BIZ CRUSH: 7th Bone Tailoring

Erin is a fellow University of Wisconsin-Stout alum & I've been following her journey + living vicariously through her business endeavors ever since I found out about her tailoring services based in NYC.

Her client list is long & includes a slew of celebrities, stores + brand names. Read on to hear more about her story & what she's most excited about next.

7B tailors Thao Huynh, Erin Hogan-Braker, and Dominique Jernigan about to take on Aspen, Colorado

What kind of kid were you growing up?

I was extremely shy until middle school. I only had one friend I would slumber party with until the 5th grade (shout out to Kelly McConnell! OG BFF!) .

How did that affect your path towards working in the fashion industry?

I think being a shy kid early on allows me to feel comfortable being silent in a room filled with people. My team and I are known for our ability to act appropriately and allow stylists to work with their clients about fashion choices. No cares if the tailor likes the shoes. We are there to make sure those pants have a perfect break on top of those Louboutin’s, not pick them out.

If your story could fit into a 30 second commercial, how would it unfold?

It would be a teaser for a new pilot episode about a woman moving back to her small town after 10 years in the big city. Hopefully it goes in the Rom-Com direction instead of Horror.

What ultimately made you decide to do the lovely thing you do?

My mom, Julie Hogan, is a children’s sewing teacher and Bernina employee at Ann Silva’s Bernina Sewing Center in Albuquerque, NM. I grew up being able to use her sewing machines, but I did not necessarily know how to sew. I was winging it. I always wanted to understand why a Haute Couture garment has value, and what makes it so expensive. By undergoing a decade of apprenticeships under Master craftsmen, I now know – it comes from golden hands touching the garment in every step of the process. From the designers sketch, patternmakers drape, tailors stitch and press human hands develop the fabric from concept to finish. It takes decades to develop hands that understand how to pull the inspiration from the sketch. And when a team of Masters creates a one of a kind garment, the fabric is touched and molded in such specific way (that is both expressive and technical) a machine cannot match the quality.

Who’s positively influenced your path the most?

My mentor, Nelson Arriaga, will always be my biggest positive influence. Almost everyday when working, I use a sewing technique Nelson taught me. He allowed me to witness his construction of men’s custom suiting from start to finish. I sat next to his sewing machine for years, witnessing that touch of golden hands.

Ultimately, Nelson was an incredible friend and allowed me to witness his life. He was the kindest person I have ever met. I have seen Nelson give his last dime to those more in need, donate his sewing talent to younger designers he believed in, always make time for my constant questions, and show me what it would be like as a senior citizen participating in NYC’s fashion industry as a tailor – a true consideration for this very physical job. I am forever grateful for the friendship he extended to me. He passed away a few years ago, but I still ask his advice and use his example to guide my business.

Erin Hogan-Braker with Nelson Arriaga circa 2008

You’ve got a pretty incredible story of how you ended up in New York. How did that go down?

Not that incredible at all. Like many University of Wisconsin-Stout students, I wandered there looking for an “internship” and slept on a friend’s sofa until I found a waitress job and someone willing to let me work for free in the fashion industry.

Favorite part about working for yourself?

My favorite part is actually the understanding that working for yourself is not for everyone. I use to think, “of course everyone wants to be there own boss!” But, the more I am able to collaborate with all different types of employment structures (from my fellow freelancers, corporate clients, and all the vendors in between) I see that what is exhilarating for one person, is suffocating for another.

I think a good portion of this tolerance for different types of work structures comes from our temperaments. I am a big believer that our personalities are a significant factor defining us as individuals. Personalities can be as simple as the “Big 5 traits” or as endless as Carl Jung’s exploration into Depth Psychology. Nature, nurture, and temperament guide many choices we gravitate towards.

Working for myself has shown me that though I love not knowing where my next dollar comes from. For other people, this might fill them with anxiety, a consistent day job would make more sense. I think that the diversity of our inclinations is fascinating – we need all types. One person’s dream freelance gig is another person’s hell. Long story short, we are all inclined to do different things, different ways, for a variety of different reasons. I am grateful for a job that exposes me to many ways of living. It works for me.

7B tailors Sarah Lathrop & Erin Hogan-Braker working in the Brooklyn shop on a piece for Victoria's Secret cowgirl project

Most challenging thing about working for yourself?

