It made me think about what came before Halmoni.
I dug up a few pics to share...
Before Halmoni I was Grandma's Closet and before GC I worked in retail/grocery for a big corporation. I worked for them for 5 years. I was unhappy and unsatisfied because I was usually too tired from my day job to focus on anything creative after work. I wasn't producing art and I hardly got dressed up. I felt burned out.
I wanted to live my dream. I wanted to sell vintage clothing and treasures from the past. I wanted to showcase my point of view. I wanted action instead of what if's.
Before I became brick and mortar I was a guerilla pop-up shop selling clothes in San Francisco under the name Grandma's Closet and this is how I got started.
I would go out to SF and post up where ever I could. I would set up a rack that I bought at Bed Bath and Beyond with the little bit of money I had left from my grocery job. I figured I would try selling the treasures I collected over the years to support myself.
One day I thought I found the perfect corner on the Mission Street in SF so I pulled the car up to the spot and started setting up my rack. I was super nervous and organize the clothing meticulously because I wanted it to be perfect...then....WHAM! SMASH! BOOM!
The bloody rack falls. It just topples over. Yep! It falls... on Mission Street in front of lots of people. Now that I think about it, it was so busy on Mission that I was probably unnoticed. I retreated and just cried. I think I have failed. I disassemble my rack and it feels like I'm running. I'm so bummed out. I'm so disappointed.
We drove off but I didn't want to give up. After a cup of hot tea and lots of kisses and encouragement I tried again.
Look at me now! I'm out there proud and confident!