Lately, I’ve been inspired by Maria Montes, she embodied fearlessness and passion. She had a goal, conquered it and stayed consistent until her death. At a young age she set her sights on being an actress so she learned English, moved to NY from the Dominican Republic and eventually Hollywood where she became superstar. She set her sights beyond her culture and didn’t let adversity be her crutch; she just took life by the horns and rocked it. I love that she created her own opportunities instead of waiting to be discovered. She made an impact and also embraced motherhood. I love reading biographies, very encouraging reading the path of how ladies in history (or herstory) came to be.

When I was a kid I was constantly drawing family members doing activities things every child does in the beginning. Growing up, I wasn’t encouraged or discouraged but I didn’t continue to pursue it, which I regret. Then I got into music in Junior High school being in a marching band and even auditioned for Julliard School of Music. I didn’t make the cut and moved on to high school where there was no serious art or music curriculum. So art kind of died out for me. Then as I got older I went to the public library and found the two graffiti “bibles” – Spraycan Art and Subway Art – they completely blew me away! I would try to mimic graffiti pieces in there. Then I started to really take notice of all the graffiti in my neighborhood. But being that graffiti is like a secret society I didn’t have access to that world until my early twenties so until then I remained clueless and searching for my voice in art.
I didn’t nurture it until I go acquainted with the graffiti around my neighborhood in the Bronx and upper Manhattan as as young teen. Finally, I would meet graffiti writers, painters and photographers so it was like a renaissance period for me. Graffiti is like an apprenticeship art form and I met a few generous writers who would give me outlines with my newly found tag name. Creating my graffiti alter-ego allowed me to break my shell. I never went to art school I always would take my curiosity to lead me somewhere or just submit to being a business woman. During that same time I discovered graphic design and one of my close friends would give me tutorials. Once I got a taste of the art and design world, I was eager to satisfy my appetite for my new found hunger.

There are so many! They are all special! Every piece is a piece of me. To take time out to create a painting in the studio or the streets takes time and sacrifice so I am happy to just create it. But if I did have to pick a favorite it would have to be the graffiti piece I did in Paris 2010!

When I was a little girl I was sketching my back to school outfits so  my mom would know what exactly to buy when she’d go shopping. Later, when I was living on my own I started painting my t-shirts by hand and even started getting orders to custom bedazzled cut up t-shirts. Later I would work at a licensing company, creating backpacks and accessories for The Jim Henson Company, Hillary Duff, Crayola and others so I got to see the creative, production and business side of fashion. It was a natural transition for me to start my own brand since I have always craved to be an entrepreneur developing my own ideas from conception to production.

Kweenz Destroy is derived from my partner Cope 2 and (cope2.net) graffiti crew, Kids Destroy that he started in the South Bronx in 1982, which later became Kings Destroy. I was tired of experimenting with brand names and I finally found one that represented my purpose for the brand I had intended. Kweenz Destroy with Queens spelled differently to keep the graffiti legacy so it means Kweenz staying on top dominating and destroying all obstacles in her way.

I would love to see more around the way and worldwide girls rock KD. I would love to work with Rita Ora shot by Terry Richardson – random vision. We recently worked with Maluca on our lookbook “Koncrete Jungle” shot by Marley Kate and styled by Oscar Sanchez. We had such a blast, her energy on set was amazing. For KD it would be amazing to see a capsule collection with OBEY. For my art I would love to collaborate with a cosmetics brand or even a sneaker brand- my graffiti graphics would be so explosive on their product. I think if you open your heart and put the right energy into the universe anything is possible! I always like to think big. The sky is the limit!

For the most part they are both full time entities add family responsibilities in the mix and it can be overwhelming. It literally is a balancing act but with smart time management all is not impossible. Cut out a lot of unnecessary noise and get right down to work and create. I am happiest when I am producing, creating and seeing progress. Having even short-term goals is necessary, accomplish a little of both each day and you will see the progress. Everything counts.

I have many mantras – Be yourself, Be fearless and don’t give up. Don’t stay stuck on one hit you have to stay consistent and keep evolving. You have to create your own opportunities because no one is going to hand them to you. Keep it fun and simple. Don’t forget to smell the roses.

Meet Kristian Giambi, the creative ingenue behind made-in-NYC BRULEE Lingerie and Loungewear. The Northern-California native is a lifelong lover of fashion and art. BRULEE offers femininity “without the frills,” a motto that reflects Kristian’s busy lifestyle. We’ve posted about BRULEE before so were pumped to get to finally talk to Kristian about starting her own business and getting started in the fashion industry in our exclusive interview!

