Finding the right people in this business is indeed not a cake walk. We had success at many points of our journey but we were also met with numerous losses. At the beginning these were things that we thought we'd fully accepted until it was actually on our faces.
The reality of building a supply chain is far more complex than any business textbook suggests. You can research manufacturers, compare materials, and plan logistics all day long, but nothing quite prepares you for the moment when a supplier falls through, or when the materials you've ordered simply don't meet your standards.
We learned this lesson the hard way. Our initial fabric manufacturer didn't work out due to disagreements over pricing and logistics. The labels we'd sourced turned out to be the wrong kind entirely. Finding someone capable of creating our bespoke buttons proved nearly impossible. Even our photoshoot locations became a source of frustration, forcing us to pivot from our original plans.
Those early setbacks taught us invaluable lessons. We discovered that accepting something in theory and facing it in practice are two entirely different things. But more importantly, we learned to trust ourselves and believe that we'd find a way through.
The turning point came when we stopped seeing obstacles as dead ends and started treating them as opportunities. Unable to find the right fabric manufacturer, we connected with a group of weavers who created a bespoke blend tailored specifically to our vision. When no one could make our buttons, I learned to craft them by hand. When our first location didn't work out, we found a better option that was also more affordable.
Yes, it cost us—not just in funds, but in time and energy. Yes, there were countless trials and errors. But without those struggles, without that willingness to problem-solve and adapt, I don't think we'd be nearly as proud of what we've built. The journey of finding the right people and partners isn't about perfection—it's about persistence, teamwork, and the courage to believe in yourself when everything else feels uncertain.