That’s right kids — my how time flies. Another month, another round of Gothamist Interviews from yours truly and my friend Lily. I’m actually pretty excited about this week’s group because for once we got them all done ahead of time! Well, nearly. But most of the time I find myself scrambling, late into the wee hours the night before not just editing and coding the interview for the Gothamist site, but also writing these little ditties here on my own little unfurnished corner of the web. Not this time! Woo hoo!
I’m also excited, though, because of a (I think) pretty good and diverse lineup of interviewees. We lead-off today with Stacey Blume. Since this dealt once again with clothing, I took the back seat to my collaborator on this one. Hell, I hadn’t even heard of Blume (the company) or blumegirl.com, but that’s probably just because I’m incredibly unhip. I’m also not seeing so many thongs these days, so that could be another reason.
The whole twist behind what makes Blume (once again, the company) unique is this selling of personalized patches on clothing. As I sat there reading and editing Stacey’s interview, I just couldn’t help but thinking how this was yet another Post-It&trade moment. That’s not to take anything away from Stacey at all: far from it. These people who — for one reason or another, accidental or otherwise — come up with the simple ideas that people fall in love with, like the Post-It&trade, or those cardboard hot beverage cup holders … the things that all of us stop for five seconds to say, “Why couldn’t I have thought of and marketed that.” Well, in a way, that’s what Stacey did. As you’ll see in the interview, she never set-out for a career in the fashion industry. It was a fluke trip to Urban Outfitters with her dad, who happens to own a uniform company, that made her think — hey: Patches! With names! And rhinestones!
And now you can get the same thing for your baby or dog. That’s progress. Now if only I could think of something to replace White-Out&trade.
Out of Focus 