f re n c h B K
pr esen ts
The Inspiration Issu e
f re n c h B K
pr esen ts
The Inspiration Issu e
Get in, get dir ty, fall down, get up, do it again. Inspiration isn’t static, its not a gift from on high, it comes from the relentless pursuit of curiosity. It manifests itself in the details of doing-- when we have more questions than answers, when we tur n thinking into making, when we let go of the impossibility of per fection and embrace the freedom of experimentation and iteration. Inspiration wastes no time on the petty and small-minded. It makes itself at home in the spirit of problem-solving, it thrives on openness and kindness. There’s a whole world right before our eyes, a universe beneath the sur face, little altars of insight ever ywhere. Come on, let’s go.
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a lis a @f renc hb k. c om b enja m in@f renc hb k. c om
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thinkers & makers
Mitra Khayyam Founder & Curator, Blood is The New Black
1. Personal mantra? Always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty. 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_) - I have a tattoo of a flying hot dog. - I didn’t speak English until I was 4 even though I was born in the United States. I sometimes think I still talk funny although most people disagree with me. - I had a huge crush on John Stamos during elementary school and some of middle school as well. His house was for sale when I was 11 and I made my mom call the realtor and pretend she wanted to buy it. I got to sit on his bed and go in his closet as a result. I wore a crop top and LA Gears for the occassion 3. How did you get started with your project / business? Blood is the New Black originally started as my senior thesis paper at Parsons School of Design. Who knew all those late nights researching how fashion could democratize art would turn into a full time business? 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? My roster of over 75 artists - keeping up on their work as well as all the new ones we bring into the fold every season keep blowing my mind! It’s always a great challenge to find the next Blood is the New Black artist and turn their artwork into tee shirts! 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I really want to learn how to can fruits and veggies this summer so I can enjoy tomatoes and stone fruits all year long.
«Always give your best. Never get discouraged. Never be petty.» Mitra Khayyam
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thinkers & makers
«I still wish I could fit into those tights with the ruffles on the butt that I used to wear as a toddler» Mr. Kate
Mr. Kate
1. Personal mantra? Risk being YOU, risk being weird! We are all unique and I strive to inspire people to express who they are through style and design. Ask «why not?» Questioning the world around you and defining it for yourself is the Mr. Kate way!
Designer & CEO, mrkate.com
2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_)
- For as much as I DIY and design and style I am a total car slob…it’s a mess always!…oooops - I still wish I could fit into those tights with the ruffles on the butt that I used to wear as a toddler. - In my senior year of high school I’d have 3 pieces of bacon and a cigarette for breakfast… I’ve since quit smoking and bacon! 3. How did you get started with your project / business? I started making and designing jewelry as a side business to compliment my acting career and have a creative outlet in between auditions and parts in tv and movies. The jewelry business grew into the Mr. Kate line (now available on mrkate.com) and I started a blog alongside my e-commerce site to chronicle my other creative projects in DIY style and interior design. I quit acting to be my own boss when the Mr. Kate lifestyle brand started taking shape and demanded all of my time. I am still able to exercise my on and off camera muscles in my weekly YouTube videos on my channel youtube.com/themrkate where we focus on comedic and narrative-driven how-to videos. I work full time for the Mr. Kate brand together with my boyfriend and business partner Joey Zehr. We have 6 part-time employees that help us with all the areas of our business: products, sales, blog content, interior design and video production. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? An audience of supportive and creative people. I love that everyday I get to connect with people, be it digitally or virtually, and have a dialogue about creative living and expressing ones individuality. There is a never-ending source of inspiration within you and others and you just have to open your eyes and ears to tap into it. I have my blah days but a routine of daily blogging helps me connect with a moment of creativity that reminds me why I love my job and to keep going! Also, I love shoes, that’s pretty motivating! 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I want to cultivate a tight rear end, like seriously get to bubble butt status. Oh yeah, and also continue to grow my Mr. Kate business. I have a new collection of jewelry and accessories coming out soon. I’m working on a Mr. Kate book. I just finished hosting a series of styling events with Macy’s, which was fun! I’m currently a featured interior designer on this season of Home Made Simple on the OWN network (Saturday 9am/8c) so hoping to continue to cultivate a TV presence for Mr. Kate. We’re also teaming up with some fun brands to do a series of how-to web videos that will come out this year. Overall I want to keep inspiring people to be creative and happy in their lives and take the Mr. Kate brand to infinity and beyond!
