Ideas can ebb and flow just like the tide or suddenly come to a peak that cascades into a full on wave. My mind has been churning with questions and ideas lately and the big ones that keeps rising to the surface are about what's at the heart. Why am I doing this? Why did I decide to become an artist? Why did I start designing tshirts? Why am I focusing so much effort to learn about sustainable manufacturing and design a skirt from scratch? It's definitely not about making money; I'm not a business major or even all that outgoing, but I keep chugging along because I believe in Forest and Fin and want it to reach it’s highest potential. And for years I've had this feeling that I have something that needs to be shared with the world. It's an intangible thought - more of a feeling or intuition - but lately I've been working hard to put it into words.
What is Forest and Fin about exactly?
Brian and I went for a long walk at Tybee Beach the other day, and I was struck by just how much I needed that walk, that time outside, feeling the wind in my face; the salt on my skin; and hearing the surf crashing on the shore. It instantly calmed me and cleared my head. Sometimes after a long day of working on the computer, it seems like such a big trip or so much effort to just get out there. I'm tired and hungry and feel this pressure in my head; I don't want to make any more decisions - not where to go, not about what to eat. The thing is that these thoughts often stop me from reaching those places - the beach, a nature walk, a kayak paddle, a boat ride - even though I never ever regret going or doing these things (in fact I love doing them). So I need reminders all the time: don’t forget to look outside; don’t forget to feel a little bit of sunshine on your face; don’t forget to smell the rain; or listen to the trees; or the water; or notice the birds. It may seem obvious, but sometimes it’s just not. I know it’s healthy and that it will help me become a happier, more calm, less stressed out person, but sometimes I am so removed from these places.
It seems to me that if I keep thinking all the time that I need more reminders, then other people probably do too. We all have such busy modern lives keeping up with the fast pace of the 24-hour internet, there is never a moment to catch our breath. I have to keep telling myself to stop using the excuse "I've been so busy lately" because it's all the time and it's not just me. Everyone is busy these days. So perhaps there is a way we can all help to remind each other. Perhaps there is a way that Forest and Fin can be the vehicle that gets us out there by serving as a reminder to us all.
Over the course of that walk, my thoughts boiled it down to this: Forest and Fin is about being outdoors and feeling more connected with the earth; it's about helping all of us realize that we need to spend more time observing and participating in the world around us; it's about interacting in a positive way with the plants and animals that surround us; bringing some of that feeling back into our day-to-day lives with functional products that mimic or capture the beauty of the environment, and it's about living responsibly in a manner that doesn't burden the world. I hope you'll join me in this quest to add fulfillment and inspiration to our lives; inspire us all to get outside more; and participate with, improve, and give back to the beautiful place in which we all live. Are you with me?