I have to figure out all the details on my own. If I want a 401K, I have to research it and set it up. I can’t just enroll in existing systems.

How do you get your creative juices flowing?

I travel a lot between New York, LA, New Mexico, and the Midwest. Seeing the physical landscape change and hanging out in a variety of population sizes is very inspiring, going from population 16,000 to 16 million is an instant way to jolt my brain.

If you could be a fly on the wall to anyone’s creative space {dead or alive} who would it be?

My mentor, Nelson Arriaga. I would treasure the opportunity to sit with him in the Bronx again at his 176 Street & Jerome Avenue basement tailoring shop again. I would love to be able to ask him sewing and life questions based on my current experience, not my starry eyed “oh my this is a big city I’m going to be a ____” brain from when I was 25. I would love relate to Nelson as an older adult, I’m so curious what he would be sewing – his tailoring passion was rooted in historical fashion with a timeless quality.

Talk about a failure you’ve learned from.

You’re going to have to read “Forward” Stout's fashion magazine to hear about that one, reporter Summer Lahti just interviewed me about that. It’s too painful to revisit here...

What’s one of your proudest accomplishments in business?

My proudest accomplishment is helping to build a network of tailors and administrative team who truly support each other on and off the job. Dream team is for real; we all put a lot of effort into lifting each other up. The relationships that emerge from our network take on lives of their own, and because everyone is pretty much a technical nerd and/or artists I think some great collaborations are in the future.

Up-cycled clutch made from denim scraps- DIY with Bernina

What do you wish you knew when you first started that you know now?

That it’s not “normal” for a business or an individual to have debt, despite what the sneaky banking and credit card marketing machines tells us. Cash is king. I’m not saying to never have debt – just pay it back asap.

How did you land on the name “7th Bone”?

My mentor, Nelson, use to always say, “We fit from the 7th Bone”. He meant your 7th vertebrae in the spine. To start a fitting, we stand behind the client and evaluate their overall skeletal frame, starting from there.

How did your partnership with Bernina come about?

My mama, Julie Hogan, is a long-time children’s sewing teacher and I’m a Bernina die-hard – I have Valentine’s I made to my sewing machines in the third grade. I reached out to their Headquarters and it was a natural fit.

What has been your favorite project to date & how did it come to fruition?

I loved our Custom Creation project with Victoria’s Secret, designed by epic Stylist Elizabeth Sulcer. Once a year we create pieces based on Elizabeth’s vision. This year it was a cowgirl theme shot in Aspen, Colorado. We made lace chaps, tutus, prairie skirts, and tons of epic ranch dream girl pieces. We only get about two weeks to make 20+ pieces, it’s a fun crunch time.

What’s next / What are you most excited about?

I am pumped to be in LA with the 7B Hollywood team for the 2018 awards season! My life goal is to do a men’s Oscar tux.

7B Tailors Erin Hogan-Braker, Dominique Jernigan, and Mary Carney on-set with Victoria's Secret in 2014

Time of the day you are most productive:

1st cup of coffee

The app you couldn’t live without:

Evernote

Social media outlet you love most:

Instagram

Favorite account to follow on this outlet:

@JenniferJoyceDesign

Favorite internet radio station at the moment:

Anything Christmas – It’s about that time

Go to piece in your wardrobe:

Levi’s jeans, tailored by me for me

Favorite Netflix binge:

Lately it is the live action “Beauty and the Beast” starring Emma Watson. It took 12,000 hours to make the iconic yellow dress, and I can see why. I am very into that tiered scalloped hem – no room for errors in a precise symmetrical hem like that.

Weirdest piece of equipment you use:

Tin foil – Tommy Hilfiger, the man himself, taught me a great new use for this kitchen staple. This lesson was given to me in his kitchen, his tin foil.

Coolest place you’ve been thanks to work:

I was in Rome, Italy the summer of 2014, shooting the annual Victoria’s Secret Holiday commercial with director Michael Bay. We shot at Cinecittà Studios where Ben Hur and La Dolce Vita were filmed. It was pretty amazing to walk along same sets decked out with historical Roman ruins used for those films. My favorite part was the giant wheel of parmasian cheese the crew ate over the course of 3 days. I also loved how the Italian crew would slowly stroll to set up shots, while our American crew would run like maniacs. Working in different countries alongside different crews has been a fun way to compare and contrast cultural work styles.