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thinkers & makers
1. Personal mantra?
Janet Sung
Founder, Denim Refinery
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP. - WINSTON CHURCHILL 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_) - I’VE EATEN LIVE OCTOPUS - I WAS UP FOR BEST DRESSED IN HIGH SCHOOL, THANKS TO MY BOB MARLEY TEES AND ADIDAS TRACK JACKETS - I LIKE TO SLEEP WITH MY FACE MASK ON 3. How did you get started with your project / business? I GREW UP AROUND THE DENIM INDUSTRY THROUGH A FAMILY BUSINESS, AND IT WAS MY FATHER AND I WHO DEVELOPED THE IDEA OF ALLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO REFINE/CUSTOMIZE THEIR DENIM. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? FAMILY, TRAVEL, AND HAVING A NATURAL PASSION FOR WHAT I DO. 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? MORE FUN!
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non-fashion
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in the mood for adventure
© fr e nchB K 2013
«Only work in fields your passionate about. Know your shit, speak your mind. Respect people’s time, effort & expertise. Dig for the best answers.» Heather Lipner
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thinkers & makers
1. Personal mantra?
Heather Lipner
Founder & CEO, Uncovet.com
“Only work in fields your passionate about. Know your shit, speak your mind. Respect people’s time, effort & expertise. Dig for the best answers.” 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_) - I am freakishly organized. Everything physical to digital has a system and has its place. When I see mess, I immediately start organizing it in my mind. - I like writing poetry. I always have. I also regularly wrote in diaries from age 12 - 22. While I don’t write in a diary anymore, I do write poetry every once in awhile and I really really enjoy it. - I hate cupcakes. They seriously make me so nauseous. I think they look really amazing, but every time I try to eat them I immediately want to puke. 3. How did you get started with your project / business? I wanted to create one place to get unique, very cool products first before the trend or designer hit saturation. So Uncovet.com started on Wordpress, looked like a shop but linked out for the transaction. As we developed an audience we decided to make it real and do the e-commerce bit. Our goals have always been to become more and more personalized while presenting real-time on-trend home & fashion goods across all genres. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? I am inspired & motivated by ‘the new’. Things and ideas that I have never seen before. Innovation, change and the passion behind those projects. 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? Uncovet is now on a solid path to innovate and better serve our customers. So I am super excited for what’s to come.
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thinkers & makers
«When I was 15, I was picked up by Bob Dylan while hitchhiking from the valley to Malibu.»
Gina Klein Yao
Gina Klein Yao
Founder, Jagger Edge
1. Personal mantra? Keep it 100!!. bout you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_)
- When I was 15, I was picked up by Bob Dylan hitchhiking from the valley to Malibu. MIND BLOWING!!!! - In my early days of fashion, I was flying from New Orleans to JFK and sat in first class with only one other person who happened to be Jackie Kennedy Onassis. MIND BLOWING!!!! - Some people may know that I am not formally trained. In fact, I started working my first job at 17 at Loehman’s back when it was really the store for off-price. I have been in the fashion business since then and have never looked back. 3. How did you get started with your project / business? In 2009 I bought my first 3G iPhone cover. Details are very important to me. I was shocked to see not one single fashion/iPhone cover. My only choice was the kiosk in the mall, and I wasn’t about to do that. I’d rather my phone go naked than wear a cover that doesn’t represent my style. So, I created one, and it’s just grown from there. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? Music is my number one inspiration. I stay motivated by the fact that in my little way, by producing all Jagger Edge products in the USA, I am helping this country that I love so dearly. I am inspired by youth and showing youth that with hard work and passion you can have anything that you want in this world. ANYTHING. 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? Jagger Edge is a brand that is known in the market as being the very first Luxury Fashion Techcessory company, focusing on very spot on trend fashion iPhone and iPad covers. We actually produce a collection every season. Our goal though this year has been to really expand our market and offer our loyal fans all types of accessories including jewelry and handbags. We are also looking forward to more exciting collaborations, and we really want to pursue a denim collab.
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on y va
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thinkers & makers
Adrianna Adarme Founder, A Cozy Kitchen
1. Personal mantra? That mantra, «follow your bliss» might be cheesy but dude, it is so true. 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_)
- I’m a messy cook. Like, really really messy. And I don’t own a dishwasher. - I’m allergic to alcohol (hello sneeze-fest!) but I drink it anyway. - I taught myself how to gleek in third grade and can still pretty well. 3. How did you get started with your project / business? I started my blog like a lot of people: at work, uninspired and looking for something to do. It started off purely a hobby, something that maybe my mom and dad would read, but as I continued I quickly fell in love with it and began to try harder. It all just started from wanting to do something fun. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? I’m always looking for inspiration. I find that reading cookbooks, magazines and going out to eat to try other people’s food is really important. One of my favorite things to do is head to Koreatown or San Gabriel Valley and eat a cuisine or dish I’ve never heard of or tried before. 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? Oh so much. I’d love to become a better cook, try new-to-me techniques in the kitchen, become a better writer, take better photos and if the world allows it, I’d love to get a crack at writing another cookbook.
