much as you can about every aspect of what you want to do. Most importantly, don't be afraid to ask questions. It's amazing what you can learn from setting up a coffee date with someone whose work you admire.
Photo via ATX Street Style
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: I stay inspired by binging on beautiful things. I'm constantly scrolling through images that inspire me on Tumblr or stalking what my friends are listening to on Spotify to find new music that resonates with me. Introducing my eyes and ears to new things keeps the creativity flowing.
Perhaps my biggest inspiration though is the people I photograph. My personal style and what inspires my everyday looks evolves with each new brand, new store, or new way of wearing a garment I'm introduced to through those I capture with my camera.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: When I first got the idea to start my blog, I never expected it to receive much attention or lead to the opportunities it has. It mostly started as a way to get myself back to taking photos again. I've met and gotten to collaborate with tons of amazingly talented people, brands and publications who motivate me to keep working hard. The connections I make from using my camera as an ice breaker continuously build on themselves, and I'm starting to branch more and more into editorial work. I'm beginning to step out of my photojournalistic bubble, and I can't wait to continue along that path and see what happens!
Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your fashion career thus far?
A: Standing out and getting my work recognized has definitely been a challenge. These days, every girl with a good sense of style and a camera is a fashion blogger, and although I do identify myself as being under that umbrella, I also like to look at myself as a historian of sorts. I rarely put myself on my blog and dedicate myself to documenting what Austinites are wearing. I've got years of photographs spanning different trends, and I hope to keep this documentation up as long as possible. Who knows, maybe one day I'll put together a book filled with a timeline of Austin's unique style... I think that would be pretty cool!
Photo via ATX Street Style
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: I'm one of those people who is constantly plugged in, so if I feel discouraged, I usually try to disconnect. I watch old movies like Breakfast at Tiffany's to help get over my "mean reds" and make lists of things I want to do or accomplish. Physically writing down my intentions is sometimes the best way to reaffirm them and get the ball rolling on the next project.
Your favorite band: I'm really into dreamy ethereal stuff right now that also has a good beat. FKA Twigs is a musical goddess, and I'm also digging Galimatias, particularly this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re-YrW3ujGI
Photo via ATX Street Style
Your favorite book: I've been reading the Christian Dior biography by Marie-France Pochna, which is an insightful look into what became a fashion powerhouse that shaped and defined so much of what we see in the fashion world today. I'm also, of course, a huge fan of "#GIRLBOSS" by Sophia Amoruso, which totally reaffirms that babes can do anything they set their mind to.
Your local Austin gem: I've always adored Charm School Vintage for providing me with some of my closet's most memorable one-of-a-kind pieces, but the place I go for cheap thrills is Family Thrift on Oltorf. You have to dig, but I've found some of my favorite everyday items (for under $10) there, and everything is organized by color! It makes all the digging you have to do a little more tolerable.
Photo via ATX Street Style
Your social media handles:
Tumblr: @atxstreetstyle
Facebook: facebook.com/atxstreetstyle
Twitter: @ATXStreet_Style
Instagram: @atxstreetstyle
Snapchat: @shelleyln
Photo via ATX Street Style
One of the Babes: Dope Crochet
Ericka runs a badass jewelry and apparel business, featuring items she has crocheted.
Ericka runs a badass jewelry and apparel business, Dope Crochet, featuring items she has crocheted. We're stoked to have her on as a vendor for our female-fronted band showcase with Glitter Tribe on Saturday.
Get to know more about this babe in her "One of the Babes" Q&A:
Q: What inspired you to start Dope Crochet? Was it natural? Did you have any role models?
A: I've been crocheting since I was a kid. It never occurred to me that I could do something amazing with it until I was in college. Istruggled to find earring and accessories that were just as unique as what I was feeling. I certainly didn't want to rock the same thing everyone else had. So, I set out to create what I was looking for, and hat's how Dope Crochet was born.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?
A: Trust your gifts and your instincts. Nobody can stop you from going out there and killing it, but you.
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: My daughter, music and conversations with strangers inspire me. I'm learning to be open to evolving; that's really a guiding force for me right now.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity?
A: When I stumbled upon this amazing Japanese yarn store. They had some crazy textures (steel-wool blends, linens and even paper yarn), and they were so beautiful. I loaded up with as much yarn as I could that day, went home and free-styled some earrings, bow ties and bracelets. It was a good yarn haul, and some of my faves were birthed out of that session.
Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your career thus far?
A: Knowing my limits! wish I could vend at every show, make everything on my list in a day, but I am a solopreneur with a growing family.
Entrepreneurship is not always pretty. I realize there are times when I'm not doing all I can for the business because I'm with spending time with my daughter. Or I'm not being a good mother because I'm putting orders before that impromptu dance session she wants to have when her favorite song comes on. What I try to focus on and accept is that I am still understanding and learning how to juggle my role. Setting boundaries for all my "jobs" is something I really have to do to be okay, and it's something I'm still working on.
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: I just rediscovered my love for running. It can be my quiet time, my jam session, my time with God. It can be whatever I need it to be. I love it.
Your favorite band: D'Angelo and the Vanguard. Recently saw them in concert and they truly committed to the audience and gave us everything. It was inspirational.
#bossbabesATX Note: D'Angelo and the Vanguard are one of our favorites, too!
Your favorite book: "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi
Your local Austin gem: Ballet Afrique
Your social media handles: @dopecrochet on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Periscope
One of the Babes: Desert Flower Designers
In this post for "One of the Babes," we highlight maker Erica Alcocer. From intricate body armor to beautiful hand chains, her business, Desert Flower Designers, has a piece of jewelry for everyone.
In this post for "One of the Babes," we highlight maker Erica Alcocer. From intricate body armor to beautiful hand chains, her business, Desert Flower Designers, has a piece of jewelry for everyone. We're excited to have her on as a vendor at our co-event with Glitter Tribe this Saturday. See you there!
Get to know Erica:
Q: What inspired you to start Desert Flower Designers? Was it natural? Did you have any role models?
A: At first it was a way to create pieces that accentuate my petite frame and repurpose all the jewelry I had grown out of. Then, I began to give pieces away to friends or family, and with their help I decided to turn my crafts into something more than a hobby.
Naturally, I think having a mechanical mindset and desire to take things apart just to put them back a different way helped my wares be up-cycled and recycled with new pieces binding them together. I'm inspired by all the tiny pieces surrounding me, with their different origins, waiting to be reincarnated into their next life and to be worn by someone who will take them onto their next journey. Some of my favorite makers and role models are Frida, Corinne Loperfido, and Monica Canilao.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?
A: One piece of advice that is recurring for me is to keep learning. There is no end to a craft if you keep striving to find another way to do this or that. It's hard at times, creatively speaking, to make something "never made before," but I don't think that should be the point. As long as you're learning and cultivating your craft there will always be more ideas and avenues to channel that energy into.
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: I think with the current generation's obsession with social everything, it's hard to absorb inspiration when there are constantly a million and one things to look at. To me, staying inspired means to take a moment to stop comparing yourself to other makers and to continuously humble yourself. It's important to take time to be thankful that you're able to pursue your creative endeavors.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?
A: Honestly, my favorite moments of creativity are when I'm surrounded by other ladies or when a friend tells me that they've started creating jewelry after a jewelry-making hangout. One of my all-time favorite moments was when an Instagram friend, (a stranger that becomes a friend via Instagram) who had supported me at the very beginning, was visiting me this past year and told me that a family member of hers who just went through a loss of a loved one was inspired by one of my pieces and making them had given her some solace. That moment and all the little moments I get when someone loves a piece that I've created fall under "favorite moments."
Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your career thus far?
A: It would be a reach to call this a career for me, but I would say that time is a challenge. When you balance office life, school, yoga and making jewelry, things get stressful. One of those has to give. As a maker who makes for the sake of making and not for a living the most challenging moments are questioning, "what next? Should I quit my job and do this full-time? Should I risk that financially? Should I buy this chain even though that means I won't have gas money to make it to the next show?" I love my office job, going to school, practicing and competing yoga, as well as creating jewelry. None of them trump the other but when it comes down to that question of what next? I try to step back, be thankful, and breathe.
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: When I ever I find myself really down about my wares or their purpose I think about a mantra I've had since I started creating: Life is about showing the world and beyond who you are as an existence and then ceasing to be, in hopes that somehow your spirit remains coursing through the blood of the future. For me, that spirit is so many things, but one of them is definitely jewelry.
Your favorite band: FKA Twigs is my jam right now.
Your favorite book: "Grounding of Modern Feminism" by Nancy F. Cott. It's a scholarly read, but worth the facts; it's taken me months to get through, but the information is worth it.
