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The Podolls

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

the-podolls-burlingameI’ve always been obsessed with a story and meaning behind an item or a brand – that’s essentially why I started TAE – but as I interview more makers and designers, I’m starting to become even more interested with the way they combine their business into their lives – the full circle implications of what they do and how they do it. Because if you are working to build an ethical, responsible business, it doesn’t make sense to let your work consume you – we all know that’s not sustainable, but in this case, it is in direct opposition with the ultimate goal.

Josh & Lauren Podoll are my new shining example of partners – in work and in life – who are building a conscious life and business. Alexandra and I visited with them at their store in Burlingame a few months ago and I am so impressed by what they have built. The Podolls is a carefully (gorgeously!) handcrafted apparel line with a flagship lifestyle concept store in Burlingame.

Josh & Lauren met over 10 years ago in California – Lauren was a retail buyer and Josh was an abstract artist and painter who sold a collection of tee shirts to Lauren’s store. They started dating and working together concurrently – moving from vintage patchwork and screen printed tee shirts sold all over the the world to a high end label that they presented at fashion week. Over time, they saw an opportunity to connect their lifestyle and their work and, in 2008, launched The Podolls, focusing on everyday staples made with great materials and interesting details. Since then, they have launched a kids line, podots, to manage scrap waste from the women’s line, and opened their flagship store.

The gorgeous store allows Josh & Lauren to share their overall vision for the brand- they can make special products, such as leather jackets, and sell them without wholesale markup, and they can support their friend’s brands and brands with a likeminded ethos. There is strict criteria for what is carried in the store – as explained on each item’s hangtang – but other than that, they don’t call it out – while shopping, you just think you are in a beautiful, impeccably curated boutique.

Read on for a little question and answer session with The Podolls that proved to me that Josh and Lauren are living the dream – amazing style, surfing everyday, an awesome little kid, and a business that takes an immense amount of hard work but complements and evolves their lifestyle. And on top of that – they are incredibly generous, and are giving TAE readers a discount. Happy Monday!

the-podolls-kids-clothingWHAT INSPIRES YOU?

L: Textiles every season – sometimes we make our own for the collection. The lifestyles of the women I know – how will they wear our clothes and what do they want them to be? We want our brand identity to take a backseat to the clothes working for the people who wear them.

J: Textiles – you see a fabric and you think, “What does that want to be?” – you can’t force it. Contemporary art. Historical art figures. Living in San Francisco.

WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE ESSENTIALS?

L: A Goyard tote – everyday. Diamond studs. Boots year round. Our wing blouse in all of the fabrics. RGB nail polish. bkr water bottles. Shawn Burke pouches in a Podolls print. Clare V. Leopard Pouches. A great leather jacket.

J: Engineered Garments jacket. Converse. Raleigh & Imogene + Willie Denim. A short, cropped hair cut. Westward Leaning Sunglasses. Fairends Baseball Caps.

the-podolls-made-in-americaWHAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY? THROUGH THE WEEK?

L & J: Blue Bottle Espresso. Our son, Dashiell – who is also why we need so much caffeine.

L: Yoga

J: Surfing – every morning.

WHERE DO YOU ESCAPE?

J: The Ocean. Whether or not it’s a good day for surfing, you are still in the ocean…with dolphins. You get 100 yards out and and it’s wild and free and amazing.

L: Being in nature and away from this material world we live in. Stay-cations. Discovering something new – like a new neighborhood restaurant.

the-podolls-studioWHY DO YOU MANUFACTURE IN THE USA?

It is so satisfying to be able to provide jobs and keep people in business. We love to support our local economy and fellow artisans. We appreciate the ability to oversee our manufacturing and quality. Also, the relationships we’ve made are the best part of what we do – there is a human side of manufacturing, and we believe that is translated into what you wear.

WHAT EXCITES YOU?

