Fridays with Foz: Maya of Lowell

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with the beautiful and talented Maya co-owner of Lowell, one of my favorite spots. (Dino, Maya's other half, was unfortunately out of the shop today) As we sipped coffee, Maya told me all about growing up in Arizona, how she and Dino ended up in Portland and how she has always had a knack for sales. 

Fozzie: Tell me a little about you and Dino, pre-Lowell.

Maya: I grew up in Arizona and my parents were archeologists who had moved to Arizona for an archeology dig and ended up never leaving. They had to figure out what they were going to do next, because it was the late 70’s early 80’s and  archeology was at the tale end of the boom, I think. There just weren’t that many jobs left, and so they ended up opening up a shop when my mom was pregnant with me in 1987. They had a store for about 25 years, and I kind of grew up in a Native American art and hand made things, zone.  After working in my parents store for a long time, and in a variety of retail places, bar tending, was a personal chef, I ended up managing a Native American Art Gallery for a few years before we moved to Portland. Dino’s background is almost exclusively in the culinary world. He’s always made art at home, painted, drawn and done ceramics. We took a weaving class together but he’s always worked in kitchens to make a living. He’s a career cook.

F: So why did you decide to move to Portland?

M: Mostly for Dino, it was the culinary scene. He was really excited for all the ingredients. For me, since I was little, we wrote essays in the school that I went to, and had to write a mission statement, which was the mission for our future. I think from age 12, or whenever you’re in six grade, onward and through high school, we had to write them every year. Out of the six or seven that I wrote only one didn’t involve moving to the Pacific North West. It was this weird plan in my brain since I was a little kid. We did a big road trip from Arizona and we visited California with plans to visit Seattle and go up to Vancouver BC, checking out all the different areas. We had both lived in New York before, and I kind of didn’t want to live that lifestyle again. So we ended up in Portland and just decided not to keep driving and ended up staying for 10 days, and hustling back on our road trip. Then a year later after planning and saving we ended up moving here in 2010.

F: What made you decide to open up your store?

M: Ever since I was very young, I’ve been very entrepreneurial. I had a lot of faux stores where I would sell my friends my  stuff when I was little.  I would famously save all the Halloween candy that wasn’t chocolate and sell it 3 months after Halloween. So, I've always had this entrepreneurial spirit and I definitely have always wanted to open my own store. I had a pretty good vision of how I wanted it to be, this weird niche market of people who like what I like. Dino was excited about that as a prospect, but he was really passionate about cooking. He had also never worked in retail so he was very much “let’s think about that when we’re in our 40’s”. Something shifted at some point, and I think he realized he enjoyed working in kitchens but he liked cooking at home more. He liked having more say in what he was doing and not having to worry about cooking for hundreds of people.  

F: Where does "Lowell" come from?

M: The name is my grandfathers name and I think it was a name among a list of names that we threw around. A lot of the ideas we had, we would google it and some cool shop would already have it. It just kept coming back to Lowell. The day we had our business cards designed, and we had to settle on a name, we had to get our business license sent, we said lets just go for Lowell. That night we watched “The Fighter” which we had no idea was centered in Lowell, MA and that just kind of reinforced it, having this grimy ideology associated with it. Then we realized theres a Lowell in Oregon. There’s a ghost city in Arizona called Lowell, so there’s a city in every place we lived. So the incorporation of that, and it being my grandfathers name, made it a cool name. It is hard to say “Hello Lowell” when you answer the phone though.

F: How did you find this location?

M: We started looking at spaces and got really discouraged because we couldn’t find any places we liked that didn’t need a whole bunch of work. Dino was skateboarding home from work, when he worked at Lovely’s 50/50, and went down this hill on Mississippi and lost his balance and hit his head. He went to the emergency room and I had to pick him up at 2 am. They asked him to come back the next day to make sure his concussion was ok. For whatever reason, he went down Russell and noticed this space. We had never driven down this street before. He told me about it and I came the next day and the landlord was inside doing something. I struck up a conversation with him, and he wasn’t even planning on renting the space. He had been in a transitory stage with the building, having tried to sell it before, then deciding to take it off the market. He hadn’t done anything with the building for 4 or 5 years. He said “I like you guys and I think I should give you a chance, because if no one had ever given me a chance I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Which is just such a Portland landlord story. We started renting it within a month of talking to him.

