August 25, 2015
Don’t Worry Baby
Today we’re getting our good vibes from Don’t Worry Baby! Stephanie and Alice are the designers behind these hand dyed clothing and scarves and we can’t wait to hang out with these two in Brooklyn (they just seem like a lot of fun). Get ready, NY! Our Brooklyn Fair is headed your way soon!
Where did your business name come from? Is there an interesting history behind?
Don’t Worry Baby started with so many “what if’s” what if we rented a studio? What if we made our own brand? When we got to the naming part, The Beach Boys’ song was in heavy rotation on our Spotify. As soon as we considered it as a name, it just stuck. It’s playful and memorable and more than a brand name: it’s a motto. It makes an object, like a scarf, a reminder to be positive and present.
When/Why did you start working in this particular craft/field?
We needed a creative outlet! We realized, when we met and became roommates last year, that we had shared hobbies dyeing fabric and sewing. We had each studied design in different ways graphic design and design history. We also geeked out over the same brands and the same aesthetic we saw the potential right away.
Have you had any major failures? If so, what were some important insights gained?
It’s all learning at this stage: revising our sewing patterns, tightening our color palette and realizing that less is more. Just because we try a pattern or a particular color doesn’t mean we have to be married to it. We allow ourselves constant editing and don’t think of mistakes as time wasted. We say “Don’t worry, baby!!” a lot, when in the studio. It’s silly but honestly, so helpful.
Have you sacrificed anything to create your business? If so, what was it, and do you have any regrets?
Social life! Just kidding, but only sort of we both have full time jobs and have to maximize our weekend hours. We try to get lots of studio time in and pretty much have a running “biz meeting” whenever both of us are home. The “what if” conversations never stop!
What has been your proudest/favorite moment since creating your business?
Seeing our clothing and jewelry on our friends, not just each other, is so rewarding. Also realizing that we’ve created a “look” that others recognize as Don’t Worry Baby. For some reason hearing other people describe what you’ve created makes it feel so real!
What made you take this leap into being your own boss?
Life is short!! We had thought about doing this on our own for so many years and had never started. When we met and started talking about it, we realized it was totes meant to be.
How does the city you live in influence your work?
In Brooklyn, we’re surrounded by so many similar sized handmade, startup brands. It could be discouraging, to feel like we’re new kids in a big school. When it comes down to it, though, we’ve realized we can be huge fans of other brands out there and make our own, unique things. You just have to get your ideas out of your head and into physical form.
What are some inspirations for your work?
We wanted an alternative to fast fashion and excessive, mindless shopping. We had both learned to sew when we were kids and realized that super simple clothing, that we had made ourselves, were what we liked wearing the most. We both dreamed of this tiny closet of hardworking, minimal clothes.
What are some tips or suggestions you’d like to offer to fellow makers?
Define deadlines and stick to them. It doesn’t suck the fun out of it; it pushes you to be productive. When we have less time, we make more confident decisions.
Thank you Stephanie and Alice for sharing with us! Be sure to say hello to these gal pals at our Brooklyn Fair coming up in just a couple weeks! In the meantime, you can find Don’t Worry Baby online here: