Nick Cane shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Nick, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
The most misunderstood thing about Forum of Goods is me! People think so many things about me, and most of them just aren’t true.
I’m not cool, I’m not effortless, I’m not casual, I’m not laid back. I am a bundled knot of nerves and anxiety at all times!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Nick Cane, a fiber artist based out of Laurel, Maryland.
I’ve been sewing banners for five years and specialize in graphic, clean looks. My banners are appliqué-based, not chain stitch or embroidered (obviously, no shade whatsoever, just a different and lesser-used medium).
They tend to use bright colors and strong lines, with pops of texture or metallics. Everything is hand made and sewn in my basement, where the entire business works from.
Compared to other banner types, appliqué allows the artist or client to have a much greater variety of textiles to choose from – from silks to furniture upholstery.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
It sounds trite and tired now, but between 2019 and 2020 I went through drastic changes. Old circles dissolved and I was very, very adrift.
In my pain, I found others’ pain. I know this isn’t a formative memory or anything, but it was extremely important to FOG’s mission.
I discovered my real passions and purposes again. To create, share, and build; instead of consuming, taking, and holding everything.
From that point, I have genuinely tried to serve others through art, time, hospitality, and not least of all, charity.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
There is so little learned from success! The things of mine that have been most popular have been accidents, for all intents and purposes.
But, failure! Sweet failure can teach you loads. Every single banner I make has mistakes – tiny little failures. These obviously can give direct feedback on how to improve.
Like, wrestling with your medium … that is the art, man. And it only comes through struggle.
On the larger scale, suffering teaches resilience. Everyone knows this. I’m not the first to say this, but there is eternal truth there. Luckily, you will suffer because everyone will!
Yeah! Suffering!
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
I would hope they see the huge love I have for them and my absolute dedication to their well-being.
What matters the most to me is people. It’s real connections about real things with real people. I don’t care about the abstract, indirect connections – I want the stuff that you feel.
Emails and spreadsheets don’t matter! What matters is if your friend is struggling and you were there for them. Posting online doesn’t matter. Talking to someone over coffee does.
Real people matter the most to me. I want everyone to feel welcome and safe and appreciated.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I hope it would just be myself.
I try so, so hard to make FOG not a part of my life, but a version.
The amount of people I have connected with and maintain that connection with makes me chuckle. This is not how a real business functions, but it’s how Forum of Goods must function.
One day FOG might just cease. I hope they miss me always being there to talk. Always making stupid posts. Always throwing things at the wall.
As we say around here, “FOG Means Friends Forever!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.forumofgoods.com
- Instagram: @forum_of_goods
- Twitter: @forumofgoods.bsky.social
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