We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jennifer Lima. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jennifer below.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I like to think that all the pieces I work on are meaningful, since I mainly work with vintage or upcycled materials so everything I use is one more piece of textile that’s not being sent to a landfill or polluting our oceans. Plus I love making fun and frilly clothing that people can feel good about, but I did have one request a little while ago for a little girl that was obsessed with Rainbow Brite- I mean who can blame her. Her mom wanted a custom jacket with the 1980s Rainbow Brite sheets on the back, but she wanted her daughter to be able to see herself in the character so she asked if I would paint her a little more tan. I hadn’t worked on anything like that before, but I did want to so I already had fabric paint on hand on all colors.

It took a few tries but I finally got it her exact shade. I added her name across the top of the jacket and they loved it. Representation matters and I love that I can help a little girl see herself in her favorite character.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

It all started when my daughter outgrew my favorite Nirvana onesie, and in an effort to keep it in her wardrobe I bought a second hand sewing machine off Facebook marketplace, cut out the graphic and sewed it to the back of her jean jacket. Then one day she was wearing the jacket at a local park and another mom asked me where I got it and when I said I made it, she asked if I had a shop. I think that was the moment that Moon Babe Designs was born.

I was working as a community newspaper editor before I had my daughter, and an event manager before that, so I jumped right into creating my brand. My daughter was the inspiration for my designs, but I also wanted it to be about something more, so I decided to focus on utilizing upcycled denim jackets and vintage textiles like bed sheets, duvets, remnants of fabric, and even taking apart clothing that had rough spots and giving it new life.

Using vintage textiles became my way to help the planet, every piece I make means less textile waste that’s ending up in our landfills. Waste that currently takes up about 5% of all landfill waste, according to the EPA, and can take more than 200 years to decompose.

After making kids and adult jean jackets, I wanted to learn to make more. I joined Facebook groups, looked for pattern companies, and became apart of a handmade community full of super creative and helpful people who were beyond patient with answering my questions. Next thing I knew I was making dresses for little girls first birthday parties and Disney trips, as well as other special occasion pieces.

Now I’m slowing moving towards women’s clothing, mainly vintage style and Uber feminine dresses, as well as building up our brand presence at local markets.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think as a society we’ve become so used to instant gratification that we forget that things take time to create and when buying from a small business there’s an actual human on the other end of all your interactions.

In an Amazon driven ecosystem, we’re used to having our customer service outsourced by the company and rarely getting a real person on the phone, but in a small business world, chances are the person you’re talking to for any given issue is the maker, marketer, sales person, and shipping department. I think remembering that can help us keep in mind why we shop small and who we’re supporting. Which in turn, will help the small business community grow.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being creative in your experience?

Honestly my favorite part of what I do is when I see people get excited about something I’ve made. Whether it’s a little girl gushing over a my little pony dress at a local market, or a millennial thrilled to relive their favorites with a custom jacket. It’s their reactions that remind me why I make anything.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/moonbabedesigns
• Instagram: Instagram.com/moonbabedesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2849473535125532/