TASTEMAKERS: Brian Hawkins

With a collection of boat shoes by his side our latest Tastemaker Brian Hawkins is bringing style to San Diego through his entrepreneurial spirit and exquisite taste.

Here’s a riddle for you...what do you get when a rocket scientist, a business development guru, and a fashion school professor (Brian) join forces to create a business? The answer is Style Seek, a socially-based website that combines evergreen and trend focused content where individuals can discover and enjoy products ranging from apparel to accessories. Initially the online platform was developed specifically for men in order to provide them access to the best product for any occasion. However, StyleSeek has been listening and responding to their customers and will be featuring a women’s division in June! The best part of the experience for users of StyleSeek is how they are able to connect you to your style aesthetic, bringing together a selection of product pairings and price points.

Here’s what StyleSeek has on the table for this year:

1. Virtual promotions via Pinterest for Father’s Day.

2. Collaborating with Her Campus and FIDM San Diego students to plan, organize, promote and run College Fashion Week locally (October 12-19).

3. Live event at  the Lodge Torrey Pines bringing together bloggers, writers, and creatives for a weekend experiencing the craftsman styles of San Diego. 

4. Collaborative product line launches with Drift Eyewear

Brian has more than 15 years of professional experience in marketing, advertising, market research, retail marketing, public relations and promotions in the US, Europe and Africa. With an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management, Brian founded Catalyst Marketing upon graduation. Brian (a marketing genius in his own right) is responsible for campaigns such as Think Blue and special event planning including December Nights in San Diego. Brian also teaches classes on trends at FIDM (The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) and Entrepreneurship at California National Business University. He is a firm believer that you can’t really understand trends without understanding what came before. 

Brian shows off his mod style in his live/work space in downtown San Diego. He says the overall theme of his design aesthetic for the space was midcentury Modern , think Mad Men.

 Brian is a huge advocate for San Diego Style. "San Diego has a lot of visual inspiration where natural and built beauty is found. There are also entrepreneurial ventures and spirit that live here that inspire style and allow people to express themselves". Brian's best advice for entrepreneurs is to define yourself, define your concept and project it to the world. We are excited to have Brian as a contributor to the Tastemakers Panel Discussion during San Diego Entrepreneur Day 2013. A real SD Entrepreneur who embodies everything San Diego Fashion-Style-Art is about!