Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"I've always loved food, community and playful spaces. My family ran a summer camp for 75 years and Camp Kingston is an homage to my family and the energy of a camp where you can try new things, meet new people, play games and gather with friends and strangers alike - all day and night."

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

"One of the biggest challenges is supporting your hopes for growth with current flow of services and finding a balance between not growing too quick and continually offering new services, ideas and spaces for our community to gather."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

Ask questions endlessly and focus on your current more than your future. If you can make it successful in the now then if you grow in the future your success will grow with you."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

Take time to understand your goal for yourself, how you want to spend time and what is important to you. Opening any business is challenging but if you are creating a space you love and your space grows with your community then even on the hardest of days you will still find joy in how your business interacts with your guests."

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?"

"They are little moments everyday that amount to a larger feeling of success but I think one of my favorite things is seeing how our campers (guests) interact with our space and each other."

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"While living in Japan, I was introduced to the art form of bonsai, which combined several of my interests. Most significantly, it provided a profound connection to nature and a means of healing through thoughtful tree care. Bonsai became a powerful tool for self-care. I began developing the brand on a small fire escape in Queens, and it expanded from there."

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

"One of the most significant hurdles in launching or expanding a business is persevering through challenges without giving up. This requires patience, ample problem-solving abilities, and a willingness to endure discomfort. It demands a determination to persist, believing in oneself, and relying on a solid foundation. For me, that foundation was rooted in the essence of connecting people with trees."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

"The most valuable resource I discovered was attentively listening to feedback from our customers. Frequently, they pinpointed needs and opportunities for growth long before I recognized them."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

“When starting a business within the LGBTQ community, I recommend approaching every aspect with a focus on healing and community building. By embracing what resonates most with your authentic self and delving deeper into that, we offer a gift to others. Through this, we elevate diversity, which in turn strengthens all communities."

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

"My most significant achievement as a business owner is witnessing how this venture has sparked inspiration and positivity among those who need it most. I believe this has played a part in the broader transition toward fostering a healthier, more enduring connection with nature and Mother Earth on a personal level."

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"Let me take you back to where it all began — my inaugural voyage to The Philippines. It was a transformative experience, one where my parents imparted upon me their vision for my future. Instead of steering me towards traditional paths like medicine or law, they ignited a spark within me to create something meaningful for our community — our shared legacy.

The Philippines, with its vibrant tapestry of culture and history, often languishes in the shadows of Western societies, especially in realms like art and fashion. Determined to change this narrative, I've dedicated myself to bridging the gap between my passion for helping artisans in my parents' hometowns and establishing a thriving studio right here in the heart of NYC.

Tragically, the onset of the Covid pandemic brought profound loss into my life with the passing of my father. In the wake of this heartbreaking event, I found
solace and inspiration in honoring his memory through the launch of my brand in August 2020.

Binata, a word imbued with the spirit of freedom in Filipino culture, became the emblem of my brand — a tribute to my heritage and a testament to my father's enduring legacy.

Armed with a background in millinery from The Fashion Institute of Technology, I pour my heart and soul into designing and crafting each hat and headpiece, right here in the bustling borough of Queens, NY. With every stitch and every flourish, I strive to infuse my creations with a sense of individuality and flair, tailored for those who dare to stand out and embrace their authentic
selves.

As I gaze towads the horizon, brimming with anticipation for what lies ahead, I am filled with excitement for the journey that awaits us. Together, let us transform the mundane into the magnificent, turning your everyday ensembles into show-stopping spectacles that captivate and inspire."

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

"One of the most significant challenges in my millinery business is managing the supply chain for materials. Consistently sourcing high-quality materials is a daunting task, as both availability and prices are often in flux. The pandemic has further complicated matters, with several reliable millinery suppliers closing their doors. To navigate these obstacles, I continually explore sustainable materials in timeless colorways, ensuring my creations remain both fashionable and environmentally conscious."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

"When I embarked on my millinery journey, the most invaluable resource was the opportunity to meet a diverse array of people. Engaging with customers at in-person markets provided me with profound insights into their preferences and needs, shaping the way I craft my designs. The camaraderie among fellow vendors has also been unparalleled, creating a supportive community that fuels inspiration and growth.

Reflecting on how businesses thrived before the era of social media and the internet, I am convinced that establishing personal relationships remains the cornerstone of success. These face-to-face interactions foster trust and loyalty, elements that are essential for a handmade business. In a digital age, the power of a genuine, personal connection cannot be underestimated, and it continues to be a key driver for my brand's growth and authenticity."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

“For anyone venturing into their own business, my foremost advice is simple: just start, and be prepared to pivot along the way. Flexibility is crucial as you discover what resonates with your customers and what doesn't.

Embarking on this journey means embracing a learning curve where adaptability becomes your greatest asset. Rather than waiting for the perfect moment or plan, dive in and remain open to feedback and changes. Your customers' preferences and behaviors will guide you, often in unexpected directions, and being agile allows you to refine your approach and offerings continuously.

Starting a business is as much about evolution as it is about innovation. By maintaining a flexible mindset, you can navigate challenges, seize new opportunities, and ultimately create a business that truly meets the needs and desires of your audience."

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

"My greatest accomplishment as a small artisan business owner is the fact that I'm still here, passionately pursuing what I love. In a landscape where many small businesses struggle to survive, remaining steadfast and thriving in my craft is a testament to my dedication and resilience.

Being able to wake up every day and immerse myself in the art of hat-making is, without a doubt, my most significant achievement. It’s a reminder that with passion, tenacity, and a bit of creativity, one cannot only survive but thrive in doing what they truly adore.My greatest accomplishment as a small artisan business owner is the fact that I'm still here, passionately pursuing what I love. In a landscape where many small businesses struggle to survive, remaining steadfast and thriving in my craft is a testament to my dedication and resilience.

Being able to wake up every day and immerse myself in the art of hat-making is, without a doubt, my most significant achievement. It’s a reminder that with passion, tenacity, and a bit of creativity, one cannot only survive but thrive in doing what they truly adore."

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"I have been in the fashion business for the last 30 years, and part of my process has been researching vintage and antique clothing, and adjusting / augmenting/design on such garments. This led to keeping and wearing some of the results and was the seed for the falls in its current iteration."

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

"Finding customers that understand and appreciate what goes into making our product. Seeking manufacturers that are aligned with our aesthetics and values."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

"My vintage archive has been accumulated over the past 30 years. Finding bulk vintage resources, such as - Bulk Vintage in Philadelphia.
Vintage and makers markets to shop and sell at, research for vintage to add to my archive, and show and sell my product to the correct clients - such as- Field +Supply, Manhattan Vintage, and Threadbare Show."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

“If you have the passion for your product, take the leap and follow your heart. Be organized, and have good bookkeeping skills or support.”

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

"Staying independent and figuring out a system “seasonal” delivery system that fits with our methods of slow fashion production. (There are no seasons)"

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

“I began making small carved wooden utensils from scrap, as a way to reduce waste in the shop and consider an alternative approach to what is considered 'valuable' when it comes to material usage. That ethos has since expanded beyond just the materials I use, into thinking more about who is valued and for what contributions within the design space.”

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

"As an entirely self-funded, solo owner/operator small business, capital (for space, machinery, labor) is a constant challenge!"

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

“Honestly, I wouldn't have been able to grow my business initially if not for the rise of Instagram during those years. While I'm not as active anymore, getting on the platform has allowed me to connect with SO many people who have been instrumental to my professional growth– from clients to wholesale partners, value-aligned creators, and small biz owners. I've benefitted enormously through the knowledge-sharing available through this platform.”

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

“Your perspective is needed! We need more of us out here, translating our queer politics into business ownership. To me, this is an ongoing practice of actively creating, and flattening, space for more historically marginalized creators to not only exist but thrive within our industries.”

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

“Taking the leap to begin formalizing this queer ethos into an organized form, The Level Up Project, which is in its third year of existence <3”

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"We (Nina and David) wanted to create a gender-inclusive line of clean and vegan skincare that worked for all skin types, ages, and ethnicities. It was very challenging to find products that hit all those marks at the time, so we said, we need to do it!"

Q2: What is one of the biggest challenges you faced when starting or growing your own business?

"Convincing people that there was nothing radical about gender-inclusive skincare was surprisingly challenging when we first launched. We're so thrilled that the collective mindset has evolved and now people are much more familiar and comfortable with skincare designed for all genders."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

"Speaking with fellow small business owners and makers has been an amazing resource for insights, models, and examples on how to forge your own path and run a sustainable small business. Events like Field + Supply are a great way to meet fellow makers and create long-lasting relationships with others in our industry."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

"It's a lot of work to launch and run your own business so make sure you're passionate about whatever you're doing and surround yourself with people who understand and support you. You're going to need it, when things inevitably get hard."

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

"We're so proud, especially looking back at these challenging past few years, that we've been around for over a decade, changing peoples' lives one bottle at a time! The number of people we've impacted in a positive way has been so rewarding. Getting to meet our customers in real life at events like Field + Supply and hear how we've helped them and their skin glow makes doing this all worth it!"

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"I always loved baking and started doing it as a way to diversify my business (restaurant) during the pandemic. Over time I fell so in love with it that I closed my restaurant and started doing donuts full time."

Q2: What is one of the biggest challenges you faced when starting or growing your own business?

"For me, starting it was easy... but sustaining and financing the first few years was so hard. You make a lot of financial mistakes during the learning process."

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

"Community! Community is everything. With out their support I would have never made it."

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

Get out there and talk to other businesses and make connections. Through good conversations, a lot of things progress organically."

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

“At almost 50 years old I was able to start a new business."

Q1: How did you get started on creating your brand? What is the inspiration behind it?

"Local Hudson River and Environs..."

Q2: What is one of your biggest challenges when starting or growing your own business?

“Choosing appropriate markets”

Q3: What are some of the best resources you utilized or discovered when starting your own business?

“Square, networking”

Q4: What advice would you give to future members of the LGBTQ community looking to start their own business?

“Reach out to others for suggestions”

Q5: What is your greatest accomplishment as a small business owner?

“Finding year-round affordable artisan market space and selling work there so it is in the public eye.”