Your local Austin gem: Resistencia Bookstore is amazing in so many ways. I volunteer there and am completely in love with the acceptance and empowerment I gain just walking in. I could just live there
Your social media handles: @itsonlyerica on Instagram, for shameless selfies and pictures of my pup, @desertflowerdesigners on Instagram for my creations
Austin Gems: Artists We Love
In this iteration of "Austin Gems," we've put together a list of some of our favorite artists. We hope they encourage you to keep creating, the same way they've motivated us to throw two fucks to the wind and hone our crafts with shameless abandon.
Art by Roshi K. via bumperactive.com
When it comes to the skilled #bossbabes in Austin, we've got a long list of women we'd love to collaborate with, women we'd love to feature and women we can't wait to hang with.
Our girl crushes are intense and rightfully so. We're starting a series called "Austin Gems," which is a chance for us to touch on some of the babes we've found inspiring over the last couple of months (don't worry, "One of the Babes," our weekly Q&As, will also continue). Keep in mind that this list is not exclusive; we plan to feature more of our local jewels as time goes on.
In this iteration of "Austin Gems," we've put together a list of some of our favorite artists. We hope they encourage you to keep creating, the same way they've motivated us to throw two cares to the wind and hone our crafts with shameless abandon.
First up, KATY HIRSCHFELD.
Art by Katy Hirschfeld via collage-garage.com
Art by Katy Hirschfeld via collage-garage.com
Art by Katy Hirschfeld via collage-garage.com
Our team first came across this artist because our founder J helps run an art blog for the media collective Raw Paw, called PLOG. Hirschfeld had submitted some of her collages for a feature, and we fell for the harsh femininity of her designs. You can check out more of Hirschfeld's work at collage-garage.com or via her Instagram, @katyilana.
Next, LAURA LEWIS.
Art by Laura Lewis via lorhs.tumblr.com
Art by Laura Lewis via lorhs.tumblr.com
Art by Laura Lewis via lorhs.tumblr.com
Lewis submitted to be featured in our September gallery a couple of weeks back, and we were completely captivated by the playful self-portraits on her Tumblr. If you'd like to see more of her illustrations, visit her website lorhs.tumblr.com, or check her out on Instagram, @lorhsdraws. (Also, spoiler alert, she's taking over @thebabegang for four days tomorrow.)
Next, VIRGINIA BETH BROWN.
Art by Virginia Beth Brown via novusflorae.tumblr.com
Art by Virginia Beth Brown via novusflorae.tumblr.com
Art by Virginia Beth Brown via novusflorae.tumblr.com
Brown submitted her work to us via email, too. We love the vivid colors in her photography, as well as her manipulation of the mundane for composition. You can look at more of Brown's shots at novusflorae.tumblr.com, or peep her Instagram, @novusflorae.
Next, ROSHI K.
Art by Roshi K. via bumperactive.com
Art by Roshi K. via bumperactive.com
Art by Roshi K. via bumperactive.com
Roshi's art stopped us on the street about three years ago, a small slap sticker pasted to the side of Urban Outfitter's entrance on Guadalupe St. Since then, we've seen her art all over the City. Roshi is an illustrator, painter and street artist. Get a feel for her work at colormeroshi.com, or head over to her Instagram, @roshi_k.
Last but not least, FAITH CHONKO.
Art by Faith Chonko
Art by Faith Chonko
Art by Faith Chonko
Chonko is also a collage artist based in Austin, TX. She submitted her work to us via email a few weeks back, too, and we fell hard for the crisp and clean ambiance portrayed in her pieces. Can't wait to get some of these prints for our future office space! For more of Chonko's art, visit her Instagram, @faithchonko.
Keep your eyes peeled for our next round of "Austin Gems." (We're not done with babe artists, either.)
If you'd like to be considered, please email thebabes@bossbabes.org with the subject title "AUSTIN GEM."
One of the Babes: eythink
Meet Lindsay Eyth, the founder of the lettering and T-shirt brand, Eythink. She'll be vending at our June meet!
Lettering by Ashlee J. Pryor, Photo by Amanda Stosz for Got a Girl Crush magazine
Meet Lindsay Eyth, the founder of the lettering and T-shirt brand, eythink. She'll be vending at our June meet!
Q: What inspired you to start eythink?
