We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amber Sackett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?

Well, I think it’s safe to say that I have always been a bit eccentric. Maybe this eccentricity stems from my Aquarius moon, or perhaps it’s certain traumatic events from my early life or even my neurodivergence.

Still, no matter the roots, I have ALWAYS felt different from those around me. My “oddness” has always manifested in creativity for as long as I can remember. As a small child, I found joy in making my toys. One of the first toys I distinctly remember was a doll I made from an old Barbie doll dress stuffed with kleenex, completed with hand drew limbs and a face. I think from that moment on, I knew that I could create new things out of the materials around me. Voila, the “Odd.”

The “Flower” part of Oddflower Creations was a no-brainer for me. Not only is my name Amber Rose, but I have always found solace in nature, especially flowers. I feel a deep communion with flowers; my relationship with them manifests in wild gathering, growing, drying, and cooking with these beautiful little plants. As a small brand, we incorporate flowers I grow on my balcony here in Los Angeles into beautiful hair barrettes and home decor items. I want to ensure that our relationship with flowers is never exploitative and that we always practice humble gratitude.

When I was rebranding my little business back in 2021, I wanted to make sure to meditate on all possible naming options. Oddflower Creations felt right, and it felt like me. Moreover, Oddflower Creations felt like a name that others could relate to, so we made our slogan, “It’s okay to be a little odd.”

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Founded in 2020 by UCLA Ph.D. students Amber Sackett and Kelly Roso in 2021, Odd Flower Creations is a small business that caters to the slow fashion movement by creating quirky ornaments for your ears, hair, and home. Each handcrafted item features lightweight, sustainable polymers such as clay, epoxy resin, and Jesmonite.

Oddflower Creations invests in ethical supply chains and creates many materials in-house such as beads, flora, jewelry facets, and silicone molds. We are committed to using sustainable techniques to produce high-quality “zero waste” and aesthetically delightful products.

Drawing inspiration from the diverse botanical landscape of southern California, Oddflower Creations infuses local flora grown and gathered across Los Angeles into adornments that encourage a more profound awareness of nature’s history.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing I had to unlearn is that everyone will not always love our products. I replaced this unlearning with the idea that we are not for everyone and that everyone is not for us. We learn this lesson over and over.

I had to embrace this mantra early in my business journey, and the formula is familiar at this point. The first time I was approached by a shop owner who claimed to value handcrafted, ethical fashion but wanted unrealistic discounts for a wholesale order. It was very heartbreaking for an artist just starting. Thankfully I had enough people lifting me up to help me realize the value of my time, energy, and artistic expertise.

Selling handmade goods is always an act of vulnerability because we put a little of our heart and soul into each item. We live in a society that wants everything to be made as cheaply and fast as possible, and I think that makes it extra challenging to stand up and say, “My product is worth it!”.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

This question almost made me laugh because I had no funding. In fact, in 2020, I actually gave away many earrings as a part of an activism project to donate to organizations working to dismantle white supremacy in the United States.

We are scrappy and crafty, have second jobs, and fund ourselves. We only pay ourselves when we make money and always balance our checkbooks first. Oddflower still has no funding and is content to grow without funding for as long as possible. We want to be able to make choices and have control over our brand, even if that means slower returns. That said, we are pleased with the rate our brand is sprouting up and shining in our community!

Contact Info:

• Website: oddflowercreations.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/oddflowercreations
• Facebook: facebook.com/oddflowercreations