You may read the title of this article and think this is going to be about comfort in the clothing aspect, but I wanted to dive a little deeper this week and talk about comfort in another sense. Sure, we make some comfortable clothes and that cozy aspect of the brand is one of the pillars of our success. But comfort in life can be a gift and a curse. I recall when I moved from Australia to Los Angeles over 10 years ago and really got outside my comfort zone, this allowed me to mature as a person and it allowed me to grow. It put me in a situation where it was somewhat do or die and you have to make things go right or you can’t pay rent that month. I think this, for me, broke the cycle of being comfortable at home around my family and allowed me to reach my potential. Moving to Los Angeles was one of the best things I ever did. I love the city so much and have built some wonderful memories here. I feel like you can be who you want to be here without the worry of needing to be accepted. Sometimes I can even get too comfortable here and need to venture out into the world and see new things. We are spoiled in LA with many comforts that is for sure, from the beautiful weather to the wonderful food and culture and beyond. It truly is a special place for me.
In regards to the design aspects of things, I could sit back and be comfortable as a designer on what we have done and what we have to offer that I don’t ever venture into new categories or new product lines. I like to be challenged and be creating new items and growing as a person and a designer and making myself better and, in turn, making a better product. So life begins for me at the edge of your comfort zone, and beyond that is where true success lies. And I feel I could do a little more of that myself. Nothing great was achieved in a person’s comfort zone.