We were lucky to catch up with Chris Flemming recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I never did. Dealing with Imposter Syndrome is a constantly evolving battle that grows with you as you carve out and develop your place in the world. Imposter syndrome always seems to pop up when facing growth and uncharted waters- overconfidence can sometimes be a warning sign of stagnation.
Philosophy aside, in reality it always helps to be surrounded by supportive people who will be honest with you about critique.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I run Make Shift Studios, a full-service design studio that specializes in custom clothing and graphics. My main clients include musicians, small business owners, non-profits, and student groups: basically anybody that needs help expressing themselves visually. Just one small Boston business helping elevate another. The most fulfilling part of the client-work is when I get to design and produce fully custom outfits for performers to wear on stage and be seen by thousands of fans.
Aside from this boutique service, I also run my own clothing line by the same name. The brand itself is loosely inspired by car culture, classic Americana, the wild west, and many other forms of untapped potential, as characterized by my signature uncut car key hardware. Nothing says freedom like the open road.
In the past year I’ve debuted these unique, often upcycled garments in at least 21 runway shows around New England, with a handful more planned by the end of the season. Using my existing connections and experience in manufacturing, I have free creative control to experiment with new processes and forms.
Including both of these aspects of my business has allowed me to fully use the extent of my varied skillset and flex the adaptability of my creative process. I find that I thrive best in overcoming challenges that require critical thinking and unconventional problem solving using seemingly disparate elements.
In the upcoming year I’m planning to host some themed launch events for different merch activations. I will also be moving slightly into the gallery scene with some upcycled artworks using various car parts and other “trash” materials.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three things things I’d recommend most for new business owners are openness, commitment, and introspection.
Openness- Any business, especially a fresh entrepreneurial one is bound to be fraught with uncharted territory. In blazing your own path, a number of opportunities will present themselves to you. Of course not every one is beneficial; some may be a waste of time or even detrimental to your progress. However, there is no way of knowing which it is unless you take the chance. As you gain more skill and finesse you should be able to discern which type of opportunity it is.
Commitment- This is not going to be easy. No matter what you do, there will be challenges that will feel insurmountable. There will be haters and naysayers. Some of that might even have some element of truth which will make it even easier to give into the feeling of hopelessness and quitting. Where the real success shines is committing to your chosen path and powering through despite all the self-doubt. Compromises will need to be made and sacrifices taken. The only person that can confirm it’s justified is you and you alone.
Introspection- Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. This is your dream you’re chasing. Of course there are number of reasons why you would choose to pursue this initially, but only you can decide if it’s worth continuing. I guess the only advice I can give is to know yourself, especially where your strengths and weaknesses lie. As entrepreneurs we delude ourselves into thinking we have to do absolutely everything (and do it right). Of course nobody is perfect, so you’ll have to have some weaknesses somewhere. Don’t be afraid to delegate resources to somebody who is skilled in doing what you’re not. That way you can dedicate your energies into doing what you CAN do well.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Visibility, without a doubt. This is the only reason I’ve done almost 2 dozen runway shows in under a year.
In my particular position I’m confident in my design skills, and competent in my production skills. All I need is the right eyes on my work to make the connections happen.
It’s impossible to have success in a vacuum, so I know I need to get myself out there and show off what I can do.
Where I struggle is being able to successfully capitalize on my marketing channels to promote while also handling the production side, creativity, outreach, finance, and all other parts of life that might otherwise require my attention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://makeshiftstudios.shop/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/make_shiftstudios/