The store – it still feels really new. Some exclusive products – including leather jackets! – that we have coming in just for the store. The collection we are currently designing. The physical interpretation of our ideas as our samples come in – it feels like Christmas.

the-podolls-josh-and-lauren

The Podolls have recently launched their new e-commerce site, and in celebration, they are giving TAE readers 15% off the entire site through the end of April! TROUBLE!!! Use code TAE 15 and stock up for spring! Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my favorites from the site… get them while you can! Thank you, Josh & Lauren!!!

Follow along for more fun:

4.11.2014

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

Let’s go is absolutely my M.O. when it comes to travel – as evidenced by my recent schedule! There is no better way for me to learn than by traveling, experiencing new things, and meeting new people – but I’m a little bit overwhelmed by my current lack of routine. I’m trying to embrace it, I know how fortunate I am to be in this situation, but I also hate that I’m missing out on the day-to-day things in my normal life… my regular reading schedule is definitely one of the places where I’ve fallen behind, but the following are articles that stood out to me over the last few weeks:

How History’s Greatest Thinkers Managed Their Time 

I’ll be reading and re-reading this article (and the book!) over the next few months – It has been almost a year since I’ve worked for myself and it is time to figure out a more efficient schedule!

Rules of Style – Ines de la Fressange

“I’m French, but I brush my teeth. Because I’ve noticed that after a while when ladies are not that young, the worst thing they think is their hands or their neck, but it’s not that all. It’s their teeth. My toothbrush is my first mascara!”

Handling Change Online & Offline – Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge on Jess Lively

Truthfully, I’ll read or listen to almost anything by Grace Bonney… but I have particularly admired the way D*S has addressed the change in content consumption in an incredibly matter-of-fact manner on their site – they are trying and testing new things to see what works, just like the rest of us.

Tina + Amy Reunite!

I’d watch this movie no matter what because of my long-term love for both Tina & Amy. But I’m writing this from my parents’ house, that is currently on the market, and it just feels weird that my sister isn’t here this weekend, so it feels even more relevant to me right now.

Meet Preetma Singh, Who Went from Lawyer to Fashion Editor

I’m obsessed with WSJ. Magazine and I loved reading about Preetma’s career from lawyer to R29 intern to her current role as WSJ. Market editor. Her answers throughout the article prove that there is no such thing as an overnight success, and that hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and being humble and nice are what matter and what you can build a career out of.

Have a wonderful weekend! For more frequent updates and travel adventures, follow along on instagram!

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Capital Eyewear

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

For the last few years, I’ve been noticing wood sunglasses in all of my favorite shops. There are few accessories I love more than a good pair of sunglasses – but it’s not that easy to find handmade, ethical options. I met with Steven of Capital Eyewear while in San Francisco a few months ago – he makes incredible glasses – often using sustainable materials… And is launching an acetate line soon! Read on to learn more about his work!

WHAT MADE YOU START YOUR LINE?

After college, I found that I didn’t like man of the opportunities that I was presented with. I wanted to build something on my own versus work for someone else. I’d always loved eyeglasses, but had no idea how to work with plastic – the machinery felt foreign to me. Once I realized I could make glasses with wood, I got started. My dad had had a wood shop, so I was familiar with wood work.

I went to local woodworkers and asked questions to learn – I got a lot of funny looks! But through that, I was able to build a rough prototype. I knew that if I wanted to make real glasses, I’d have to make this a business – the start up costs (machinery, equipment, etc.) were high. It took me about ten months to officially launch, and things are still changing every day.

Our products aren’t perfect, but we are improving them all of the time. We prioritized and work to make each pair better than the last rather than try to be perfect from the beginning.

capital-eyewear-steven-kilzerWHAT INSPIRES YOU?

The feeling of making stuff. In a lot of ways, that is what makes people, people. Everything else has a function. People are able to make things that are not purely functional, but that can look good and work really well. It’s a really good feeling.

capital-eyewear-womenWHY GLASSES?

They are a really manageable thing – which makes them fun. Anyone can use them, and there is no limit to how many you can fit in your space. They are stylish, but they can stand alone.

capital-eyewearWHAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY? THE WEEK?