What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

Coco Chanel for her ambition and determination.

You studied Visual Communications in school – how did you make the transition to designing lingerie and starting your own company?

Yes my college degree is in visual communications. I studied advertising, graphics, photography, branding, etc., all of which was truly instrumental in starting Brulee. I wanted to combine all I learned and loved in college with my passion for fashion and design. Studying visual design and communications I had no formal training in design or fashion, so I really had to figure it out on my own. I started doing research on the industry – factories, product development, sourcing, production, etc. I really wanted to produce in New York City, so I began connecting the dots there. Sometimes I look back and think how crazy I was for taking this on! I really had no idea what I was doing but as I put one foot in front of the other, it came together so wonderfully. From the Brulee line to company branding and everything in between, I have truly loved building every little detail that encompasses this brand.

One of your design motifs is “femininity without the frills” – what do you mean by that? What do you wish to convey through your designs?

I believe you don’t necessarily need all the frills and fluff of bows and lace to be feminine and sexy. I am not saying it is a total no-no, I just think there is a beautiful way to execute it. The Brulee design aesthetic is classic pieces that are glamorous and have a modern sensibility. That sort of modern femininity is so sexy to me.

Many of your designs look vintage inspired.  Do you try to evoke “old glamour” in your designs?

Yes, I am inspired by and do infuse the glamour and sex appeal of pin-up era in Brulee, but executed in a modern, minimalist way.

What’s your favorite piece of that you’ve created?

That’s hard to pick just one. Probably the Coco Teddy.

Who do you want to work with?

I could go on and on listing the people I’d like to work with in all aspects of design because I admire so many people.  I would love to work with Karl Lagerfeld. If I could go back in time, Helmut Newton or Coco Chanel. Also David Carson and Kelly Wearstler. Just to name a few. I could go on more!

What part of running your own business is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

The most challenging part is simply that every day presents new and different challenges! But this is what keeps me motivated, inspired, and on my toes. I really can’t say there is any part of this I dislike.

Any advice for ladies on the fit and care of lingerie?

Certainly finding silhouettes that work for you. What looks great on one woman may not look great on another, so try out different silhouettes until you find what complements your figure the most. Care for lingerie carefully! Do not just throw into the washing machine, especially fine silks. Hand wash with a delicate solution and hang to dry. Or dry clean.

Any advice for ladies who are just starting out in a career in the fashion industry or running their own business?

Education is important, but beyond that I believe finding a mentor in the business who can offer their insight is invaluable. And believing in the motto that you can do whatever you set your heart out to do!

Brulee pieces run $65-$280 on brulee.net
@bruleelingerie on Twitter
Brulee on Facebook

Photo by Jason McDonald

Tara Martins rides a motorcycle, once owned a scrunchie business (vintage chic), and will beat you at Texas Hold ‘em.  She’s also the US General Manager for Aussie bag brand Crumpler. In 2003, Tara had a chance encounter with the owners and pitched them the idea that she could start their business in the US. Since then, Tara has personally overseen the design, installation, and opening of multiple retail locations, a shipping warehouse, and a US headquarters office.  She’s also an avid bike rider who’s somehow found time to bike the 550 miles from San Francisco to LA and dip into the Tour de France. This summer, Tara will ride her bike 300 miles across Zambia for charity. We got to talk with her about her work-adventure balance. Check it out!

Photo by Mike Vorrasi

Madonna for performing the super bowl at the age of 53.

A metal cash box and a red hard cover notebook.

In 2002 I met Crumpler owners, Dave Roper & Will Miller, through an Australian friend. They were in NY with the intention of opening Crumpler’s first US retail store, and asked me to help them do it. I agreed. Shortly after opening the store they had to return to Australia and handed me the keys, a metal box to collect cash, and a notebook to record the sales. There was a lot of “on the job” training and me just figuring it out one day at a time. Our first store is still in the same location, although these days we use computers and modern technology to run things.

Our people. This group is chock-full of the most talented and interesting people I’ve had the chance to meet.

I check my email about 400 times a day, so the answer would be modern technology, which allows me to communicate from anywhere. Well almost anywhere, I’m headed to Africa in June for a charity bicycle ride across Zambia (www.bikezambia.org). I’ll have to quit email checking cold turkey during that ride.