F: How long did it take to open?

M: It took maybe 2 or 3 months, but it seemed like it took a really long time. We had a contractor and a few different people, electricians and such. Visually, we knew what we wanted pretty much, and the only major changes were building out the bar (front counter) and putting in electrical. There were only fluorescent school lights, so we changed those out and added the pocket door. I had quit both my jobs, I had two at the time, so I was down here painting until 2 o’clock in the morning until Dino was finishing up at the restaurant. We opened in early December of 2011.

F: It's such a beautiful space and so very well curated, how did you decide how to style it, what was your inspiration?

M: It’s interesting because before Dino and I met we definitely both had a very similar aesthetic.  For me going back to my parents house and spending time with them, and for Dino getting to know them you can definitely see that some of my taste comes from growing up around old things and appreciating them. They (my parents) definitely have different taste in things, so I’m not sure if its being interested in textiles or being around lots of art. For Dino, he grew up in Havasu City the hub of all hot death traps and there was no art or culture there at all. I don’t know where he, I think he was really into punk culture and that opened his eyes to the horizon. He moved to New York as soon as he graduated from high school. It is kind of... we’re not sure where our aesthetic comes from, we just know we share a lot of the same aesthetic.  It works out really well.

F: I love the mixture of both old and contemporary items. How do you decide what to show, do you prefer one over the other (old vs. contemporary)

M: We like both. I don’t think I could choose between the two. We like the same qualities in both. Things that are handmade and took a lot of time and consideration.  It might vary on the object. Ceramics are one that I’m a 100% divided on. Textiles, I feel like there are some really cool new progressions going on with people weaving, but the amount of care gathering materials, spinning yarn and dyeing your own wool is not really being put into contemporary textiles. I would say for some things I like older things and some I like new. I'm torn between the two of them.

F: Besides running an incredible store, what are some of your other interest?

M: We cook a lot. Dino makes ceramics and does all of our design work for our cards and a our signs, and all of our clay shop figures. He's gotten more of an art opportunity through the shop and been commissioned for other peoples companies. He has a pretty distinctive aesthetic, so when people respond to it, they want him to do it. I make clothing, and I prefer to make one of a kind pieces for the store. Similarly for Dino with the ceramics. We kind of divide our time between creative pursuits, cooking and running the store. We try to go outside, but we are not so good about that, especially during the winter. We watch a lot of old films, and we try to read.

F: What are some of your plans for 2015?

M: We are trying really hard to expand our online presence. We do have a lot of people contacting us via Instagram, but we aren’t really into marketing ourselves on that platform. We think it should be a visual platform and not a commerce one. We would like to have an online store for people who want it, but we don’t want to push ourselves on anyone. We do have an online store now, but it is sorely in need of an update. That’s our goal, better e-commerce for people who want it.

F: Ok, one last question, is there anything you would want to change this year?

M: No matter what I always want more time, there never seems to be enough time to do all the things we want to do.  We did throw around the ideas of having someone work here one day a week, so we could have one day and night where we could do something other than store related things. But I think so much of what makes this store what it is, is who we are.

It's always such a pleasure getting to hang out at their wonderful shop! You can visit Maya & Dino at Lowell Wednesday- Sunday 12-7pm or follow them on Instagram @lowellshopgallery

Fridays with Foz: Brian Falgoust from Welcome Stranger

Back in November, Leland and the Revive crew participated in the Makers Route project with Makers Workshop & Welcome Stranger. I was fortunate enough to get Brian Falgoust, of Welcome Stranger to chat a little bit about the Makers Route project, his work and what his perfect night involves.

Tin Type taken by Giles Clement at the Makers Route party in Portland! 

Fozzie: Hi Brian, thanks so much for taking the time. First off, I was wondering a bit about your background, have you always been in the fashion industry?

Brian Falgoust: I actually studied Musical Theatre in high school and college, so I've spent the better part of my young adult/adult life performing and traveling with different companies.  I started in the apparel industry when I was 19, just as a day job, and quickly found a second passion in apparel/design.  After taking a break from performing and relocating to the Bay Area, I found myself again in the retail and apparel industry, and began building a relationship with the company I currently work for, The Azalea SF Company, which Welcome Stranger is a part of.  It has been really wonderful dipping my hands into all aspects of the company and the Welcome Stranger line, from store management to social media to close discussions with our buyers on different designers, brands, and collaborators. 

F: How'd did you come to work for Welcome Stranger?

B: I actually started off as a sales associate, and I had some management experience previous to joining the company. So when a management position became available, I took that position. As I started learning more about the company and Welcome Stranger, I began taking on more responsibility in social media and marketing, and became more involved in discussion about design and future brand development.

F: What was it about this company that drew you in?

B: From beauty products to interior design, I love well crafted items that have a story.  Welcome Stranger is such a quality brand with a specific customer that is super appealing to me personally. Every item in the collection and in the store is an item I would wear.  It's also great to work for a brand made locally in San Francisco, and to see the process of a locally made brand.

F: Leland was really excited to participate in the Makers Route Project, can you tell me what inspired the whole trip?

I knew Lindsey from when I was living in Louisiana. We had mutual friends in common in the design and apparel industry.  With the success of her MakersWorkshop, and my own admiration of her work, I saw it as an opportunity to not only work with someone I knew and loved personally, but also respected and knew would understand Welcome Stranger's path and vision.  So Lindsey, myself, and the Welcome Stranger team began brainstorming on what we could do to reach out further than the SF bay area, and gain a wider audience not only on social media, but able to get real product into the hands of real makers.  Lindsey, being the sweetest person around, created the idea of of the Road Trip to showcase our product on real people, and to showcase people we as a brand are influenced by. It really ended up coming together in a super special way, and I think we're all happy with the results.  She's created amazing photographs and content that we can use continuously, and we were able to get our items into the hands of people who support the American Made movement.

F: Everyone at Revive really loves the clothing line, and both Kelly and Chelsea wanted to know if you'll be expanding the line to women?

B: We have women, almost daily, who come into our shop and say "Wow, I wish you guys had a women's store!"  So this has definitely sparked our interest in the possibility of branching into women's wear.  Who knows if that will come to fruition, but it is nice to know there are women who like our work.

F: Do you think there is a correlation between fashion and interior design? 

B: I definitely see a correlation between fashion and interior design. I think certain aesthetics in fashion apply to interior design.   A man who wears more traditional, rugged menswear, often has a reflective interest in home and interior design.  You'll also find minimalist style correlating to a more minimalist interest in interior design.  For some people, juxtaposition is of interest, and I find especially with some of our Welcome Stranger customers, they'll lean toward rugged menswear, yet purchase something like Hasami mugs, which are super minimal and modern.  

F: Who do you think sets the trends, the fashion world or the interior design world?

B: I feel that's tough to say.  I feel interior design and fashion design are inspired by each other in many cases.  There are, of course, certain trends in the art world, colors/textiles/lines etc that will always "trend" and find themselves in fashion/design.

F: Do you have a favorite designer?

B: It's always so tough to answer this question.  As far as women's wear, I always lean towards modern lines with classic looks - Celine, Jil Sander, Helmut Lang.  For menswear, it's all over the place.  I have more experience in menswear, and of course wear it every day.  I love Norse Projects for men, I love classic American lines like Woolrich.  Mark McNairy is another American Made designer who's been making a big noise lately. His stuff is super fun and quirky and really colorful.  I own a couple of items of his work, and they are such quality products. We recently began carrying a London based brand, Uniform Wares, at our flagship Welcome Stranger store, and their menswear is really great - utilitarian in ways, with pops of prints and colors that make it stand out.  As far as luxury menswear, Thom Brown and Tom Ford are at the top.

F: What are some of your favorite activities outside of your work?

B: Outside of my jobs with the company, I still enjoy dancing and performing when I can - I sing in a band, and take dance and yoga classes.  I also enjoy hiking and camping and traveling whenever I can! But if we're being completely honest, a night in on tumblr with a bottle of red wine is truly one of my greatest joys.

F: As an avid hiker myself, what's one of your favorite places to take a walk?

B: I grew up in small town, Cajun Country Louisiana.  My back yard was about 300 yards deep of sugar cane, and behind that woods and swamps.  If I had a favorite, it would be walking through the fields/swamps behind my house.  Other than that, I love walking in SF.  It's city of EPIC views at every turn.  In the Richmond district of San Francisco, you can walk up to the top of the hill and see the Marin headlands and the Golden Gate bridge - it's a trek uphill for sure, but once you're at the top the view is insane! Definitely a favorite area to explore in San Francisco.

It was so great getting to connect with Brian and learn a little more about Welcome Stranger. Follow Welcome Stranger on Instagram (@welcomestranger) , Facebook, Twitter (@welcomestrangr), and Tumblr.

Fridays with Foz: Carson Brom

Carson Brom is the youngest member of the Revive crew, and possibly my favorite. Today we got a chance to sit down and talk about his band, his love for Mac DeMarco and the fact that he hasn't cut his hair in almost two years.


Fozzie: So, Carson, tell me a little bit about yourself

Carson: Well, my name is Carson Brom, I'm 18 (ed. and currently single, ladies!) and originally I'm from Austin Texas. I moved to Washington DC because my dad's in the air force and he worked at the Pentagon. So, we moved from Austin to DC and then my dad got a job at the University of Portland as a professor of aerospace studies in the air force program. So, we moved here just over four years ago this month. 

F: How did you end up at Revive?

C: Basically in the summer, or early 2013 - we have an old house - Leland presented his business at one of our Retro Renovation house meetings. My mom wanted me out of the house for the summer, wanted me to do something, so she asked Leland if he did internships. 

F: Did you feel forced into it?

C: It was something that I really wanted to do, and I only really knew about upholstery through Jack White. So I thought it was a cool thing to do. 

F: When did you start?

C: A couple of months later, the summer before my senior year, I started interning here. The day before I started my girlfriend, of two years, broke up with me so I really needed something to take my mind off that.  I found out I had enough credits to graduate early, so I decided to do that. I ended up using my internship as my career credit and graduated in August of 2013. 

F: Wow! Congrats, what are you up to now?

C: Doing upholstery part time - just tearing apart stuff on Fridays. Right now it's the perfect balance to school. I probably wouldn't be able to do a full time job right now. Its really nice to just work at a hobby. I go to PCC right now, I'm getting my associates degree in arts. It's a transfer degree, so I can transfer and only have two years left.  I can choose my major then. Right now, I'm kind of undecided.

F: What do you do in your spare time?

C: Write and record music.

F: Really? Do you have a band?

C: Sort of. I've had a few. I'm still looking for people. I've played live a few times with a bunch of different people as my backing band. It's always worked out.

F: Where can I listen to some of your stuff?

C: Goobz.bandcamp.com There's not much on there now but there will be. I have an album coming out soon. 

F: What's it called?

C: Its still a work in progress. I make it all myself in the basement of my parents house, with just a laptop and all the instruments and microphones. But yea, I do it all myself, when I play live I try to find people to play the music with me. Its fun. I've been postponing it (the album) forever but its exciting.

F: You said you play all the instruments, how many do you play?

C: Typically like 4, keyboard, drums, bass and guitar. I'd probably play other ones, but I don't have them. I would like - I'm taking a Music Theory class right now, I would like to learn to read and write music and play piano classically. I've always wanted to play band instruments like the trumpet or saxophone or something. There are a few I haven't tried or gotten into. 

F: Do you find that its mainly music that inspires you?

C: Basically the only thing that keeps me making music and inspires me is that all my friends also make music. They are always sending me stuff and its become a small competition. You don't want to fall too far behind your friends, because they are doing really cool things too. We're always trying to one up each other. 

F: You tend to bring a lot of new music to the shop, where do you find it?

C: Everywhere. To begin with, my parents and my sister. My mom's a musician, a rockabilly singer. We have a large, large collection of records. It seems like every night my dad is always showing me another record and trying to play me something. I don't know, as I and my friends started to get into music, its always just been my friends now. They have bands, they open for bands, they are just super in the scene. Its like every week there are 10 new bands that they've found. That's another thing, every weekend we hang out and then we try to see who found the best new song or new band that week. Its another little friendly competition thing.

F: I know you see a lot of live music, what's been your favorite show recently?

C: I drove down to LA to go to BeachGoth in October, which is the Growlers' music festival at the Observatory. It was like 30 bands in one day. They were all Burger Records bands. I go see my friend band LadyWolf every other week, at house shows. Usually the house shows are the best shows, because everyone goes to them because they are free and all ages. Those are the best.  There's an all ages problem in Portland, so I have to find other ways to see music live. 

F: Are there any bands you haven't been able to see because of the whole 21 and over thing?

C: My friends band that is actually blowing up, Pyschomagic, I've only seen them once because they're just big enough to not have to play house shows anymore but their only concerts are 21 and up. Also, La Luz from Seattle, they played the Doug Fir. The Doug Fir gets all the good shows, but they're only 21 and up. I haven't been able to see La Luz and its really disappointing. They played twice this last month and I still haven't seen them.

F: Have you ever snuck into a a 21 and over show?

C: I've tried. I've come really close. It's usually the bands (the nice ones) who try to sneak me in. 

F: What records did you bring to play today?

C: I had an Iggy Pop record I wanted to bring in, but forgot. There's always Foxygen and The Growlers. I had a whole stack of records to play today but I forgot them. Oh and always Mac Demarco he's the best. He's like my hero.

F: You talk a lot about DeMarco, what about him do you love so much?

C: There's nobody like him. His personality, he's just the weirdest, biggest goofball and I just really, really admire that. His whole persona, he just seems like the coolest nicest guy ever. Just super goofy. It translates into his music really well. Especially his lyrics, because he's like a poet first and then also just happens to be really good at making music, but his lyrics are always really meaningful. I can really relate to them a lot, mostly because they are about sad teenage boys. 

F: Oh Carson, are you a sad teenage boy?

C: I don't know a teenage boy who isn't sad. 

F: On a happier note, what are your top three records to rock out to at work?

C: Thin Lizzy- Nightlife or Jailbreaker. Only their early stuff, if I want to rock out, I don't like any of their other ones.
Foxygen - ...And Starpower, their new album - it's the best yet but it seems like nobody seems to care. People blew it off, but I think its great. Its 25 songs and its really rough, sounds like a bunch of demos but its really great. 
Mac DeMarco - Salad Days - because, well it's Mac DeMarco.

F: So Carson, what's next for you?

C: Id really like to go into music in any way shape or form. There's producing or playing as a studio musician, or in a band. I'm just going to find a way. I hope it works out. I keep doing upholstery because I really like it here (at Revive). I had a job at Fred & Meyer for like two months and I really hated it. And they didn't have a dog, a really nice dog. It's just perfect, super fun, I just love doing it. There's not anything else I'd like to do instead, its like a really fun hobby.  

F: Well that's all we have time for today, is there anything else you liked to say?

C: Thanks for reading. We might have a show coming up, I don't know when or where, but check out our Facebook page for updates. 

Fridays with Foz: Kelly Rogers

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down with Revives own Kelly Rogers. Besides being quite lovely, Kelly is also a delight to speak with. Coming from a background in fashion, Kelly found her way to Portland (and Revive) through a series of meaningful connections.  

Fozzie: Can you tell me a little bit about your background?

Kelly: I grew up with a love for fashion. I used to watch the fashion television shows and became obsessed with it. From that point on, I pretty much knew I wanted to study that. I went to school at University Wisconsin, Madison for the textile and apparel design program. I loved that, because I wanted to go to a university and also study a creative field. The cool thing about the program was that you could spend your last year in New York at FIT, and that was the only city I had ever wanted to live in. It (NYC) was the only place I could imagine myself for a long time. I finished school there and got internships at Marc Jacobs and Jill stuart Jeans. It was through those internships that I made my first connections. Every job I’ve ever gotten has been through a connection. Once I graduated, I started working for Eddie Rodriguez in New York and then I freelanced at JCrew – which was a really great experience to see the behind the scenes of how that place works. From there, I started working for John Varvatos, and that was where I spent most of my time in New York. It was an amazing experience.

F: What were some of the things you did for these labels?

K: I was a designer working with the creative director. My job was everything from researching, creating mood boards, hand sketching everything – I feel really blessed that I worked for people who embraced hand sketching, as opposed to putting everything in Illustrator, I think its such an important form of communication of ideas. I would do fittings, detailed tech packs, measurements, sourcing fabrics and trims, creating prints. I could go into archives and find old patterns and prints and redevelop them into new fabrics, and that was always so thrilling, I would love to be able to that for furniture as well, creating original upholstery fabrics.  I worked from concept all the way through production, managing fashion show samples and preparing for the shows, working with stylists who come in and re imagine what you’ve been working on for so long.

F: Is there a favorite moment that sticks out for you?

K: There is something to the thrill of the post fashion show, the build up for months and months and months, and in the final weeks – coming to that moment – its full speed ahead to the day of the show up to the moment the model walks out – everyone is still tweaking things and then all of a sudden its DONE. Its out there in the world, and I think that’s always a thrilling moment and it was always something I wanted to experience and was able to.

F: What made you leave New York?

K: After working at John Varatos for a while, I decided to make a change and moved to LA. I had started to realize that New York wasn’t the place I wanted to live forever and LA seemed to be the next logical step. In LA, I got a job working for Splendid & Ella Moss. That was a wonderful experience because I was able to go from working for companies who primarily made their clothing overseas to working for a company that was 90% made domestically. Working with a sample room and local production was an amazing dichotomy to have at that moment.

F: So how did you end up in Portland?

K: My job with Splendid ended and I had found I had become disenchanted with the industry. I really questioned where I wanted to go from there. One day I’m on Venice Beach and I meet Mike Warner, fall in love and six months later I’m moving to Portland.

F: How did you meet Leland, and start working for Revive?

K: I had moved to the St Johns neighborhood, and I spent a few days checking it out. I walked into Kert’s (ed. Kert owns Sabi & Friends in St Johns) and she tells me about this new thing that’s happening called Beam & Anchor, and this guy Leland Duck who I have to meet.  I didn’t go right away, but I finally made it in there and I’m totally inspired. It was electric, this feeling in my belly went off, and it was new and exciting. At that time I had been using a friends studio to do a fun project and I was focusing on leather. After meeting Leland, I decided “I’m gonna do a leather chair!”, so I go do my chair, and I have no idea what I’m doing, it was very unconventional upholstery. I went and showed Leland and asked what he thought. The whole process was just so exhilarating for me, like I had tapped into something I had never tapped into before. I asked Leland if I could hang around, apprentice and learn, hopefully do a project together, maybe get hired, and that’s where I find myself now.

F: How was the transition from fashion to furniture?

K: I love that my background and skill set comes into play and it's like I’m making costumes or a wardrobe for furniture instead of people. It’s the same skill set just applied in a different way.  I love, that the furniture has longevity where fashion doesn’t.  That’s what appeals to me, it’s not just “put it out this season and on to the next” it’s a piece that lives, hopefully, a long life span. I feel like furniture is more of an instant satisfaction. That may be because furniture was one of the first things I was actually making myself. In fashion, I was never doing something where I was actually sitting down at the sewing machine and making the clothes.

F: Do you still find inspiration from fashion? 

K: Yes, fashion still inspires me. When I’m in the process of researching, and inspiring myself, I find I’m still always looking to fashion for mood, vibe, and attitude or colors and even details, I suppose. That’s a big point of connection for Leland and I, that discovery of those details and taking them out of their known world and taking them to a new place. I think there is a huge frame of reference from the fashion world that comes into play with furniture.  

F: What are your other sources of inspiration?

K: I feel like there are so many places to get inspired from, and it's realizing that you have to always be aware of that, that it’s around every corner. Its also what gets me in trouble sometimes because there are ideas, and excitement everywhere and I feel the burst of energy for an idea and then it goes away and then the next thing comes and it's always moving. I’m also inspired by our ideal way to live, the way you want to feel in your home and what kind of materials you want to be surrounded by. Another source would be traditional craft and how you can improve on them for future designs.

F: Can you give me an example?

K: Right now I have caning on the mind, I keep thinking about caned furniture and how caned or woven chairs can be updated. What’s a modern take on that? Even though I feel like a lot of the patterns still feel fresh, and are timeless, I like the idea of taking things like that, and asking can you add a new twist and make it a new classic. 

F: What about music?

K: Music is the background to everything, to my life. I feel like I’m always searching for the song that captures my mood everyday, and how it will set the pace of my day. Mike (Kelly's Fiancee) pulled out the Staple Sisters who have a particular song, that is just so good, that I have been listening to a lot lately and it's been kind of perfect. I do feel like life is, like you're always dancing through life, whether its slow or fast. 

F: What music is going to capture your mood today?

K: I’m going to put on Otis Heat’s “ING” because “ING” is a perfect model for this year, its about not thinking to much, but doing. “ING “ is all about the act of doing.

F: If there was one thing you could tell the future creatives of the world...

K: Its important to take risks, and not be afraid to switch paths at any moment, just know that you’re going to be ok. Don’t think that you can’t afford to take that risk, that there are too many unknowns. If you believe in it, if its alignment with your values, and you feel like its where you want this world to be, you have to go for it.

F: What do you love about what you're doing now?

K: The kind of work that we do, the value behind it is so much what I believe and what I want to be a part of. We are creating things that are made here and supporting our community and economy, really supporting our own freedom of creativity. I value that so much, I cant even tell you. It scares me, I don’t want to see our country’s skills sets going to other parts of the world, and I feel like we have this beautiful moment, this renaissance, of American craftsmanship – really refined beautiful craftsmanship and that’s what I want to be a part of, honing in and cultivating it so that we can pass it on and breed a new generation that really have strong foundations here. We have an endless opportunity, the jobs we can create, that are not only creating beautiful things, but things that are sustainable - that are a lifestyle. Its exciting to me. So much of that is what keeps me going, when I do feel shaken, its “but I believe in this”, and there’s so much truth in that, it cant be wrong and I have to trust that. 

F: What do you think 2015 hold as far as trends?

K: I think that 2015 is going to be kind of a clean slate. I think the beautiful juxtaposition of black and white will be big. I also think we'll be diving deep into techniques that we’ve overlooked from all over the world and giving them a new unique life. 

F: Well, I think we have time for one more question... where is your favorite place to take a walk here in Portland?

K: I love Cathedral Park, because its such a beautiful reflective place. I love walking the neighborhoods, because every street has its own character, with the unique homes, every place just feels special. I love Mt. Tabor to.

F: Really? I don’t think I’ve ever been there…..

K: We will go Fozzie, I will take you there.

F: I will definitely take you up on that.

Next week: Find out what makes our own Carson Brom tick!