What is the name of your shop and how can we find you?
Our brand is KateFoxApparel. We can also be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Tell us about what you make/sell in your shop.
We started hand screen printing tees for little babes and kiddos. Luckily, our friends, family, and customers asked us to start printing tees for bigger kids and adults, and we happily obliged!
How/why did you start making these products and open this shop?
Once Jess started having kids, we realized our "style" wasn't typically what we could find at our normal shopping venues, without paying a lot of extra money for "cool" clothes. We wanted cute, funky, unique tees that were affordable, soft, comfy, and made in the USA. Adriane is a DIY fanatic and Jess has a background in fashion, and we are BFFF's who balance each other out really well.
How long have you been in business?
We started the process of opening our shop in the spring of 2015 and made our first legitimate sale early last summer. Our shop is still a baby and we are so excited to see it grow.
What is your background (college/career/etc.)?
We actually have super different backgrounds & experience. Jess has a degree in Fashion Merchandising from FIDM and worked in the fashion world in Los Angeles and San Diego for several years. Adriane has some retail experience from her younger years, but what she really has is a passion for all things DIY and crafty, and loves to make and build and paint and create in any way possible.
Tell us a little bit about your family.
We are sisters, born and raised in Northern Utah. Jess moved to California about ten years ago to attend school. There, she met and married her hubby, who is a Deep Sea Diver in the US Navy, and they have two little kiddos - Millie is almost three and Tommy just turned one. They recently relocated to Japan, where they will live for the next three years. Adriane still lives in Utah and works full time, attends college full time; and now with Jess in Japan, has taken over the production side of the business while Jess is doing all of the administrative work. Our mom also helps out, sewing our logo hemtags onto every single tee for us.
We are sisters, born and raised in Northern Utah. Jess moved to California about ten years ago to attend school. There, she met and married her hubby, who is a Deep Sea Diver in the US Navy, and they have two little kiddos - Millie is almost three and Tommy just turned one. They recently relocated to Japan, where they will live for the next three years. Adriane still lives in Utah and works full time, attends college full time; and now with Jess in Japan, has taken over the production side of the business while Jess is doing all of the administrative work. Our mom also helps out, sewing our logo hemtags onto every single tee for us.
How does this company help your family? Or you?
This business has given us a creative outlet and a drive to grow and improve constantly.
Did you ever think you'd be doing this? What did you think you'd be doing instead?
Not this exactly. We always talked about doing "something" together. We have always dreamed of working together, since we were little. It was a conversation that would come and go. Then, it was finally the right time and right place. Before Jess met her husband, the grand plan was to be a corporate merchandising fashion powerhouse. Funny how so much can change so quickly.
Does anyone help you with your shop?
Our amazing mama helps us out with sewing on all of our logo tags, and with her help and expertise, we will be adding leggings to our line. She is the OG diy-er. She can take any piece of garment, look at it, and create her own piece. We don't think we’ve ever seen her sew from a pattern.
How do you find time to run your shop and create products?
No rest for the wicked, right? When Jess’s kids sleep, she works. When they are playing, she works. Thankfully we have these handy dandy smartphones at our fingertips to make running a home business a tiny bit easier.
What do you love about this businesses?
We love working together! We are the very best of friends and we literally can't make any big decisions without each other. We both also love creating things, things that make people happy. We love the process of screen printing too; Jess calls it her happy place, and Adriane calls it her therapy. Last but not least, we love the small shop world. We have met great people and cultivated so many great new friendships and relationships through this adventure.
What is the most challenging part of this business?
Finding the time to work with all of our “regular” responsibilities.
Where do you see your shop in the future?
We see us continuing to do what we are doing, our first love, hand screen printing tees. We also see us creating a full line of kick ass kids stuff, while not forgetting about the rad mamas and papas that make it all happen.
Tell us your favorite product or your most favorite thing you've created?
Our shiny happy tee will always hold a special place in Jess’s heart as it was one of our first designs that she hand drew, and turned into a vector image to print. Right behind that is our original gangster rainbow tee. Although this tee didn't make it into the line when we first launched, this is the tee that started it all for us. This is one of our original and core designs.
Do you have any advice for future mom-entrepreneurs?
“Keep on keepin' on," but honestly . . . just keep pushing. “If it was easy, then everyone would do it.” There will be good days and bad days, hopefully a lot more good than bad, but the feeling of accomplishment of doing and creating something far outweigh the negative. Be kind, be honest, be generous. Help another small shop out when you can, it’s a small world out there and we need a lot more hard-working and kind mamas in the world.
What are some of YOUR favorite shops/products, besides your own?
ODarling Handmade, Prefresh, Pride Socks, Ahoy Amigo and Lookie Loo Loo are some of our favorites.
Did you ever think you'd be doing this? What did you think you'd be doing instead?
Not this exactly. We always talked about doing "something" together. We have always dreamed of working together, since we were little. It was a conversation that would come and go. Then, it was finally the right time and right place. Before Jess met her husband, the grand plan was to be a corporate merchandising fashion powerhouse. Funny how so much can change so quickly.
Does anyone help you with your shop?
Our amazing mama helps us out with sewing on all of our logo tags, and with her help and expertise, we will be adding leggings to our line. She is the OG diy-er. She can take any piece of garment, look at it, and create her own piece. We don't think we’ve ever seen her sew from a pattern.
How do you find time to run your shop and create products?
No rest for the wicked, right? When Jess’s kids sleep, she works. When they are playing, she works. Thankfully we have these handy dandy smartphones at our fingertips to make running a home business a tiny bit easier.
What do you love about this businesses?
We love working together! We are the very best of friends and we literally can't make any big decisions without each other. We both also love creating things, things that make people happy. We love the process of screen printing too; Jess calls it her happy place, and Adriane calls it her therapy. Last but not least, we love the small shop world. We have met great people and cultivated so many great new friendships and relationships through this adventure.
What is the most challenging part of this business?
Finding the time to work with all of our “regular” responsibilities.
Where do you see your shop in the future?
We see us continuing to do what we are doing, our first love, hand screen printing tees. We also see us creating a full line of kick ass kids stuff, while not forgetting about the rad mamas and papas that make it all happen.
Tell us your favorite product or your most favorite thing you've created?
Our shiny happy tee will always hold a special place in Jess’s heart as it was one of our first designs that she hand drew, and turned into a vector image to print. Right behind that is our original gangster rainbow tee. Although this tee didn't make it into the line when we first launched, this is the tee that started it all for us. This is one of our original and core designs.
Do you have any advice for future mom-entrepreneurs?
“Keep on keepin' on," but honestly . . . just keep pushing. “If it was easy, then everyone would do it.” There will be good days and bad days, hopefully a lot more good than bad, but the feeling of accomplishment of doing and creating something far outweigh the negative. Be kind, be honest, be generous. Help another small shop out when you can, it’s a small world out there and we need a lot more hard-working and kind mamas in the world.
What are some of YOUR favorite shops/products, besides your own?
ODarling Handmade, Prefresh, Pride Socks, Ahoy Amigo and Lookie Loo Loo are some of our favorites.
You ladies are awesome, thanks for being a part of this feature!
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