Kristen

As a child, I was an avid reader. I loved the American Girls books and wanted an Addy doll. I could have asked my parents to buy the doll for me, but American Girl merchandise is expensive and I didn't want to burden them. Also, I figured that earning it myself would be so much more rewarding. Therefore, when I was 10 years old, I started a small business making and selling crafts. I was really good at making brooches, so I attended local fairs to sell my designs. I eventually sold enough brooches to purchase my very own Addy doll and I still have it. It holds a lot of significance, because it was the first big ticket item that I bought with money that I earned.

I moved to New York City in 2012 and was inspired by the entrepreneurial nature of most New Yorkers. Also, New York is the fashion capital of the USA, so manufacturers, industry insiders, and fabric and trim suppliers are just a convenient subway ride away. Therefore, I decided that this was the perfect time to start my dream business.

Growing up in a working class suburb of Cleveland, Ohio had an impact on how I run my business. I saw first hand the negative consequences of blue collar jobs being relocated overseas. I also witnessed the sometimes exploitative nature of employers towards employees. I vowed to be in charge of my own economic destiny, source as much as I could from U.S.-based vendors, and create an inclusive, fair, and supportive work environment.

As a full bust woman, I have a vested interest in the growth of Exclusively Kristen. I spent years wearing baggy, unflattering shirts, because there weren't many options for DD+ women. I went from: "Why can't they make shirts for large busted women?" to "I can totally do this!" My dream is for Exclusively Kristen, particularly the "Kristen shirts" to be a household name. I want fuller busted women to know that they have fashion options that are well-fitted and flattering.