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thinkers & makers
Geri Hirsch, Erin Falconer Founders, LEAFtv
1. Personal mantra? Geri : ‘Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.’ Bill Nye Erin : ‘Be so good, they can’t ignore you.’ Steve Martin 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_) Geri : Erin : - My natural hair color is purple
- If I weren’t doing LEAF I’d be a mechanic
- I’m related to Lucile Ball, 3 times removed
- I’ve applied to be a member of Soho house 12 times. Lucky number 13?
- I just ordered a flip phone
- a 90% iPhone battery is considered dead to me
3. How did you get started with your project / business? G & E : Started from a place of passion. Continues with tireless, hard work. 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? Geri : The privilege of waking up everyday and getting to do this. Erin : The chance to actually be a source of inspiration and motivation to young women around the world. The online space itself is so exciting – it’s like the Wild Wild West. Getting to be a part of something that hopefully might shape it’s future in some small way, is beyond motivating. 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? G & E : We hope with the launch of LEAFtv we can create a destination lifestyle site that bridges the gap between the aspirational and the attainable.
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thinkers & makers
Kimmy McAtee
VP Communications & Partnerships, The Keep A Breast Foundation
1. Personal mantra? «What would Ryan Seacrest do?» - Working for a non profit means putting your heart and soul into your work and long hours. Sometimes I think about calling it a day when I’m not finished or giving up on a project. But then I think the hardest working man in Hollywood didn’t get there by giving up. He just worked harder and smarter. I’m literally in awe of him – if I ever met him I would probably fan out. 2. Tell me 3 things about you no one knows (ok so some people might know, but tell me 3 mind-blowing things anyway_) - When the «I love boobies!» bracelets became popular we had only 4 full time employees, and a part time warehouse guy. When trying to ship out something on time I accidentally shipped my cell phone in a box to Tillys. It was so embarrassing I had to call them and ask them to look for it and go pick it up. - I’m obsessed with furniture, and my loft is like a mix between Dave and Busters and a adult apartment. - I’m obsessed with Karaoke. I used to work at a karaoke bar in Japan. What I lack in talent I make up for in jazz hands and high kicks. 3. How did you get started with your project / business? For me personally – I have a very large family history of breast cancer (including my grandfather) and breast cancer was always a cause near to me. I worked for Zero and Mystery Skateboards. I got to know Keep A Breast founder, Shaney Jo, and she asked me if I would work full time even though she couldn’t really pay me much at the time. I cashed out my 401k and said YES! Best decision ever! 4. What keeps you inspired and motivated? I am inspired by the teens and young survivors we get to work with face-to-face and online. We posted a video of a girl Liz who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 21 last week, and received a comment that said: «My name is Brittany I’m 21 just found out I have breast cancer. My nurse practitioner told me it was nothing for 6 months. I’m glad to know you survived and can share your story with girls like me» Later we saw she started a video blog to help others know that «You Are Never Too Young For Cancer». 5. What do you want to create and cultivate this year? I am cultivating the My Pink Ribbon campaign this year. At Keep A Breast, we hear amazing, personal messages about the meaning of our «I Love Boobies!» bracelets everyday. We created the bracelets to show solidarity for breast cancer awareness, yet we’ve learned that the bracelets mean different things to each wearer. Our bracelets have truly become the «pink ribbon» of the younger generation. We want others to foster these inspiring messages, so we’ve created the “This is My Pink Ribbon” campaign. This campaign allows everyone—from celebrities to everyday young people—to share with the world why they wear an “I Love Boobies!” bracelet, and what the bracelet means to them. Everyone’s story has the potential to comfort someone else. Keep-a-Breast.org/this-is-my-pink-ribbon/
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form & function
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focus
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{ Smoke // Fire } by Benjamin Løzninger / frenchBK A bur ni ng ci ty. Thi ck sm ok e c loud s f ill the a ir with an i ntense sm el l . Hi stor y a lwa ys r e p e a ts its e lf : as a t Nero’s ti m es, a dev a s ta ting f ir e r un thr oug h th e streets, throug h th e b uild ing s , thr e a te ning peopl e’s l i fe. Was i t an a r s on or jus t a n a c c id e nt ?
T he { S mok e / / Fi r e } s er i es i s s p ea k i n g a b o u t s e lf - intr os p ec t i o n t h r o u g h t h e d i s c o ver y a n ew c ity, e xp e r im en t i n g m y s t er y, f a s c i n a t i o n , r ep u l s i o n a nd s ome tim es f ea r. w w w. f r en c h b k . c o m
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little altars
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onward
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we’ll have fun and we can have a sweet life, an exciting life, a routine life, whatever life we want and fancy. frenchBK