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

Natalie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s jump right into the heart of things. Outsiders often think businesses or industries have much larger profit margins than they actually do – the reason is that outsiders are often unaware of the biggest challenges to profitability in various industries – what’s the biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

There are no shortages of ideas in the world today, however, having a proper understanding of production costs, product competition, consumer behavior and marketing strategies help secure a strong opportunity for success. Since social media is so saturated with product messages, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. With that said, taking the time to conduct your own research, understand WHY your product is matters to consumers and having a strong brand message really sets you up for success. It doesn’t happen overnight.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Natalie. I’m the Creative Director behind Thread Vision and I absolutely love what I do. Thread Vision is a Custom Product Creation company here to help any Influencer/Creator/Athlete etc create their dream product that best aligns with THEM. I have had the pleasure of working with so many creative minds, brainstorming ideas, launching amazing product and building brands. A little about me- I’ve been a creative my whole life. My dad is a Master Craftsman focusing on wood work, custom builds, etc and we constantly chatted design garb at the dinner table, throwing around ideas, challenging each others design approach and it truly shaped me. Although I focused on fashion and product creation, we still banter back and forth and often offer a new lens on challenges we each encounter in our field. Out of college, I worked in the Corporate Fashion world for 12 years for companies like BBDakota, Steve Madden, various Licensing creation and private label brands. I’ve had the pleasure of working with small mom and pop shops looking to grow their product offering, as well as big Global entities and wowza what a ride!

Thread Vision has been such a joy to grow with as I get to meet amazing creators, fresh ideas and really partner with them to build THEIR vision. These days, it’s not uncommon for Creators to partner with brands they support by recommending their product and generate a little revenue. With Thread Vision, we want to take this a step further and help create your own custom product.

Say, you have a denim brand you partner with because quite frankly, you love their product and their brand messaging, but you find trouble outfitting. Thread Vision would help you create a capsule of sweaters, blouses, hats, etc that you can then sell yourself, building your own brand and revenue, in addition to brand partnerships. We don’t see this as a “this or that” yet, a “this AND that”, working together with brands you love while also launching product YOU created and feel is missing in the market. So much opportunity!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

I met Whitney LaMonda and Sarah Dahlin working at BB Dakota. We all played very different roles in the growth of that company but constantly partnered together to problem solve and create opportunity. We spent 7+ years together, outgrowing 2 offices and eventually through the sale to Steve Madden. Once COVID hit and our corporate offices were moving to the East Coast, Whitney approached me to see if I would be interested working with her. It was an immediate yes, let’s get the band back together! We all offer different strengths that truly challenge each of us in all the best ways. Very grateful to get to work with these lovely ladies and build amazing brands.

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

Art is subjective and with that, comes a sense of freedom. It’s not meant to appeal to every single person, it’s meant to appeal to just the right people who see its vision and appreciate it. It allows for a diverse range of interpretations based on life experiences, emotions and perspectives, making it a unique and personal experience. What a joy to be a part of!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thethreadvision.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threadvision/

Image Credits
Lauren Cate Photography