My Work

I am a biologist and maker since the late 1990s. Here is a quick rundown of professional work that will be detailed further on this site.

1998-2003

  • Crafter of handmade paper, candles, soap, models of mitochondria
  • Writer of poetry and short fiction
  • Won both the science and literature awards two consecutive years
  • Started building websites and learning HTML

2004-2011

  • 1st professional job was botany- florist and event designer (budgets $500,000 & up so millionares wanting to “leave a legacy” and get lit at a dinner party)
  • Graduated with honors for Plant Science, Design, and Marketing; received the highest amounts of scholarships nationwide
  • Experimented with technology like microchips, RFID tags, QR codes (more futuristic in designs)
  • Met Hap Klopp of The North Face and Jerry Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
  • National Vice President of the American Collegiate Board for the American Society for Horticultural Science (yes that’s a mouthful)
  • National and regional symposiums for the American Institute for Floral Designers
  • Led teams in horticulture competitions (yes there is competitive commodity judging, general knowledge exams, and plant identification)
  • Recipient of the Alpha Gamma Rho scholarship (only one and despite not being in a men’s fraternity)- $12,800 3 month residency in Miami
  • Specialized in Late Victorian to Mid Century with an emphasis on Art Deco & Art Noveau (lot of Art History and Plant Identification)- the invention of household consumer goods, retail brands, and plastics….or things that will slowly kill you
  • Assisted with 3 floats for the 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade, which was archived by CBS

2012-2017

  • Pivoted to apparel & bag design (botany is undervalued in TN)
  • Started working with traditional materials like cotton, fleece, denim (fancy type of cotton). I never was a seamstress before this (my mother is teacher and fiber artist, my father was a jeweler with gems and fine metalsmithing).
  • I went back to school and got MBA in Nonprofit Management (passionate about civic engagement since the early 2000s, the job market was very dismal, worse than today).
  • Graduation present was a brand new industrial Juki sewing machine. I drove 2 hours to a dealer in the middle of nowhere to ask 3 questions and point at which one I thought looked the best. I briefly assisted two other bag designers who recommended Juki.
  • Worked for retail brands like Gap Inc, Vera Bradley (in corporate newsletter), Macy’s, Kate Spade NY
  • Built a reputation for styling and customer relationships
  • Bonaroo Music & Arts Festival 2x, indie festivals, Live on the Green, Lightning 100 (indie rock radio station in Nashville)
  • Michelle Visage of RuPaul’s Drag Race direct tweeted “You are never alone” to me. I had a different stage name and she thought I was a little gay boy. (Trendsetter- this was like a decade before it was allowed on Drag Race). PBS Digital Studios and Coca-Cola also liked me.
  • Was in some film projects for TV and Feature Length
  • Experimented with screenprinting and natural dyes
  • Ended up specializing in salvaged upholstery (water and fire resistant polyester blends), PVC, PU, Faux Leather/Vinyls
  • Started commercial design studio with the focus on eco packaging and materials

2018-Present

  • Changed the name of design studio and became an LLC
  • Acquired 2 USPTO trademarks with help of Vanderbilt University VLPA
  • Assisted regenerative farm and schools in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
  • Public policy for 5 years for suicide prevention; passed two laws
  • Ambassador for M-A-C Cosmetics (parent company L’Oreal) at 2019 World Pride NYC. I got in a fight with a camera rigger but ended up in press videos for both NYC and whole company–still have archived videos. Missed Lady Gaga for the 2nd time because I was having a kiki in a package free store in Williamsburg with two zero waste fashion designers, one being Zero Waste Daniel.
  • Briefly worked in tour merch (decided branded tags are stupid and hate them); worked on indie fashion lines
  • Started working with full grain animal leather. Finally birthed my first solo bag work (learned that’s a 10 year process).
  • Debuted my own indie short film; some arts festivals
  • Workshop at Vanderbilt University for redesigning hospital gowns
  • Currently experimenting with biopolymers (“bioplastics”), incorporating earlier work in reclaimed materials
  • My focus is technical fabrics, blending aesthetics with functionality for high-stress situations. I collaborate with those retail brands, prioritizing certified B Corps.
  • Currently serving a 3 yr position on Board of Directors for an environmental 501(c)3 nonprofit