Favorite designer:

Alexandre Plokhov, one of the best menswear designers on the planet. I was an intern for his then cult label “Cloak” and continued to be a fan through his work at Helmut Lang. I love absolute perfectionists. He is an insane craftsmen with a background in Patternmaking and Tailoring. His menswear pocket proportions are perfect – which is the ultimate understated goal in menswear.

Best thing about NYC:

You never know whom you are going to meet. I’ve definitely got an ambitious personality, and it’s always nice to be around a bunch of hustlers.

See more from 7th Bone & Erin here: Online | Instagram | Facebook

#wordsofwisdom #bizcrush #entrepreneurship

My Friends Are Cool

My friends are so cool I have a whole page devoted to them.

I guess it's only half a page... but I still think they're pretty great.

In fact, they're so great that I've teamed up with some of them to create stuff cooler than I could've conjured on my own.

See for yourself!

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1. CRAVE + KAT

The Backstory

I met my friend Kat in 2009 while we were both studying abroad in London {ironically in a leather handbag class}.

We re-connected several years later when she launched a children's clothing line {William + Leora} & supported each other throughout our entrepreneurial journeys.

Eventually Kat took her skills to Cambodia where she currently works with an organization that rescues women from sex trafficking, helps them integrate real life skills & offers employment at a fair wage. Here she oversees a factory that provides jobs for women and works as a technical designer all while learning the local language.

Yeah, she's basically a freaking rockstar.

Earlier this year we started talking about joining forces & eventually landed on an idea that brought us together in the first place all while combining our passions to create something to be proud to carry.

Each pouch has been handmade by survivors of trafficking using deadstock fabric + leather scraps from sandals produced under the same roof.

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2. CRAVE + SAM

If you follow me on Instagram, chances are you've received plenty an ear full about Sam. We crossed paths earlier this year but it feels like we've known each other basically forever.

The Backstory

Sam is a renowned SkillShare teacher {& soon-to-be AUTHOR} known for her watercolor paintings & urban sketching.

She's doing her than all over these wood beads so I can make them into necklaces.

We may have some other stuff up our sleeves, too. Stay tuned ;)

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Want to know more? Click each photo for more info or to purchase.

And THANKS for supporting my big, crazy dreams.

My friends thank you, too.

BIZ CRUSH: MAI : I AM enough

Menomonie, Wisconsin is no style metropolis, but it's where I met Emma while we were both studying the ins & outs of fashion design at UW-Stout. With the help of her business partner, Lizzie, they're proving that the best fashion lines don't have to originate on a major coastline.

Specializing in yoga gear, this dynamic duo is changing the workout wear game & looking good doing it. Keep reading to see how these opposites attracted & how their strengths, weaknesses & passions compliment each other in the best way possible.

What kind of kid were you growing up?

Emma - I was a quiet, gentle kid that liked to be outside. I’m an only child so I’ve always been independent and good at entertaining myself. I grew up in Traverse City, Michigan- an absolutely stunning part of the Midwest. My mom and I lived in a little log cabin with the bay of lake Michigan across the street and the forest as my back yard.

Lizzie – I was a curious, quiet kid with a lot of energy. I was the middle child so I followed my big brother everywhere for the first few years of my life, letting him chop off my hair and playing with his G.I. Joes, and then had to lead by example myself to a younger sister. I loved dance class and started when I was only 3 years old, so movement and dressing up became part of my life when I was really young. I was also VERY girly and loved fashion and in high school, I would help my friends shop and do their makeup (which continued in college). I was extremely driven and ambitious in school and was always juggling a million things – honors classes, drumline practice, dance competitions, and volunteering, but I loved all of it.

How did that affect your path towards working in the fashion industry?

Emma - It’s affected my desire to want my involvement in the fashion industry to be more than just creating clothing. I hope to have a positive impact on the environment, and hope to inspire a positive attitude and outlook on life. Our mantra ‘I AM enough’ comes from my yoga practice and my deep seeded love for balanced and calm environments.