A: Eythink was initially just a punny URL for my freelance design portfolio site! I started an Etsy shop under that name maybe 5 years ago, with very low ambitions really—I just wanted a place to put random, little experiments out into the world. I've always been interested in lettering, but in 2012 or so, I started pushing myself to develop my skills further. Then in 2013, I did a Valentine project based on the Magnetic Fields album "69 Love Songs," and the shop grew a little then. In the summer of 2014, I made the first version of the I Don't Fucking Care If U Like It shirt, which took off, wholly unexpectedly. Now, running the shop is a big part of my day.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?
A: Oh gee, passion projects can be so different, depending on the person and their life's circumstances. So much of what works for one person may not work for another. I would just say: You deserve the chance to discover what you're capable of. Do your best to avoid spending time with people who make you feel like you're not enough. If you can, spend as much time as possible connecting with people who encourage/support/motivate you, people who make you feel smarter and more creative.
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: To be honest? I don't! In my experience, inspiration is fleeting, and that's okay. I'm a human being, not a machine, you know? I try to fill my life with as much of what's important to me as possible—ranging from dear friends to my favorite rappers to social justice stuff to bubble baths (I'm serious)—and to keep my hands busy, so that when inspiration shows up, I'm ready to do something with it.
Photo by Amanda Stosz for Got a Girl Crush magazine
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?
A: The origin of the IDFCIYLI shirt is a perfect example of the type of moment you're describing. I read this essay on a Friday, and it summed up a lot of what I was feeling after a lifetime of living under the patriarchy. That Saturday, a dude I'd been on a few dates with turned out to be wildly condescending and out of line, and I spent Sunday afternoon doing some aimless lettering practice, while both the essay and that guy's behavior bounced around in my head. I drew up the IDFCIYLI design that day and had it on a T-shirt the next day (thanks, Fine Southern Gentlemen). Within a week, Ann Friedman had endorsed it in her newsletter, and I was suddenly very busy. I definitely never expected all that.
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: Regular discouraged? A bubble bath or a hot tub, with a beer. If it's REALLY BAD? The Grand Canyon.
Your favorite band: Nicki Minaj
Current read: "Some Sing, Some Cry" by Ntozake Shange & Ifa Bayeza.
Your local Austin gem: Go get the coconut macaroon from Thai Fresh's dessert case. Also, bring me one. Thanks.
Your social media handles: eythink on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. (It's pronounced the same as "I think.")
One of the Babes: Sound Dessert
Meet Gillian Driscoll, the babe behind the Austin-based music blog, Sound Dessert. Driscoll has curated the playlist for the June meet!
Photo by Nicola Lyon, Editing by Ashlee J. Pryor
Meet Gillian Driscoll, the babe behind the Austin-based music blog, Sound Dessert. Driscoll has curated the playlist for the June meet! Learn more about her in the Q&A below, and be sure to sneak-peek her selected tunes at the end of this piece.
Q: What inspired you to start Sound Dessert?
A: Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always loved music. As I got older and met new people, I started discovering the vastness and variety of music that existed outside of what the radio played and what my family listened to in the house. Thus began a hunger for unearthing incredible, chill-inducing music that hasn’t stopped. In college, I decide to start my own blog for fun as a way to keep track of what I was listening to and also share with my friends who were always asking me for new band recommendations.
Fast forward a couple years, and I decided I wanted Sound Dessert to be more than a hobby. I’m building Sound Dessert to be a platform for supporting and exposing artists that deserve to be heard, and to be a trusted source for music fans to enjoy a carefully curated archive of unforgettable talent.
Q: Do you have any tidbits of advice for people with passion projects?
A: My advice is to be as clear and specific as possible about what you want to achieve, as it makes reaching your goals, big or small, a lot easier. Being unclear can often lead to being in limbo, and nobody wants to be in limbo.
Sometimes, starting is the hardest part. Be easy on yourself and begin with bite-sized pieces: jot down ideas and sketches, talk things out with a trusted friend, etc. until you feel ready to take the next steps.
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: Meeting courageous, creative people keeps me inspired—impromptu, energizing conversations that last hours, pulling off things I wasn’t sure I could do.
And art that stops me in my tracks; be it a song, concert, photograph, painting, documentary or book.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?
A: For me, my favorite moments have been moments of clarity. When I’m really specific about something I want, the universe seems to step in and help things fall into place in strangely serendipitous ways.
Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your blogging career thus far?
A: The biggest challenge has been overcoming self-doubt. When I first started the blog I didn’t tell a soul it existed because I was concerned everyone would think it was dumb, that my writing was bad, etc. Eventually I got over that and have received such encouraging feedback in the process. There are still moments when I waver, but receiving those accolades goes a long way in re-affirming that I’m doing something right.
Doing everything myself also has it challenges since there’s only so much I can get done in a day, but I remind myself to be patient. I know I will get there in time, even if it’s not always within the timeline I intended.
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: When I’m discouraged I talk things out with close friends and family to get some fresh perspectives. I also spend time with myself, usually going for a long walk, to reflect on what I’m trying to achieve and reassess. That and a good night of dancing can prove to be very cathartic sometimes.
Your favorite band(s): Alvvays, Sol Cat, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (listen to them all in the playlist)
Your favorite book: I’m currently reading Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyoncé by Bob Stanley. It’s a good read for a history book and really puts into context how radical certain music was when it was first released. Music that we view as tame today.
Your local Austin gem (can be a product, place, etc.): Stay Gold for drinks, Cheer Up Charlies for live music, End of an Ear for records
Your social media handles:
facebook.com/sounddessert
twitter.com/sounddessert
instagram.com/sounddessert
#bossbabesATX June playlist
Need some music motivation? We got you.
Need some music motivation? We got you.
One of the Babes: Merida B
Today, we feature Merida B, a craftswoman and bow tie babe based in Austin, Texas. Throughout the years, she has owned her own boutique and maintained an online shop. Catch her as a vendor at our June meet!
Today, we feature Merida B, a craftswoman and bow tie babe based in Austin, Texas. Throughout the years, she has owned her own boutique and maintained an online shop. Catch her as a vendor at our June meet!
Q: What inspired you to start making your shop items at meridab.com?
A: I began the brand Merida.B when I was in college. I needed a bow tie for an event and attempted to make my own. Although the first one was an epic fail, it intrigued me to learn to make more. After four years of practice, research and dedication, I'm still going strong and what once was an idea has now become a lucrative business.
Q: How do you stay inspired?
A: I stay inspired by reading and seeking knowledge, keeping my thoughts innovative and never in a box and surrounding myself with artistic and like-minded people.
Q: What have been your favorite moments of creativity (possibly a time when a burst of creative energy produced something you could have never expected, etc.)?
A: I think when I did a safe sex bow tie made out of Magnum condoms. That was def dope. It was for a good cause and was very fashionable.
Q: What have been the most challenging moments in your maker career thus far?
A: You have to be prepared for highs and lows, good and bad, but it's how you endure the storm. Opening and closing my own boutique was so bittersweet and one of the best experiences in my life. When I graduated and closed it the memories that remained were like, "Wow, I actually did it." [laughs]
Q: When you're discouraged, what do you run to or away from?
A: I run to God and positive energy, the power of prayer faith and manifestation.
Your favorite musician at the moment: Wale
Current read: "How Successful People Grow"
Your local Austin gem (can be a product, place, etc.): The Fort off of 5th and Chicon is my newfound sanctuary
Your social media handles: @meridab on Instagram, @meridabboutique on Twitter
The Deets: #bossbabesATX June Meet
Our second meet will be on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Chicon Collective in East Austin.
Our second meet will be on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Chicon Collective in East Austin. It's BYOB (blast your own babes... with this RSVP link.)
VENDORS:
Merida B
Soul Rebel Vintage
Aurorealis Jewelry
Pink and Silver Fashion
Eythink
ACTIVITIES:
From 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., we are opening the floor for babe announcements. Got a project you need some help with? Hiring at your company? Looking to collab? This'll be the time to let errybody know.
The music will be curated by Gillian Driscoll of the blog Sound Dessert.
There will be a #bossbabesatx photobooth (eeep, we're very excited about this, but we'll leave the extra fun as a surprise).
We'll have a giveaway of local ATX goods, courtesy of Batch Austin.
Our wonderful space hosts, Chicon Collective, have created a wonderful drink menu, from cold brews to cocktails.
#bossbabesATX will be posting up with our Babe As Fuck tees, as well as sign-up sheets for the many ways you can get involved.
We'll also be announcing our Summer/Fall 2015 calendar at 8:30 p.m., so there will be PLENTY of babe-ry to get your hands on.
