You really DO know your customer. Whenever I read your authentic nerdy posts about anything you’re thinking about, I always think, she just gets it. I imagine most of us are smart creative business nerds (re: successful execs) and/or busy moms and I like think if put in a room IRL, we’d all like each other. That’s fun to think about.
My experience is it’s true. Irl we would all like ea other. I’ve been trying to do events because when we do really great friendships form. It’s been pretty amazing that way
Amazing but not...and I mean this in the VERY best way possible. What I have learned from so many is there really isn't a "moment" just hard work with great people and always willing to challenge your own set of beliefs, not just for YOU, but for your creation/business. Thanks for taking the time to write to all of us even though your really don't have to do so!
Great read! There's nothing better than embracing and then sharing your authentic self to the world and I love Tibi for this reason. You've nailed who you are, what you want to wear and how you want to wear it. And those of us who buy your clothes are right there with you. We're unapologetically authentic to ourselves and we're letting the world know it, that's the Tibi vibe.
Wow this is so powerful! So much better than any VC/incubator manifesto....what it really means to bring a business to life and thrive. Thanks for sharing this.
I started Tibi with a friend in Hong Kong; she moved back to the u.s. after a year; tibi was her grandmothers name - ! My grandmothers were Betty and Berenice and lost out :(
I built a business inside a business (management consulting) and 100% agree with your advice. I wish I had the flexibility to focus on my business rather than the 101 other priorities held by the investors
So much honesty, to embrace what we own! It’s OK to be who we are…we don’t have to try to be something we’re not. Best thing I’ve read all year. So incredibly inspiring to hear all the details. THANK YOU for sharing!
I’m always left with a sense of gratitude after reading your writing because it’s rare to come by such a behind-the-scenes approach from a business owner. So thank you for that, for being open and honest and taking time to create connection.
Can’t wait for the day I can buy my first Tibi piece!
Such a refreshing read! I’ve been wanting to start a business for too long now but always let the self-doubts take over, fueled by all the tech-bro-talk out there. Thank you for sharing this
I only just found Tibi, but feel your style, your ethos, your philosophy is my own. Since discovering you, I have compiled my own CP book as my personal style guide, and can't wait to visit your store in May on my first ever trip to NYC from the UK. I had my own business for 17 years which I also kept small. Amy, you're an inspiration! Thank you!
Hi Amy! As an independent brand owner I am just starting out with my fashion line and I feel so many of the above feelings: underconfident because im not a trained designer, overwhelmed about next steps and wearing so many hats at once. I am curious to know though, when you started out even in HK, would you say clientele was more approachable because word of mouth was still an actual thing? versus now, the playing field seems so levelled but its really not (with digital platforms). It all seems to boil down to IMAGERY and the SPECTACLE which seems exhausting because product seems to take a backseat for new brands and the first point of contact is images...which themselves have become so commoditised to a quickly consumed attention span. Feeling stuck about the projection of product when there is simply so much noise.
Back in 1997 word of mouth and people’s openness to buy was very difficult. You were in a very polarized fashion environment - it was either Gucci or the Gap- there was little in between. The price point I was proposing was right in the middle - the idea of contemporary fashion was being explored more in America- people were very skeptical. My only point here is that it seems every moment in time has its unique challenges. And every set of challenges presents an opportunity. Personally I think the widened gap with the big (stores, brands) is presenting a huge opportunity right now- we are in a shifting time I feel the plates shifting under my feet now. In a good way.
Thanks for sharing and putting outside the paywall! Really great simple points that I want to pin on my wall. Make something, sell it, make something else. You wont be a billionaire doing it, this isnt the tech world. Im curious on the concept of owning it and branding. If you could go back, would you name the brand after yourself or stick with Tibi?
You really DO know your customer. Whenever I read your authentic nerdy posts about anything you’re thinking about, I always think, she just gets it. I imagine most of us are smart creative business nerds (re: successful execs) and/or busy moms and I like think if put in a room IRL, we’d all like each other. That’s fun to think about.