Lizzie – I pursued so many creative outlets growing up and it wasn’t until I chose a major that felt boring + inauthentic in my first year of college that I realized this creativity I was expressing all my childhood was also what I found most fulfilling and exactly what was missing. After my first year of college, I volunteered as a camp counselor in a leadership camp for underprivileged high school students (the organization is called STLF – Students Today Leaders Forever) and when discussing the dreams of these students I actually discovered mine. It was the first time I admitted that my dream was to be a fashion designer in front of a bunch of high school students I was trying to empower. Then, when I attended the U of M student fashion design show I felt this fire light inside me and an excitement that a real career could actually make me feel this way!

So, my path to fashion design started late. I learned to sew at age 20 in Joann Fabrics classes with the sweetest elderly ladies. I extended my and double majored in Marketing and Apparel Design, from the business and design schools at the U of M. It was insane and busy, but it felt intentional; it felt right. My creative brain was finally able to truly create. Also, I stood out as a leader in my program, taking on roles like show chair for the fashion show and other big responsibilities. Because I had this balance between what I was learning in business school and design school, I had an edge in terms of being a smart designer beyond just creating art.

If your story could fit into a 30 second commercial, how would it unfold?

Emma- Someone working out and eating cake after. #balance ;) Our fitness clothing company is made to take you through your daily activities. I focus on living life to the fullest, and sometimes that means indulging in my #2 favorite food (cake) and not feeling guilty about it.

Lizzie – It would most definitely portray my journey to consistent and ever-growing wellness, physical and mental strength, and continuous challenges. I don’t take the easy way in anything that I do, from work to workouts. I always strive for continuous improvement in my mind, body and soul, working toward things I believe matter rather than things that are easy.

The constant thread and my rock in this world truly is my wellness habits that keep me grounded and also allow me to grow. Some weeks I feel like I’m drowning in never-ending project lists and new ideas (actually most weeks), but when I cook and work out everything feels right. When I push myself in weight lifting training, boxing, and cycling there is nowhere else my mind will go. And I walk often finding the precise clarity I needed in something else. Don’t get me wrong, I still indulgence embrace the every-changing ‘balance’ that Emma speaks about, but this small structure is always the constant in my roller-coaster world. It’s also why I feel so connected, passionate and inspired to make apparel for people as they do the one thing that has given ME such strength and consistency in achieving my dreams. It’s a beautiful colliding of my worlds in so many ways and I feel so lucky to be growing this company with Emma that has the potential to help others in great ways. I believe it’s only the beginning of the positive influence MAI will have on others.

What ultimately made you decide to do the lovely thing you do?

Emma- Before the athleisure market exploded, the cute leggings options that were made to work out in AND wear out after were limited SO expensive. Being a part of the fashion industry, I know all of the work and true costs that go into making a product. I couldn’t be a stand for producing goods and selling at a price that my friends couldn’t afford. So I decided to make my own! Our clothing is based on fashion trends and are made with high quality fabrics and construction that hold up to your sweatiest workouts.

Lizzie – When I met Emma I quickly realized I never wanted her to leave my life. Emma has a way of making people feel empowered and I felt newly inspired from a somewhat frustrating start to my own design career. When I worked with her for my first round of designs for MAI, it became crystal clear that we had complementing, yin-yang attributes that would make for an incredible partnership. We lift each other up and help the other in areas of weakness and this solid team has led to my continued role at MAI as well as becoming Emma’s business partner. And of course, my passions for fitness, fashion and design all align at MAI – I feel so lucky to have this outlet and to be creating a team that will thrive as we grow!

Who’s positively influenced your path the most?

Emma: Lizzie Hillmann-Butch! She saw what MAI stood for and wanted to be a part of it. She brings an incredible perspective to the brand and is now Co-Owner of MAI and Creative Director! We have a true Yin-Yang relationship that helps push both of us further.

Lizzie: Emma- Ha ha. We could not do this without each other. Emma is someone that gets just as excited about the little wins as I do. Our friendship and respect for one another has also shown me how you can have a strong personal relationship with someone yet simultaneously challenge and push that person in a professional setting. We are yin and yang and we represent the balance that drives our brand. My husband has also supported my entrepreneurial efforts over the years (this isn’t the first for me) and he reminds my that this is the real deal, especially when I’m struggling or feeling overwhelmed. He gives me the support that I need and I am ever-grateful for that.