Twenty-year-old R&B singer Phlo Finister is determined to bring the ’60s Youthquake movement back to the forefront of our consciousness. The Oakland-born, LA-based artist might be just the person to do it. After leaving home at age fifteen, the past five years have seen her working as a model, a fashion stylist for Def Jam artists, and a singer. Her new EP, Crown Gold, features covers of ’60s favorites “Bang Bang” (originally Cher, covered more famously by Nancy Sinatra) and “Riders on the Storm” (The Doors), along with several other original tracks, including one that samples Tupac (“Hail Mary”). We bring you our exclusive interview with Phlo, and the new EP below:

Classic influences, songs, the way they are are sung and why they are sung.  I didnt know it then, but it stays with you.

You are from Oakland and later moved to Los Angeles – how has growing up in California affected your sound?

LA really shaped my sound, I was young in Oakland, but I think the realities of a city like that stay with you…  LA a real place too doe.  Just a mix of everything west coast I guess.

I was blessed to have such a great best friend.

I’m really particular about the things I like.   I’m more of a visual person when it comes to sound. I like it like my fashion – mod.

It’s something going on with the youth.  Being who you want to be.  It’s powerful when you use your creativity. It’s a movement, not like Youthquaker is a movement, but just all these kids not afraid to be themselves, that’s a Youthquaker.

It’s important to maintain the mystery.  It’s like hiding behind my shades.  Why isn’t that beautiful anymore?

I  started out doing modeling with friends. I always had a strong opinion on fashion so I used my personal style to create my music. I always look to designers for inspiration like Betsey Johnson and Pam Hogg or Prada – they’re my favorite.   They inspire all my art – to me, to work in the “fashion industry” is my music…

Missy Elliot… She’s dope.

It’s all a challenge.  The creating process is strange, like you definitely have to have an a abstract mind to make the music that a billion people relate to and feel as if they know you…  But if they relate to it, it can’t be that abstract right?

Entrepreneur and Harvard Business School grad Alexandra Wilkis Wilson co-founded fashion site Gilt Groupe with her best friend, Alexis Maybank. The pair have a book coming out this spring, By Invitation Only, about entrepreneurship and how they built their business. We got to learn more about the woman behind the members-only luxury sale site in our interview:

What woman, besides your mom or grandmother, do you find inspirational?

Since I can’t say my mom or my grandmother, then I will say Oprah Winfrey!

Before founding Gilt Groupe you worked with managing retail operations at Bulgari and Louis Vuitton.  How did you make the transition to e-commerce?

What was really more of a transition was going from working for companies that were established with globally recognizable brands to going to a 5 person start up team and building a brand from scratch! The transition from the brick and mortar world to the e-commerce world wasn’t that much of a challenge comparatively.  The vast majority of our merchants at Gilt have made that transition seamlessly.

New flash-sale sites are being developed constantly but Gilt was the first one I was aware of.  How did the idea for Gilt come about?

Alexis and I regularly discussed working together when we were classmates and best of friends at Harvard Business School. We saw Gilt as a way to bring the New York invitation only sample sale phenomenon ”on the road” via the Internet, making what was once only accessible to New Yorkers, available to the whole country, and now that we ship internationally, we can bring this to the world. Our founding Gilt team includes five co-founders – we each continue to be very involved in the business everyday! We are continuously working to improve Gilt and bring our members more and more brands and features.

How did you know you were ready to launch your own project?

The timing was right for me on a personal level. I had just gotten married and felt like it was a good time to take the entrepreneurial plunge! The concept was good, the timing was great and our founding team was top notch.

Gilt has grown from women’s fashion and now includes men’s, children’s, home, cuisine, travel and local experiences.  What’s next on the horizon for Gilt?

This year, we expanded our company to also include Gilt Taste – our online magazine and market for food and wine lovers; we relaunched the Home site; and we started shipping internationally to over 90 countries. Alexis and I have just written a book together called “By Invitation Only” which is about entrepreneurship and how we built Gilt Groupe. The book will be published in the spring.

What’s your favorite project that you’ve worked on?

This is a tough question as when I get involved in a project, I tend to love it, get involved 200% and throw myself in headfirst! I must say however, that no project compares with the excitement and adrenaline rush of launching Gilt in November 2007.

Who do you want to work with?

People who can teach me things that I do not know and that I want to learn.

What part of being an entrepreneur is the most challenging and do you dislike the most?

As an entrepreneur, you are always working. There is no true “off” switch. But I have gotten used to this and it works for me.

Any advice for ladies who want to start their own business?

Go for it! Ideas are a dime a dozen, it’s all about the execution. Take calculated risks. Focus on relationships. Our book “By Invitation Only” outlines many of our suggestions for entrepreneurs (both male and female) and shares lessons we have learned along the way.

Follow @giltgroupe on Twitter