We are thrilled we got to chat with Alexis after our Softest Sweats photoshoot. We had known she was a creative fountain and has built businesses we know and love. Only during our shoot did we discover how much she has in common with our founder. And couldn't resist a chat about motherhood, business, and finding space for creativity. Read more below :)
And, make a trip to Half Moon Bay to visit Highway 1 Trading, take a hike at Montara mountain (it will get those buns burnin'), then grab a delicious lunch at Dad’s Luncheonette.
Q: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF? WHAT DO YOU DO, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE? ALL THAT GOOD STUFF…
A: My name is Alexis, I grew up in the Bay Area, spent 13 years in NYC and 10 years in SF, and now live on the coast near Half Moon Bay. I’m the owner of Highway 1 Trading, an art & vintage shop in the old Montara Army Navy building (formerly Tidepool), and co-owner of Dad’s Luncheonette, a restaurant in a historic train caboose. Past lives include coffee shop owner in SF, PR for Comme des Garcons, and textile designer at Ralph Lauren.
Q: TELL US ABOUT WHERE YOU CREATE? WHAT HELPS TO GET YOUR CREATIVE JUICES FLOWING? DO YOU WORK OUT OF HABIT (SAME DAILY ROUTINE OR CREATE FROM THE SAME TABLE)? HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE WHEN CREATIVITY BECOMES YOUR BUSINESS?
A: Generally I’m pretty messy and unstructured haha.. so is my creative process, which starts off with a lot of messy sketches to get the ideas out of my head. The rough drafts get refined and whittled down into something that eventually just feels “right”. I have lots of ideas all the time, some strike like lightning and are executed quickly, while other ideas sit on the back burner for a long time, or disappear into the ether.
Each day can vary widely, as it does for most small biz owners. I don’t have a daily routine aside from coffee, and a little bit of yoga and drums, which is like meditation for me. Exploration keeps me inspired - I love getaways, but even if I don’t get out of town, sometimes just a walk or hike, going into random shop, or neighborhood I haven’t been before can give a fresh perspective. And of course, music and art, always and forever.
Q: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BEING A MOTHER + BUSINESS OWNER AT THE SAME TIME?
Q: IS THERE ANY DRIVING PHILOSOPHY THAT YOU HAVE THAT GETS YOU THROUGH THE DAY OR DURING CHALLENGING TIMES?
I try to remember that things can and will always change, and we never really know what’s around the corner. That goes for both positive things and challenging things. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes very slowly, but eventually everything changes, or rather, evolves.
Q: IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FEEL VULNERABLE ABOUT AS A WOMAN OR INDIVIDUAL? IF SO, WOULD YOU MIND SHARING?
Q: WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO OUTFIT DAY TO DAY? DOES WHAT YOU ARE WEARING IN TERMS OF STYLE OR COMFORT AFFECT YOUR DAILY LIFE/WORK?
I love working with color in my creative projects, but I almost always wear black, white, grey and a little denim. As a mom, and with my messy projects, nearly everything is casual, comfortable and washable. I’ll top it off with a classic jacket, like a leather perfecto, leopard print, or army liner. My style has always been a little tomboyish, so I often balance that with red lipstick.