My experience is it’s true. Irl we would all like ea other. I’ve been trying to do events because when we do really great friendships form. It’s been pretty amazing that way
Amazing but not...and I mean this in the VERY best way possible. What I have learned from so many is there really isn't a "moment" just hard work with great people and always willing to challenge your own set of beliefs, not just for YOU, but for your creation/business. Thanks for taking the time to write to all of us even though your really don't have to do so!
Great read! There's nothing better than embracing and then sharing your authentic self to the world and I love Tibi for this reason. You've nailed who you are, what you want to wear and how you want to wear it. And those of us who buy your clothes are right there with you. We're unapologetically authentic to ourselves and we're letting the world know it, that's the Tibi vibe.
Wow this is so powerful! So much better than any VC/incubator manifesto....what it really means to bring a business to life and thrive. Thanks for sharing this.
I love this so much! Thank you for sharing.
i quit my corporate job last week to create something of my own (# thehawttomboy )— love your writing, amy!
@ amy: i would LOVE for you to check out the hawt tomboy. your color wheel is taped to every wall in my apartment. <3
i love you and your directness !!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/alexandraraelv?r=1eu4kn&utm_medium=ios
Once again, why I feel good buying Tibi🙃
One question - where did the name’Tibi’ come from?
I started Tibi with a friend in Hong Kong; she moved back to the u.s. after a year; tibi was her grandmothers name - ! My grandmothers were Betty and Berenice and lost out :(
Aw love it! Bet[Ty] [Be]renice totally reads Tibi too !
It is a good name.
I built a business inside a business (management consulting) and 100% agree with your advice. I wish I had the flexibility to focus on my business rather than the 101 other priorities held by the investors
So much honesty, to embrace what we own! It’s OK to be who we are…we don’t have to try to be something we’re not. Best thing I’ve read all year. So incredibly inspiring to hear all the details. THANK YOU for sharing!
I’m always left with a sense of gratitude after reading your writing because it’s rare to come by such a behind-the-scenes approach from a business owner. So thank you for that, for being open and honest and taking time to create connection.
Can’t wait for the day I can buy my first Tibi piece!
Thank you for this!
Such a refreshing read! I’ve been wanting to start a business for too long now but always let the self-doubts take over, fueled by all the tech-bro-talk out there. Thank you for sharing this
As a small business owner myself, I loved this! So inspiring and well written 🤩
Touché ❤️
Thank you very much! 🙏🏻
I only just found Tibi, but feel your style, your ethos, your philosophy is my own. Since discovering you, I have compiled my own CP book as my personal style guide, and can't wait to visit your store in May on my first ever trip to NYC from the UK. I had my own business for 17 years which I also kept small. Amy, you're an inspiration! Thank you!
Oh thank u so much for this!
Hi Amy! As an independent brand owner I am just starting out with my fashion line and I feel so many of the above feelings: underconfident because im not a trained designer, overwhelmed about next steps and wearing so many hats at once. I am curious to know though, when you started out even in HK, would you say clientele was more approachable because word of mouth was still an actual thing? versus now, the playing field seems so levelled but its really not (with digital platforms). It all seems to boil down to IMAGERY and the SPECTACLE which seems exhausting because product seems to take a backseat for new brands and the first point of contact is images...which themselves have become so commoditised to a quickly consumed attention span. Feeling stuck about the projection of product when there is simply so much noise.
Back in 1997 word of mouth and people’s openness to buy was very difficult. You were in a very polarized fashion environment - it was either Gucci or the Gap- there was little in between. The price point I was proposing was right in the middle - the idea of contemporary fashion was being explored more in America- people were very skeptical. My only point here is that it seems every moment in time has its unique challenges. And every set of challenges presents an opportunity. Personally I think the widened gap with the big (stores, brands) is presenting a huge opportunity right now- we are in a shifting time I feel the plates shifting under my feet now. In a good way.
Thanks for sharing and putting outside the paywall! Really great simple points that I want to pin on my wall. Make something, sell it, make something else. You wont be a billionaire doing it, this isnt the tech world. Im curious on the concept of owning it and branding. If you could go back, would you name the brand after yourself or stick with Tibi?
Every day I am so thankful I DID NOT name the brand after myself.