A lot of coffee. I’m never too frustrated – there are ups and downs but it’s pretty rare that I’m not wanting tod o this. Just doing this job gets me through the week. Find something that you love to do, and you’ll never work again.

I loved this video showing the production process:

Handmade in the USA from Capital Eyewear on Vimeo.

Photos by Capital Eyewear – follow along:

Cotton & Flax

Posted on by TheAmericanEdit

cotton-and-flax-pillows

I’ve followed Erin Dollar’s collection, Cotton & Flax, for some time now… I’ve always loved the juxtaposition of her modern, geometric prints on natural textiles and have been so impressed by the way she has grown her business (including a collection with CB2!). I was thrilled to connect with Erin and to get a chance to learn more about her brand and her work…

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I studied fine art printmaking at UC Santa Cruz, which hosts an inspiring group of educators, and a surprisingly expansive and well-stocked print studio. There, I became obsessed with printmaking; it combined everything I loved about drawing and painting with the ability to work in multiples, making my artwork less frustratingly precious, and freeing me to experiment. After college, I joined a co-operative printmaking studio, and continued to experiment with printmaking techniques. I became curious about printing on fabric, and creating more utilitarian objects imbued with my designs, which led me to design patterns for pillows and tea towels. Those products led me to found a new company: Cotton & Flax.

 

WHAT IS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND YOUR LINE?

I am inspired by the process. The things that I can reasonably achieve with printmaking are at the forefront of my mind when I design new products. I restrict my palette to only black or white ink on colored fabric, to maintain a bold and straightforward aesthetic. I want to create pieces that are fun and playful, without being overly trendy. That means keeping the designs loose and non-representational — I like the idea that my pieces can blend into a variety of styles of decor.

Lately, I have been finding lots of color inspiration in the desert – rocks, sand, sun-bleached cacti, and the inky nighttime sky you can only see when you’re far away from city lights. Moving to Los Angeles drastically changed the way I see color, and as I travel more, I soak in all that color inspiration.

 

WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY?

I really love when customers share photos of Cotton & Flax pieces in their homes! I get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing my work in the homes of cool, creative people from all over the world, and it’s inspiring to see how each person makes the piece their own.

cotton-and-flax-dinner-napkins

WHERE DO YOU MAKE YOUR COLLECTION? 

In my tiny home studio. My printing room is only 10′ x 6′, so I have to get very creative with my production routines. Nothing like working in a small studio space to motivate you to get organized! Since space is so limited, I am extra vigilant to use up fabric scraps, which means that my production creates very little waste!

 

WHY DO YOU MANUFACTURE IN AMERICA?

Too many reasons to mention – but mainly because I can guarantee the quality of everything I produce locally. Every product I sell is sewn here in LA, either by me, or by my sewing assistant who works from her sewing studio just a few miles away. If I had to ship samples back and forth between production facilities, or deal with the logistics of overseas manufacturing, my business would be overly bureaucratic, and probably very boring for me to manage. I love that I can design new products and produce them using materials I purchase from trusted local sources. It keeps the process exciting and vibrant!
cotton-and-flax-made-in-la

 

WHY IS AMERICAN MADE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

I worry about the effects of relying exclusively on globalized manufacturing, especially when it comes to human rights, global warming, and the world’s limited natural resources. While it’s certainly possible to create ethically-made goods outside of America, I think it’s important to be conscious consumers, and to strive to support companies who treat their workers fairly, and do their part to protect the environment.

 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHER MAKERS?

Find a group of supportive makers and creatives, and don’t be afraid to ask for help! Other makers in your community have a wealth of knowledge, even if they are working in an entirely different medium than yours. Finding a like-minded group of creative friends can be a life-saver when you run a creative business, and most people are more than happy to lend a hand when they can.

 

WHAT IS NEXT?!

Collaborating with other American artists and makers! I am very excited to be taking on some design projects that will see my pattern designs on other types of products. It’s inspiring to share ideas and learn new techniques — makes me feel like the possibilities are endless.
cotton-and-flax-erin-dollar
Photos by Laure Joliet for Cotton & Flax. Follow along: