When I first met Krissy, it was love at first sight. Love for her product, that is. I was walking around a new, small craft show and was immediately drawn to the colorful screenprinted totes and pillows Krissy was showing. I bought a couple of tote bags that afternoon and then rushed back to my home office to write a profile of Krissy and her designs for Apartment Therapy. I've been keeping track of Earth Cadets' slow evolution since then and am thrilled that Krissy has agreed to take part in this week's Indie Wednesday post.
When did you launch Earth Cadets? I sold my first item on Etsy in December 2008.
What was the inspiration for launching the line? The idea behind Earth Cadets was initially to provide screen printed grocery totes to replace plastic bags. Since the first batch of bags, it's evolved into clothing for babies to adults and home decor, but all the while maintaining a commitment to the environment using organic and eco- friendly products.
What did you do before you started your business? I started Earth Cadets while working a corporate job on a marketing team downtown, I juggled the two for three years and a little less than two years ago, I quit my day job to pursue Earth Cadets full time!
How do you find inspiration for new designs? Travel and antique/vintage shopping would be number one inspirations. There's nothing better than traveling down back country roads and stumbling upon old unique shops or random estate sales. I love the lines, colors, shapes and lettering used in mid-century and older designs.
Who is your biggest inspiration as a small business owner? I would have to say small business owners on a whole are inspiring. I follow so many amazing creators on social media who share their struggles and triumphs. Each day I learn something new from what they have to share and am inspired and driven by their success. As someone who went from working on a large team to working for and by herself, I consider my fellow business owners my co-workers. I check in on them daily and we often we brainstorm and even though we might be neighborhoods, cities and states apart, it's a great community.
What are the advantages of supporting indie designers? There are SO many reasons to support indie designers, so much of what you put into them goes back into the community. But for me the number one reason is knowing where (and from whom) a product came from and that it was made with love and intention. It's funny, but usually every street fair show I do I get bargainers who want me to drop my prices or want to buy a t-shirt for $5. I try not to take it personally, my items are priced fairly, and I like to explain that I am not a big box chain store. I am an independent designer who works 24/7 to hand make products she loves and believes in and there are those who find value in that.
If an angel investor dropped $50,000 on you, how would you invest it in your business? Oh boy. Dream come true. I know exactly what I would do with that money. 1) Conveyor dryer - textiles that are screen printed need to be heat set (reach a certain high temperature) in order to ensure color fastness. This is essential for clothing and home decor as you want to be able to wash your hand printed item as often as needed and for it to retain its original brightness. Currently I hand heat set every item with an iron and while it does the trick, it is so not efficient. I should be spending those hours working on new ideas, not ironing! 2) I would move my studio. I work out of my basement and it's a great space ... for one person. Not a space for growth (or for a conveyor dryer). I would love to be able to hire contractors to help on large projects but the space is too tight. I also used to teach screen printing and a larger studio space would be perfect to pass my passion along to others. So ... if you guys know someone with $50k to burn ...
Images: Krissy Callahan
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