Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Polk.
Hi Brittany, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been creative since I was a child, trying everything from sewing to crochet. It was pretty much ingrained in me since birth as my mother and both grandmothers are craft savvy, so creating was the norm for me. Around 2012 I began digging more into what it meant to own and run a business. I was working in a law office at the time and felt so stifled creatively, but remained until I really figured out what I wanted to do. At the top of 2019, I made the decision to put in my resignation. I knew if I didn’t do it then, I was never going to do it, so I had to bet on myself. Word of advice, have a backup plan because I would not recommend winging it, although I did in this case, I eventually figured things out, taking on freelance and part-time gigs while working on my craft.
When 2020 hit, everything kind of took a standstill due to Covid. That was a rough couple of years, but it allowed me to really sit and figure out what I wanted to do. I ended up using my sewing skills to make masks since there was a demand for it at the time just make ends meet and that was really kept me afloat for about a year, allowing me to work on my business. Once masks started becoming readily available, I began working on my Mi.kee bags. I had already been carrying this vintage bag as a purse and didn’t think anything of it. I just thought it was a cool statement piece. Little did I know, so did everyone else. At first, I was carrying them in their original form, then I started playing with different mediums. My first bag was painted all black. It had gotten so many compliments that people started asking me to make them one. That one bag developed into many styles after testing out different mediums and techniques. I eventually phased out the paint and started using materials such as leather and fabric. It’s been a ride, but it’s great to see how I started versus where I am now.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Somewhat smooth. It’s a lot of ups and downs to this entrepreneurial life. First and foremost, finances. If anything, make sure your money is right. Not saying you have to have a lot to start, but it’s good to have something on hand just in case things go left. I fell into that trap one too many times than I would like to admit, but it taught me to be more aware of how to navigate my finances. Another one is mental health. Take care of yourself. I, unfortunately, experienced burnout. I was trying to do too many things at once instead of taking bite sizes and taking it one day at a time. I’m slowly but surely getting out of that phase where I feel the need to do it all in a day and I can definitely tell the difference.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a creative director/designer specializing in fashion. I am most known for my one-of-a-kind Mi.Kee bags. I am most proud of running not just one business but two. I own Style House Tuesday which is part fashion retail and part creative agency. Then I am 1/3 part owner of The Outfitt HQ, with two of my good friends which is a fashion showroom, both of which are located in Chicago. It’s really an interesting creative concept to be a part of. I believe what sets me apart is my curiosity. I like to figure out how things work, not just on the surface but overall. So that curiosity often leads me into discovering new mediums that I can apply to my current or future projects.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
It’s Chicago, duh lol. No, but really, Chicago is the best city in the country. People like to highlight the violence and safety, but they are really only getting a bird’s eye view of what this city has to offer. We have the best skyline, the best food, it’s clean, and summer time… yeah you’d just have to experience that in person. The thing I dislike the most, as a designer, is having to prove yourself in order to be valid. It’s a tough crowd, but that could also be said for other cities as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.stylehousetuesday.com
- Instagram: @stylehousetuesday
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylehousetuesday/
