All parents long for more time to make our personal passions materialize. We remember the old times, when we spent hours on art projects, writing, designing, editing, or building something into the wee hours of the morning. A lot of us, especially of slightly older kids, are slowly able to knock on creativity’s door once the turbulence of the baby period is left behind. One unbelievable woman, however, is somehow not only raising two small children (with the help of a wonderful husband) and successfully pursuing her career as a stylist- all while fully powering ahead with her personal, artistic, entrepreneurial visions. I decided to interview Christine Ryan, whose line of thoughtfully designed, hand-sewn bow ties and super hero capes not only fascinates me, but completely won my daughter over. Here is my interview with Brooklyn’s own Christine Ryan of Stinky McGee about juggling it all, being altruistic, and happily plowing forward.
Can you tell me about how and when you started Stinky McGee?
Stinky McGee started in 2012. It really was born out of a need I had for a simple, cute, well-made bowtie for my older son. We had an event to go to, and I just wanted him to look dressed up without looking too formal. I had an idea in my head of a bowtie made with a cute printed fabric (which wasn’t flammable) that my boy could wear for a few years, but I couldn’t find one anywhere! I have a tailoring background, and decided enough was enough. Instead of making only one, I loved what I had made him so much that I made about 20 bowties…Ooops! Then I had to figure out a way to unload these extras. I contacted my local super cool baby shop, and asked if they would have any interest in selling them. They did, and then they blogged about them. Then other stores started contacting me. The rest is history.
What are your signature pieces, and which kinds of kids do you see gravitating toward what?
Our signature pieces are really the bowties and the superhero capes. Both of these products are great ways for kids to add a bit of their personality to their look of the day. Our Navy with Stars Bowtie was the first bowtie made and still the very best seller we have! And our superhero capes are personalized (at no extra cost), double sided with satin and sold with a 1 for 1 model. We donate capes to superheroes in hospital beds for every cape we sell 🙂
What does the cape do emotionally for kids who wear it, in your opinion?
I think our superhero capes are great accessories for a child’s creativity. Sometimes when my older son wears his he becomes more shy and he shields himself behind his cape, yet most of the time he ties it on he becomes a powerful, brave superhero flying around the playground. In regards to the children who receive our capes through our donations to hospitals (Maimonides Hospital’s Pediatric and Oncology Pediatric Departments, as well as Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin, Ireland) I can only imagine how it makes them feel. But what I hope it does it gives them a little reminder, especially if they’re having a rough day, that people they don’t even know are thinking about them and think they are amazing- amazingly strong, courageous, and very, very brave.
Did you grow up sewing, or watching someone sew?
My mom and my grandmother were both sewers, mostly out of neccessity. My Grandmother had the beautiful Singer sewing machine with wrought iron details, hand-painted floral designs on the machine, and a foot pedal you had to keep going yourself. My mother would say now that she’s a terrible sewer but that’s just not true. It’s just that I am very uptight about it, and she is not.
How did you start styling, and how do you find time to dedicate to Stinky McGee now as a full-time Mother and Stylist?
I started styling a long time ago now. In the early 2000s when I started a women’s clothing line, and then opened up a brick and mortar shop for it in Williamsburg Brooklyn. Styling was a great way to make money to pay the shop’s rent, which meant my clothing line could be whatever I wanted it to be without the worry of money. Since I started Stinky McGee after having my first kid, it’s just been integrated into my day around him. And when I have time, I always make more product than I need so I’m always ahead of the game. Honestly, there have been days where I really don’t get much sleep between my day job as a stylist and my night job heading up Stinky- but usually that only happens when it’s a big wholesale order for a shop. Being a Mom comes first, then everything else can just fall into place. Plus, I would be remiss if I didn’t add that I have an amazing husband. He will grab the kids and bring them to the park so I can sew like a banshee, and he’ll do the post office runs so I can read a book to one of the boys, and he will do the fabric runs in Manhattan- the list goes on and on!
What are your favorite aspects of Stinky McGee and the work you do with it?
The best part about Stinky McGee is that everything I make is for my kids. Every single product that we sell has come from a need they had and a way I could fulfill it. Plus it’s all made in Brooklyn, NY. It’s pretty rewarding.
What was it like to work as a Stylist on Sesame Street?
Sesame Street was really amazing to work on! It was such a treat to get to work with such talented people. The writers are so smart and witty- even as a grown up I was really into the stories. The puppeteers are beyond talented. My first week there I couldn’t help giggling while working on set. I’m here, watching Cookie Monster go loopy for cookies! Eeek! A lot of the talent and crew have been there for the 40 odd years that Sesame has been around, which goes to show you what I tight family they are. That being said, the work hours were really long. Eventually, I decided I needed a job with easier hours so I could actually see my family.
If someone wanted to learn how to sew, or brush up on their sewing skills, where could they go in Brooklyn?
http://flirt-brooklyn.com/classes.html
These are my girls! They have a fantastic shop (that I used to sell me women’s line in! ) plus they run a fabulous sewing school called Home Ec. I would definitely recommend people wanting to learn to sew to head towards them.
Rebecca Conroy is an artist, stylist, and Editor of A Child Grows in Brooklyn. She is from New York City, and has an MFA from Columbia University in screenwriting. Rebecca often finds herself on film and photography sets making things run or look better, and is the mom of two outrageously wonderful kids.