The Creative Pragmatist

The Creative Pragmatist

The Rough Draft

10 Facts for a young designer starting out.

Because the recent article in BOF was just the surface.

Amy Smilovic's avatar
Amy Smilovic
Mar 27, 2026
∙ Paid

These are the facts as I know them to be true for me, for our company Tibi. I’m an expert in how to start an independent designer brand - and stay independent. I’m the founder of what is now America’s longest standing (29 years) fully independently owned global brand. I started Tibi with $15,000 and the brand is now wildly successful - but then aga…

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