Alumni
Grad Brittany Meeker Opens Etsy Shop Bees In Clover
Fashion Design grad Brittany Meeker is taking advantage of the time she is spending at home during the coronavirus lockdown, and has been busy getting creative. She set up her Etsy shop, Bees In Clover, selling hoodies, t-shirts, and tote bags that feature her drawings. She finds inspiration in vintage science-fiction film, Japanese anime, manga, and Harajuku fashion. And some of her best memories of FIDM were the times she spent in the Library. We caught up with her to find out more.
Tell us what you've been up to: I’ve always wanted to be my own boss, and harness my love for fashion design, graphic design, and illustration in doing so. Being a science fiction fan with a love for the vivid colors in vintage film posters, as well as Harajuku fashion, I started doodling what I would imagine my film posters to have. Some of the illustrations in my collection are actually from old notebooks I had during my time at FIDM. With the state of things being put on hold in the world right now, I found that I had more free time than I knew what to do with, so I figured it was time to start designing and utilizing my drawings. The business itself is in its first steps, but it has inspired me with new illustrations. There’s much more to come.
Tell us more about Bees In Clover: For the shop itself, it started with doodles that I really loved and wanted to share. I also wanted to make ready-to-wear everyday items for adults and children. Although I love to dress up, deep down inside I am a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal, and I wanted my products to be relatable to that. That's why, for now, I am offering t-shirts, hoodies, and tote bags.
The designs on these items are a reflection of my aesthetic. I'd say it's a mixture of my love for the cosmic fantasy worlds seen in Star Trek, The Twilight Zone, and 80's films like Labyrinth along with an admiration for Japanese fashion and art. I am a huge anime fan and love the "kawaii" market with its pastel colors and kitsch which inspired the color scheme. Of course, there's got to be some edge in it since I do love to push the boundaries of creativity, so I gave my designs some sassiness (something I might be a little more apprehensive to admit to relating to. Ha, ha.) I really just wanted this shop to be a reflection of me and have the goal to make people feel happy when they see it.
Tell us your industry story--your path to FIDM, your work, and some of the highlights of your career so far? I always knew I wanted to be involved in fashion design, but I didn’t think it would ever be feasible. My junior year of high school I planned on going to law school, but at a local college fair in my hometown there was a FIDM booth. After talking to the representative there I realized that my lifelong dreams could actually be a reality. That summer, I went to the FIDM fashion week program for potential students at the Los Angeles campus and knew it was where I belonged. I applied when I returned home and found out I got in! It is still one of my greatest achievements. Upon completion of my FIDM program a few years later, I entered the fashion world as a design assistant for a junior sportswear brand in Los Angeles. I was able to utilize my education with hands-on experience on how the design process works from concept to production. I am forever grateful for that team and experience. After a few years of doing that, though, I moved states and entered the beauty industry. Through this path I met the most creative individuals that really inspired me to design again, and to this day those people remain my best friends. From there I realized just how much I missed fashion and decided to move back into the industry through fashion merchandising and business, which is what I am doing today. However, with the pandemic, I have had my day job put on hold. Instead of being unmotivated and defeated, I decided there was no better time to dive head-first into designing again. In doing so again, I was able to finally fulfill my dream and open my online shop, Bees In Clover, on Etsy. I’ve received such a positive response from it that I know my dreams will continue to come true.
What are you doing to stay inspired during these challenging times? I find inspiration in vintage science-fiction film and Japanese anime, manga, and Harajuku fashion, so I’ve been revisiting those on days that feel dull. I also keep my sketchpads and writing utensils in sight, so they are ready when I need to get an idea out or pull from old sketches. For example, one of my designs in my new business actually came from my art history notes from FIDM which makes it feel like I’ve come full circle. All in all, illustration and art have truly become the best therapy.
How are you showing up for your community, your career, and yourself right now? I actually moved states and out of Seattle late last fall, so my direct community is still new to me. However, they are making huge efforts to keep local businesses open with a drive-through farmers’ market, replenishing co-ops, and offering safe pick-up options for restaurants which has been great to see and be a part of. As for myself and my career, my co-workers from my day job and the people from my church have remained a stronghold of support in making sure I have everything I need, both in tangible objects and in spirit and mind. I find that with these strongholds during this time of uncertainty I can let the creativity in me unleash more than in a routine day-to-day lifestyle. The ambiguity of what will happen next is what drove me to open my business in the first place and is the driving force for me to continue to fervently pursue it.
What brands are inspiring you right now, in terms of their response to the needs of the world during this pandemic? In terms of inspiring brands during this pandemic, I love seeing small businesses supporting small businesses. Some of my favorites are JackyMoon, Macramanidesigns (on Etsy), and Future Monsters. Now being the owner of a small business myself, seeing these creatives design and fashion new items reminds me (and the rest of their followers) that a pandemic will not stop them from chasing their dreams and passions. I think seeing and giving hope to others is the best inspiration any brand can give the art and design community in a time like now.
What is one of your fondest memories of FIDM? The library!! If I could have that library in my home I would be set for life. Ha! But truly, I find that whenever I think about my time at FIDM, my mind always goes back to the early mornings waiting for the library to open and be in an atmosphere of quiet and diligent vision from all different types of minds. Being a fashion design graduate, I spent the majority of my time in the fabric library room. Every time I went there, I met new people with different aesthetics that really taught me how to be open minded to all types of art and design. I also miss going to open labs in the sewing rooms too. There is such an electricity of innovative energy that could motivate me to keep going even at the most exhausting of times. (Mid-terms, anyone?) It was genuinely magical.
Any tips for our students who are about to experience their first quarter of online-only classes? I took a few online courses when I attended FIDM, and they were very easy to navigate. My advice would be to invest your time on the discussion boards (if applicable to the course) because you can bounce ideas from others which will help when you enter classes and have group projects. Almost always you’ll be studying and learning with people of different majors, so the discussion boards will give you an introduction to the different perspectives on concepts and ideas within the fashion and merchandising industries.
What are you most looking forward to once the pandemic is over? Being able to have face-to-face conversations with my friends and co-workers! Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to live in a time where technology allows us to speak over video, but it’s not the same. I think I’ll be even more inspired when I am able to be around those familiar energies again.
Anything else you’d like to share? FIDM really did change my life, so I would like to say thank you to the staff and board for everything you have given me. Even if I had a do-over in life I still would have chosen FIDM for my education.
Keep up with Brittany at etsy.com/shop/beesinclover and Instagram @bees.in.clover.
Categories: Fashion Design Alumni
