Devan of Contour Creative
As a maker in business, I strive to prioritize my values and mission with the decisions I make for Smeeny Beanie Knits. As a brand that is dedicated to creating eco-friendly products and to commit to sourcing ethically and sustainably, I found a kindred spirit in Devan from Contour Creative. Devan is the founder, creator, and designer of this small socially responsible hand-stamped apparel company where she sketches all of her own designs before hand carving stamps which are then used to stamp the clothing items. I was so excited to chat with her!
Devan and I connected through Instagram where I found and fell in love with her outdoor inspired designs and the mission behind her business. Her tagline is “Be Confident, Feel Comfortable” and I couldn’t agree more! Much of her inspiration is drawn from her love of the outdoors and her life in the evergreen Washington state.
We talk about how she started on her artistic journey selling prints and notecards with her designs as a young teenager to creating a clothing brand that has now become her full time job!
“Steal Like an Artist”
Devan talks about how nothing is truly original, but you can put your original flavor onto it. It doesn’t have to be super quirky or original. People are drawn to something that is familiar and everyone resonates with something different for different reasons. It’s still YOUR style.
If you are true to yourself, it will come through in your designs.
Like any creative business, her brand has morphed and evolved over time.
One strategy she uses is to simply ask her biggest fans why they like her products. She has her group that she calls her “ambassadors” that have been supportive from the beginning. They have told her that her clothes are comfortable, give them confidence, and makes them feel good.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a size 0 or size 20, clothes just fit weird on everyone because every body is so different and beautiful. I just love finidng the right piece that will just make you feel so good and so important.”
As a maker, Devan never found clothes that served her life or expressed who she was, so she said she’d just make them!
“When we feel good in the clothes we wear, we can go outing the world and say this is who I am and we can love the rest of the world better when we feel loved.”
Socially Responsible Clothing
At Contour Creative, Devan ensures that none of her blanks come from a sweatshop. She believes in the value of human life and treating people well and says that that doesn’t stop at our borders. Her blanks are sourced from all over the world and her priority is finding companies to work with that supports her values, no matter where they are located.
“I want you to feel free when you wear something that I’ve made, and to feel that way you have to know that it has been made in freedom. Pieces that are made with love, from love…there is something invaluable in that that you can’t put a price tag on. Something that is made from someone’s heart just feels good. When you’re making something for someone (with your hands), you are thinking about them as you make it. That is part of the connection.”
Being an Outdoor Leader
“There is always healing and transformation in the outdoors because we’re getting to the core of who we are and who we are made to be without distraction.”
She says that being uncomfortable is where good things happen and I couldn’t agree more!
Find What Makes You Fascinating to the World!
Devan talks about how you just have to try. By trying new things, it keeps you from getting into creative ruts and whether it works or not, can put you back on the right path. She’s found that urgency is an aspect that makes her products “fascinating” and is excited to try a new special release model for certain product collections.
Growing Your Email List
You never know if your Instagram might get shut down, so having an email list is super important! I lamented that I get sad when I see how many people don’t open my emails, but my favorite takeaway from Devan was that even if they don’t open it, they still have to do something with it so they are seeing your brand and you are still staying top of mind.
Her Tip on Starting Out on Your Maker Journey
Haters gonna hate. It’s a sign that you’re doing something right. Do what you want and follow your heart. If it works, it works and if it doesn’t, you’ll learn something from it.
Check out Devan’s work at
https://contourcreative.us and connect with her on Instagram @contourcreative