2013 REFLECTION

 

As 2013 comes to a close, we take a moment to reflect on all that was accomplished and thank everyone who supported our efforts this past year. Back in February, a small team identified that there was (and still is) a growing creative community in San Diego that is just waiting to be identified and promoted. So we set out to connect as many of those individuals as we could and create a collaborative forum where their skills, talents, and emerging businesses could be highlighted.

 

This was a Year of the Tastemaker; individuals in San Diego who are making a difference. We salute Brian Hawkins, Tastemakers Post May 9, who spent 2013 promoting his start-up StyleSeek and took the leap on developing PreFAB a coworking, event, promotional space at the new Downtown Center, The Headquarters. Brian has amazing plans for 2014 and we are excited to be a part of his efforts.

 

 

We are also watching Dean Hall Tastemakers Post April 19. This was a big Year for Dean...he was voted San Diego's Most Stylish Man at the Vixen Pop-Up event hosted by another one of our favorite SD Entrepreneurs, Venessa Johnson. Dean is seen frequently on Fox 5 promoting accessible fashion and collaborates with Adrienne Saks as half of the styling duo Hall & Saks. The upcoming Year will be another busy one for Dean. Expect a creative product launch under his brand SAM by Dean Hall and a recurring spot on the new Fashion Fixx where he cohosts with Cindy Matalucci from Pulse SD. Cindy is another SD Tastemaker...stay tuned for an upcoming feature.

 

 

2013 was also the Year of Start-Ups with many exciting new businesses featured in our Spotlights. Christina Samoylov with Designer Vault was awarded "The Most Fashionable Entrepreneur" at San Diego Entrepreneur Day. In addition to her designer consignment resale site, she hosted two of the most successful SD Pop-Ups this past year including an exhibition/sale of one of the largest Chanel collections in the U.S. Thank you Christina for your guest blog post The It Spots for SD It Girls. We can't wait to see what you have in store for 2014.

 

So MANY Accomplishments but without a doubt, the collaborative efforts that helped Design, Build, and Present the SDEDay Fortune 421 StyleLounge in September top the list. With amazing support from Jason Herrick (Fortune 421) & his team, Pulse SD Media coverage from Cindy Matalucci & team, and participants Chris Kramer at Luv Surf, Katherine Hammonds at The Habitat Factory, Immanuel Ontiveros & Anda Bailey at Lord Wallington, Melissa Lawson at Crow Thief, Valentine Viannay at Valentine Viannay designs, Christina Samoylov at Designer Vault, Michelle Aufmann with Studio Gear, Blink Lash, and John & Brett Miller at Recreation before Responsibility, the Creative Entrepreneurial community had a day in the Spotlight. Jessica Krantz took on the task of building all the furniture/display pieces and with  help from Vintage Revivals, they helped create a Street StyleLounge, a first for SD.

 

 So as we say farewell to 2013, a few big THANK YOUS are in order. Collaborative forums are only as good as the contributors. Thank you Greer Bitterlin, Jeremy McConnell, Michelle Aufmann, Katherine Hammonds, and Christina Samoylov for providing compelling content. Chelsey & Courtney Halligan, you have created your own brand with your Twinzies Posts and we have loved following you along the way.

 

And to the person who is the key creative talent behind the SDFSA format, Abe Voytek, 2013 happened as a result of your dedication and efforts. For the beautiful artwork created for the San Diego Evening Post and all the Style/Object Posts, we are grateful.

 

So here's to 2014.....The Year of Possibilities.