Recently
I had the exciting opportunity to interview Devon Mish, founder of Devon Maryn. Devon Maryn is an activewear brand that was launched this
past summer. The thing that sets Devon Maryn apart from other activewear
companies are their bright colors and the preppy, feminine, nautical inspired
prints. I love the fact that Devon has put a fun, colorful spin on workout apparel, and has even given the prints fun, whimsical such as “Bows to Toes”
and “Butter Me Up Lobster”. With cute prints and flattering designs I think
Devon Mish has given women a new motivation to go workout!
What is the inspiration behind
the Devon Maryn company?
Beach-inspired,
preppy, colorful, feminine, all-American activewear with a bicoastal influence
(both California, where I’m from, and Maryland, where I live now).
When did you first know you
wanted to be an entrepreneur?
A long
time now - Devon Maryn is actually the third business I’ve started! I’m a bit of a serial
entrepreneur. I was always
fascinated by fashion and felt like I could bring something new and different
to the table.
What is the most gratifying and
what is the hardest part about having your own clothing line?
Most
gratifying: being able to see and wear a completed item that once only existed
in my head!
Hardest:
It can be very challenging as an entrepreneur to work alone – many times I
crave the camaraderie of a traditional office setting, where you can get
instant feedback and bounce ideas off each other.
Why did you decide to design
workout apparel versus other everyday wear?
I didn’t
necessarily have a dream of designing activewear in particular, but more to get
into the fashion industry in general. There is A LOT of choice out there
for women when it comes to apparel, and I wanted to find a niche that wasn’t
served. For me, I had my “aha” moment when I could not find the type of
workout clothing that fit my personality. I love bright colors, colorful
prints, clothes that have “energy” and make me happy! The activewear
category was full of super boring black yoga pants, solid colors, just a sea of
sameness. I thought preppy,
All-American, more sophisticated activewear just didn’t exist, so I decided to
create something that I would be excited to work out in.
Do you have a creative process
you go through when designing a collection? If so what is that process?
It’s not
a formal process, but rather a collection of things I’m inspired by – a color
palette, a specific print idea, and what excites me in the moment. I have many ideas that I explore but
don’t actually get made!
Do you have a mentor? If so how
did you meet and how do they help you?
I have a
lot of mentors. I frequently reach
out to my support network—I’ve built a really incredible circle of inspiring
women who are entrepreneurs and know just how to encourage me and build me up
when I need it!
I’d imagine that each day would
be different, but is there anything you do to help yourself maintain a routine
on a daily basis?
No day is
the same! I could be doing
anything from sketching to creating marketing images to posting on social media
to picking fabrics and fitting samples to photoshoots.
Which fashion icons do you look
up to?
What do you usually wear to
work?
I work
from home, so whatever I want! For
the first half of the day, I’m in Devon Maryn clothing; the second half,
something comfy, like jeans and a striped top. :)
How do you unwind after a day at
work?
A glass
of chardonnay!
What is your favorite quote that
helps to motivate you?
Work
until you no longer have to introduce yourself.
If you could go back to the very
beginning is there any thing you would do differently?
Nope!
Do you have any advice/words of
wisdom for those who are thinking about starting their own company?
·
First
and foremost, I would say, JUST DO IT.
Assuming you’re comfortable with risk and can stomach the uncertainty,
committing to an idea and starting is the hardest part. As an entrepreneur, you’ll learn more
about yourself, others, and what you’re capable of than in any other environment. You’ll work harder than you’ve ever worked,
but your rewards will be so much greater.
·
Expect
to make some big mistakes and embrace the journey. This is my third entrepreneurial venture and there is still
so much to learn and so many situations you wish you’d handled differently. No one has it all figured out, so
you’re not alone.
·
Find
some great mentors and build a support system that you can go to with any
question, any problem, or when you just need a pep talk. Those days are frequent!
·
Remember
to enjoy yourself!! Don’t stress
out all the time. Being an
entrepreneur should be fun (especially if your business if a passion of yours).