BUT, most of all, ZE BOSSBABES OF ATX WILL BE IN ONE ROOM — collabin', jivin', gettin' to know one another.
Questions? Please email thebabes@bossbabes.org.
One of the Babes: Friends & Neighbors
After the meet, we caught up with Jade and Jill to talk brand-building, inspiration and learn a little more about the history of our beloved East Austin jewel, Friends & Neighbors.
We are so thankful to the babes of Friends & Neighbors, Jade Place and Jill Bradshaw, for graciously allowing us to use their space for our first #bossbabesatx meet.
After the meet, we caught up with Jade and Jill to talk brand-building, inspiration and learn a little more about the history of our beloved East Austin jewel, Friends & Neighbors.
1. How did you two meet?
Jill: We have a few mutual friends in New York, and when word got around that I was moving to Austin, they all told me I had to meet Greg and Jade. We met up, became friends and later decided to work on the project that is now Friends & Neighbors together!
2. What was unexpected when establishing Friends & Neighbors as a business?
Jade: I think we were all shocked and feel very lucky to have fallen in love with the first property we saw.
Jill: There are always unexpected events that will happen along the way with any business. You can research and prepare and have past experience, but every venture is going to be different. I think the buildout had a few unexpected bumps along the way; the city doesn’t make it easy for you sometimes! Also, just being in this location was unexpected, but was also a happy surprise. The house itself is beautiful and the perfect landscape for what we wanted to accomplish with this store, however it is also a lot further East than what was developed at the time. We knew it would take a bit for the area around us to become more familiar with the city inhabitants, but honestly I couldn’t be happier with this location.
3. Any tough bumps?
Jade: We really wanted to keep the character of the house, so our buildout was pretty minimal on the outside. However, we did need to replace all of the waterlines, electrical, add ADA bathrooms and a wheel chair ramp—all of which involves architectural plans, permits and city inspections. Unfortunately, the city of Austin's building department is extremely understaffed and backlogged, and waiting for permits set our opening date back many months.
4. Any personal victories?
Jade: F&N is a labor of love. Seeing people enjoy the space, just like during your #bossbabesATX meet-up, is the best feeling and makes it worthwhile.
Jill: I felt like our Free People event during SXSW was a fun victory. It was lovely to host such a great brand here at the store and have them take over, but really every time we have a successful event where people come through and make a connection with what we’ve created is a personal victory. Like yours! I loved seeing so many ladies together all pumped and ready to collaborate and make a difference.
5. What advice do you have for people attempting to create a space for their own brands (don't be afraid to be a little cutthroat; we like tough love.)?
Jade: Do it!! Creating a budget is a usually the first step, including items like rent during buildout, city permitting costs, legal/incorporating fees and a cushion of at least six to 12 months of operating costs is really important.
Jill: My advice would be to have a clear idea of what you want your vision to be and stick with it. It’s important to know exactly how you want your aesthetic to be and what your message is and to make sure that that message is carried throughout all that you do. I think people respond well to good branding. Also, expect difficulties along the way but keep fighting and making it work. I believe that the more you put into something the more you get out of it. You can’t just expect things to happen, you have to make them happen. Hard work pays off!
Above: Jill Bradshaw
Above: Jade Place
6. What inspires Friends & Neighbors' distinguishable style? How do you go about picking items and decorations for the store?
Jade: We really wanted it to feel like you are in someone’s home. I love to fill the cafe with my favorite goodies from all over. We have a strong Brooklyn presence on the shelves, because that was our home for many years. Also. I’m originally from Australia so there are a few Aussie goodies. We are always expanding our local offerings: Tyna makes our compost cookies (coffee, potato chip, pretzel, chocolate), our very own barista extraordinaire Emily has been making amazing caramels, we sell Lauren’s Bloody Mary Mix, and Evergreen Chai makes our delicious chai weekly.
Jill: I have always been attracted to kitschy things and a lot of color so that will always go into my process of decorations and picking products out. I tend to gravitate toward creative people doing new and exciting things that fit within the environment of the store. I love finding new artisans!
For clothing, I have a wide variety of styles. I like having items that aren’t expensive ,and you can wear every day mixed with very special and rare vintage pieces. Whether you’re a mom, a college student, an entrepreneur, or all of the above, I think you can find something to suit your style here.
