We recently connected with Kristin Voss and have shared our conversation below.
Kristin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
A little more than 7 years ago, I started my own skincare + beauty line: KVossNYC. The products are all certified vegan + organic and curated to bring out and enhance your own natural beauty, not cover you up. The mantra is: Love yourself, Love the world around you, and find beauty in what is natural and real. KVossNYC remains a giant chunk of my heart. I literally started with a mixing bowl, ingredients, and a dream in a very small NYC kitchen. Building that business to what is it today is one of my proudest achievements and it has lead to a lot of positive personal growth. There is nothing cooler than creating something from just an idea in your head. When the pandemic hit, I lost two giant deals I was working on. My sales plummeted. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep the business going when people stopped buying things that weren’t necessities. But I couldn’t just give up, I had to pivot.
So, I started to think about other things that I’m passionate about.
I’m passionate about being cozy.
I’m passionate about all things colorful.
And I’m CRAZY passionate about LOVE.
Everyone was working from home and we were all living in sweats and/or casual clothing. Why not create a line of super comfortable clothes that have a positive message? Love Gangster was born.
I didn’t have any capital to execute my idea, but I’ve always been very creative with my finances.
I didn’t know if I’d be able to keep up with TWO businesses, but I was determined because I thought it was just too good of an idea.
I didn’t know a lot of things, but that’s how you learn.
I have ALWAYS LOVED love. I love the amazing beauty of showing kindness to others. I love seeing people laugh. I love seeing people smile. I love the beauty of human connection. I’ve also always loved being silly, colorful, and comfortable. I start with a blank piece of clothing and then begin to create something that is colorful, vibrant, cozy and most importantly, has a positive message. I draw all of the designs and then recreate them digitally, so all of the products are truly one-of-a-kind.
These are clothes that you will want to live in everyday.
These are pieces of wearable love.
For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc, what type of products/services/creative works you provide, what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others.
I think (hope) what sets me apart from others is that every piece is truly unique, and made with love. Love Gangster Inc. represents a lifestyle choice that embraces having an open heart, sharing love whenever possible, and seeing the best in those around us. Being conscious of how we treat one another starts from within. Being a Love Gangster represents a positive force and shows that your heart is in the right place.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
If you are a small business owner, you better be resilient. And I think that resilience is born from passion. I went from studying art in college, to working at ad agencies in NYC, to owning a bar in Brooklyn, to starting my first business, to creating Love Gangster. It has been a very windy and complex path. But with each ending, there was a new beginning. Every time, you sort of have to let go of one dream to make room for another one to grow. So, it’s not just one story of resilience, it’s been my entire life’s journey.
Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?
Once I got my trademark and EIN number I was able to apply for clothing vendors. I got a criket cutting machine and I learned the design program. Then I just started creating. It was ridiculous how excited I would get when new vinyl colors and styles would be delivered. My brain was exploding with ideas. I think I ruined half of my own clothes trying different ideas on. When you start something new, it’s a lot of toe-stubbing and old fashioned learning while you go. But every ruined sweatshirt was a lesson learned and part of the process. That just makes when you get it right feel even better. Mistakes are ok!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lovegangsterinc.com/
- Instagram: lovegangsterinc
- Facebook: lovegangsterinc