Favorite part about working for yourself?

Emma- Having the time to connect with the people that influence our brand and in turn help us create something bigger than ourselves.

Lizzie- I love flexibility! There’s nothing I dislike more than a very structured week, unless it starts at 10AM. However, I like working in a partnership far more than just for myself. I am a perfectionist and I need someone to tell me when to stop or I’ll overwork myself. That’s why I love Emma – she always knows how to help me stop and make decisions with her at that point, which gives me a feeling of great contentment. They say all the greatest companies begin with complementing partners, and that is 100% the key ingredient to our growth and success.

Most challenging thing about working for yourself?

Emma- Ha. Not having enough time, in general!

Lizzie- I rarely stop. I don’t have nearly enough time for friends + family or relaxing.….However, to me my hard work and countless sacrifices are creating something far greater than a job I love. It’s a company where Emma and I will be able to create an environment for other talented people can come to feel fulfilled. I am working toward the vision, especially when the day to day feels incredibly exhausting in these difficult time periods. The struggle and constant engagement sparks greater passion for me and it’s what I continue to chase.

Photo by Rhea Pappas

How do you get your creative juices flowing?

Emma -Go to a yoga or workout class with my friends or teach a yoga class. Gets me back into the mindset of why I’m doing what I’m doing, and helps me see who I’m creating clothing for.

Lizzie – Workouts, making inspiration boards (especially by hand), rearranging furniture and my space, reading a really great book, traveling and taking pictures of everything around me.

I work out and then work uninterrupted in the quite of night. I’m a complete night owl and I am most creative when the rest of the world is asleep. When I’m alone and focused I can follow all my tangents and usually find the best work at the end of one! I’ve always enjoyed some form of solitude when I’m doing creative work, because I otherwise feel like I need to impress others or feel like I’m being watched.

I also find inspiration from walking around the city, traveling, and seeing the structures in buildings and skylines and finding vibrant colors in nature. I am obsessed with architecture and how it transitions to the body to enhance someone’s form.

If you could be a fly on the wall to anyone’s creative space {dead or alive} who would it be?

Lizzie- Wow, good question! Probably a renowned dancer/choreographer like Mikhail Baryshnikov. I feel so much emotion when I watch dance and love the intense feelings it evokes inside me. It lights a fire and makes me want to move too!

Talk about a failure you’ve learned from.

Lizzie - We missed a deadline for a big event with a really key product and it did come together at the very last minute, but made for a very stressful event setup and prep period. As partners, Emma and I are both very optimistic, so it’s important for us to plan in buffer times for when things don’t go as planned. I become more dramatically disappointed and Emma helps me to breathe through the unplanned events we face.

However, time challenges are really the name of the game in our business – clients want everything customized tomorrow so we are constantly faced with figuring out how to be quick and efficient, without sacrificing any quality checkpoints. We are always improving our process flow and checkpoints in order to meet these challenging demands. Our failures are where we learn our bottlenecks and we implement new systems once they are discovered.

Photo by Rhea Pappas

What’s one of your proudest accomplishments in business?

Emma - I’m proud to say I’ve had quite a few big and small accomplishments. It’s the little wins that we need to remember to celebrate. Most recently we’ve streamlined all of our production process to allow for scalability- this was a huge undertaking!

I’m also very proud that we were included in the January 2017 ELLE UK Workout Issue, Invited to the 2017 Spring Paris Fashion week, winner of the Her. Spirit Women Entrepreneur Grant and nominated for ‘Most Likely to Succeed’ by MN Business Magazine.

Lizzie- Everything Emma said above. Also, a big one for me was reading a customer review written by our largest client, Bodies By Burgoon/Torque Cycling. It brought me to tears and gave me chills to read the operation manager’s kind and amazing words about working with us. It felt real when we had that first business review and that spelled out exactly how we were making a difference in this organization’s community in the exact way we had intended. Our words are one thing, but coming from someone else was one of the proudest moments I can remember.

What do you wish you knew when you first started that you know now?

Emma- Enjoy the ride! I’ve always approached this process with patience and the desire to grow slowly. I have a lot to learn, and I know it. I try not to rush the process and stay focused on each day instead of wishing for everything to happen right away. It’s often the moments that I don’t expect that happen to be the best!