7. What's your favorite record/album/playlist/whatever musical medium you're into?
Jade: This is so hard for me to answer; my Spotify account looks like I have multiple personality disorder, so Jill makes our playlists for the store. [Laughs]
Jill: I have a diverse taste in music so it’s hard to pin down a favorite. I usually just put my iTunes on shuffle and let it surprise me. I’m not a Spotify person, but i do love making my own playlists. Over the years I’ve collected a ton of mp3s, and I will still come across things I didn’t even know I had. I love discovering new old music. I’m more of a lover of the past than a lover of present-day music.
8. Beside Friends & Neighbors (which is obviously already super rad), what's your favorite hangout spot in Austin?
Jade: Completely biased answer, but Hillside Farmacy, which I co-own with my husband and 2 other awesome babes.
Jill: I have multiple! I always enjoy meeting a friend at the San Jose hotel, grabbing a cocktail at Weather Up, taking a dip in Barton Springs… the norm. My favorite hangout spot is anywhere under the sun, where I can enjoy a good read or a good beer that’s not too crowded or loud.
9. Favorite coffee drink?
Jade: I don’t drink coffee, but my favorite drink changes each week. Trevor has been making some amazing syrups and shrubs—last week, it was basil and blackberry.
Jill: I don’t drink coffee, either! Ironic, I know. But I do love our shrubs.
10. Favorite quote or favorite piece of advice (whichever means more to you)?
Jade: "Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.” — Dalai Lama
Jill: Every successful entrepreneur has failed at least once or twice before making it big. My dad told me that, and it’s something that has always stuck with me. I think it’s just as important to hit rough spots and learn from them as it is to find success. There are always ebbs and flows to every business, and even when you are successful there can be growing pains and difficulties along the way.
11. What have been some of the barriers you have faced starting a business specifically in Austin, TX?
Jade: I think the crazy rate in which people are moving and businesses are opening is creating barriers between small business owners and neighborhoods. This is understandable; there are a lot of historic houses being torn down and replaced by crappy condos and out-of-place businesses popping up by people who aren’t caring about the people that live in it. For both F&N and Hillside Farmacy, we were honored to be awarded by Preservation Austin for our preservation, rehabilitation and restoration of our buildings. We live in these neighborhoods and want to a provide spaces walking distance for people to enjoy with their families, dogs, to be able to show their art and feel included. We needed the help of our friends to open, and the support of our neighbors to stay open. I think neighborhood associations have been burnt many times with businesses coming in, promising certain things and doing another, so they are already on the defensive when something new is trying to open.
Jill: I think Austin has an interesting mix of people who have already lived here and those who were gravitated to move here. There are so many amazing, creative and talented individuals who call Austin home, but I also think that Austin maintains its chill and relaxed environment. I don’t think people have a consumerist attitude in this town and are more conservative on what they will buy. It’s tricky, because they tend to also want things that are well-made and worth the price. There are some things I’d like to carry in the store, but I don’t think it would resonate with our customers. It’s always important to evaluate who your customers are and what they want but be able to anticipate new things they may want as well.
12. Who are your women idols (can be anyone!)?
Jade: My grandparents owned many different types of businesses throughout their lives: pubs, a gas station, a general store and they both worked in them every day wearing many different hats. Their first venture was a pub, which had a few rooms upstairs for guests to stay. In the pubs, Nana would bartend, help in the kitchen and clean the rooms upstairs, all while raising two children. She’s a tremendously strong woman, and even as dementia takes away a lot of her short-term memory, she can still vividly remember opening night, regulars' names, jokes, a bartender that would steal money by stashing it in her bra and the number of kegs sold in their first week open. Being a business owner is already a huge commitment and adding family to that is a new phase I’m about to embark on in four weeks! I hope I have the same strength Nana showed for all those years.
Jill: Well, my mom of course, for her beauty and patience and generosity throughout my life that has seeped into who I am as a person. Also, my sisters! I look up to both of them, not only because they are eight and 10 years older than me, but because they are truly amazing and wise individuals who have always been there for me and give great advice.
There’s a lot of love in our family! I’d mention my awesome dad, as well, but I’ll stick with just the girls! Honestly, though, all women inspire me. Every woman in this world provides something different and there’s something to learn from everyone. Being in the shop all the time, I get to meet so many interesting ladies and I love talking to them! So many of them are badasses. I love it.
