Tea for Creatives: Devin VanderMaas

Written by Possibiliteas. Posted in Blog

Meet Devin VanderMaas, the founder of The Factory 2.0, a business woman by day, and a fashion philosopher by night.

Define creativity. What does it mean to you? And how has it inspired your career?

To me, creativity is synonymous with truth and freedom as it allows one to freely pursue one’s own truth, or a divine truth, as well as allows one to truthfully express one’s freedom–however contextual it may be.

Creativity has inspired my career in three ways: academically, theoretically, and entrepreneurially.   Most recently it has inspired my academic career quite literally as I am doing research at Kings College London in an (appropriately named) Creative Industries program, focusing on the dichotomy of conspicuous consumption and sustainable solutions in the fashion industry.

Theoretically, creativity has inspired my journalistic and writing career as It has shaped the way I view the world of fashion and its’ respective industry.  Creativity, used in this sense as a state of mind, has inspired new ways for me to define the notion of style and its, undoubtably, powerful role in society.

Entrepreneurially, I’ve started The Factory 2.0, a digital home for new ways to consume clothing and interact in the fashion industry as well as learn about visual culture.  The Factory 2.0 is an umbrella company that consists of a designer agency, an auction house, an online store, a self-design software program, magazine, TV channel, and blog.  My business model is centered around manufacturing, selling, and opening a thoughtful discourse about “smart” clothing as well as provide a platform to nurture designer’s creativity.

How do you navigate the creative process?

The creative process for me is a delicate balance, and sometimes an internal battle, between experience and reflection. I feel inspiration when I travel and apply my senses to the world.  I think you learn most about yourself when you find yourself in foreign environments and I find my mind is most open to brew ideas when I am free to explore. The environment I am in certainly facilitates my ideas. I am then able to develop my ideas when I return to my home (Burton, Ohio) and reflect upon them in peace and quietness. It is after that, when things get a bit tricky and figuring out how to share your ideas with the world, sometimes, is the hardest part.  That is when the things you learned in school, or the skills you’ve developed in networking, and the faith you might have or the hope for a dash of luck becomes important. There is no formula for actualizing an idea other than going out into the world and trying it and consequently trying to share it.

Describe the biggest creative obstacle you’ve faced in the past. How did you hurdle it?

When I was a sophomore at New York University I was hired to start a newsletter for the Fashion Business Association. During this time I realized that there was actually an even greater need for a magazine.  I then founded NYChic Magazine; NYU’s first and only premiere fashion publication as well as the only student publication to be distributed during New York City’s Fashion Week. However, taking the magazine from idea to fruition was NOT an easy task.  We missed the application deadline to receive funding from NYU so we were completely on our own.

I started the publication with absolutely nothing and had to suddenly assume both the business and creative responsibilities. We had no writers, editors, photographers, advertisements–this list goes on and on. I had to find printing, graphic designers, distributors, again, the list goes on.  I ran in to every problem, fell into every pit, and encountered every disaster New York City could have possibly thrown at me. I remember crying myself to sleep, not sleeping for days, and when I did sleep, I would dream of the magazine’s success. Within 3 months we had a 30-page magazine, thousands of dollars in funding, and celebrity interviews and breath taking photography in what would become an award winning student magazine (http://www.nychicmagazine.com/).  To what do I owe this magnitude of resilience? The focus of two things: 1.) Hard work and 2.) Staying positive.

When you know you have a great idea in your hands or when you know you are capable of contributing positively to something, then you do not have a choice but to make yourself resilient and protect what you believe will be received well if given the opportunity.  It is just a matter of staying focused until that opportunity is granted.  It has certainly been a while since my sophomore year in undergrad and I have certainly had to overcome several more creative obstacles, but it was honestly those lessons that I learned while starting that magazine that have carried me through the rest of my career.  Those lessons have been far greater than any internship, job, or book could have ever taught!

Who is your favorite creative figure? How have they inspired your creativity?

Aside from the random passerby on the street who is brave enough and honest enough to dress and act and live as truly to themselves as possible, while still being compassionate towards others, I would say Andy Warhol is my favorite creative figure.

Looking at Warhol as a human being, I admire his sociological perspective for various and extensive reasons we don’t have time to get into now. But in terms of how he has inspired my creativity, I admire how he promoted the coming together and collaboration amongst artists.  His silver factory has single handedly inspired my business. I’ve been inspired by other groups who have come together and inspired each other like the literary and artistic ex-pats in Jazz era Paris or even my numbered days working at Mood Fabrics when I was constantly surround by true characters and designers alike.

If you could choose one quote as your life mantra, what would it be?

“Just Do It!” — Nike

The Tea for Creatives series celebrates the creative minds that Possibiliteas seeks to serve with its brews. We aim to bring the creative community insightful and eye-opening profiles of the best and brightest creative professionals across various industries. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for more conversations on creativity.

Tags: creativity, Devin Vandermaas, eco-fashion, fashion, smart fashion, The Factory 2.0

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