Lizzie- I honestly don’t wish it would have gone any differently than how it has. The little steps and challenges are what made us learn how to work through obstacles. The process of growing and constant learning is one that gives back because you turn out to be a leader.

Photo by Rhea Pappas

How did you land on the name “MAI”?

Emma: Our mantra is ‘I AM enough’ MAI is the mirror image of I AM. We believe in the power this mantra holds and how important it is to empower ourselves and others with positive words and actions. We love seeing this mantra really land with our customers and hope that the more they see it, the more they will think and truly believe it for themselves.

Lizzie: Also, MAI Sport and MAI Style were named in a text message..some of the best ideas are for Emma and I!

What has been your favorite project to date & how did it come to fruition? Emma: I’ve really loved moving in to our showroom / workspace in Northeast Minneapolis. We’ve been there since January of this year. Prior to that it was always in my tiny apartment! When I found the space, I knew it was the right spot for us, with neighbors like Woodchuck, Northmade and Great Lakes Clothing among other really inspiring startup companies, I knew it would help elevate our brand. It makes such a difference to be able to have people see the process that goes in to making the clothing! It’s been fun to see the space evolve and I can’t wait to continue growing!

Lizzie: I would agree about the power of our space! I loved creating the space with Emma and know it will continue to get better and better. I feel so proud inviting clients, friends and family to our office and having our brand represented in a space instead of scattered around. It’s amazing the difference it has made for our mentality in addition to having the professional front that helps people take us seriously.

Also, I would say the photoshoots are always my favorite projects as well! It’s so incredible to have a fantastic photographer partner that really understands MAI, Rhea Pappas, and bringing this product to life through styling, locations, with inspiring people has been a constant passion for me.

What’s next / What are you most excited about?

Emma + Lizzie: This year we launched our customizable two-part wholesale collection, MAI Sport, activewear for your sweatiest workouts, and MAI Style, fashion-forward style and comfort you’ll want to live in. We add logos and artwork to customize these styles for gyms, fitness studios and companies looking to elevate their brand offering, with a wide range of fabric choices and print options that make these styles uniquely yours.

We started with just a couple clients in early 2017 and have quickly grown to a couple dozen. We are most passionate about the partnerships we create that are far greater than just transactions to our team. We work with each company on a very individual basis to help promote THEIR businesses with custom designs, events and collaborations, and by providing styled photography of their product as well. The growth and interest we are receiving for MAI Sport and MAI Style is so exciting and we truly look forward to these new and continued relationships more than anything. We connect so well with others that have a passion for fitness and helping people, so this direction is exciting for our team.

Currently, we are working on an order for Life Time Fitness and are heading out to LA in January to prep for a vendor show next summer! We are also excited about some new product development this winter that will add some key staples to our customers wardrobes for cold weather!

Photo by Rhea Pappas

Time of the day you are most productive:

Emma: Morning

Lizzie: Night

The app you couldn’t live without:

Emma: Tasks list or Gmail Calendar- I would never get anywhere on time without them.

Lizzie: Photos

Social media outlet you love most:

Emma: Instagram

Lizzie: Instagram

Favorite account to follow on this outlet:

Emma: All the yogis and workout gyms that I interact with

Lizzie: Besides fitness IG accounts, I love beautiful food and drink IGs, like @tattersalldistilling – I love gin and that they make drinks look like a piece of art

Favorite internet radio station at the moment:

Emma: Spotify- Wild and Free playlist

Lizzie: I love EDM music and have been liking 96.3 a lot for that!

Go to piece in the collection:

Emma: Hmmm…. Our Uptown crops and Mill City bra for working out and the City Lights Cardi for every day

Lizzie: The bras – I can’t wear any other sports bras anymore – they are too amazing!!!

Favorite Netflix binge:

Emma: Girls

Lizzie: Orange Is The New Black

Best MN yoga studio:

Emma: Up!!! (I teach here too <3)

Lizzie: Too many good ones!

See more from MAI: Online | Instagram | Facebook | In person- by appointment at our showroom 610 SE 9th St, Minneapolis MN

#wordsofwisdom #bizcrush #entrepreneurship #yoga