The founder of cause-centric design company Prinkshop — which created the logo, t-shirts and totes for the Tory Burch Foundation’s new Women Rule initiative in partnership with POLITICO and Google — talks entrepreneurial challenges and melding fashion with politics.
Prinkshop’s inspiration…
I made some totes with my kids during the 2008 Obama election because we read some statistics about how young people weren’t voting — we called them “vote totes.” That was the original inspiration, that you could make a difference with products.
Prinkshop is…
Products with a purpose. I’ve always loved graphics, I think they’re really powerful. We think, OK, a woman’s right to choose is in danger, so what represents that and what would be a powerful graphic to get people to start talking? We’re bringing fashion and politics into one place.
The story behind the name…
It’s “printed ink” — prink. We thought we made up the word, and then we looked it up and it was actually in the dictionary — it means to wear something that you care about, to primp, to deck out, which we thought was applicable.
The goal is…
To prove a model in which you can actually do good things and make a profit. And to create awareness about the issues that need attention. So it’s a two-fold thing.
Most exciting part of owning your own business…
Every day is outside of the box. You make up the rules.
And most challenging part…
Accounting. Seriously.
When starting a company you must…
Be brave.
Never be afraid to…
Fail.
Best advice you’ve received…
Listen before giving advice.
Next up…
Every day we’re working toward new organizations — we have our own line, but we are also pitching not-for-profits constantly. Our goal is to supply every not-for-profit with their swag.