We were lucky to catch up with Sage Wilks recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sage , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
My brand, Iz and Oak embodies the spirit of the west, so I find one of the things that I can always count on to inspire my creative process is the western lifestyle itself. I’ve found that traveling against the backdrops of the west helps me to regularly find inspiration- whether that’s riding through wildflowers in the backcountry, the saguaros in Arizona, or the prairies of Montana.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Sage, and I own Iz and Oak Western Couture- a western boutique inspired by the authentic spirit of the west. Iz and Oak reflects the genuine spirit of the working cowgirl with a couture spin, and I love curating pieces and brands that keep our western heritage alive.
Before opening Iz and Oak, I obtained my degree in Animal Science and ranch management. I opened the business in my one bedroom college apartment and turned my dining room into my unofficial warehouse. It’s been so exciting to watch it transform. Now, in addition to having our online store, we also get to travel around the country for events.
The heartbeat behind my business has always been about curating unique pieces and designs that stand out for their artistry. For example, we love working with female western artists to come up with exclusive designs you can’t find anywhere else. It is so much fun to have that collaboration and sense of shared vision with another artist that shares our love of the western lifestyle. We also carry several apparel lines handmade in the USA by women owned businesses. I love that we get to bring our customers so many unique pieces brimming with artistry, craftsmanship and inspiration.
As a small business, we wear just about every hat- from individually curating each item we carry to imagining, styling and photographing our products. We love getting to shoot in places that capture the charm and rugged beauty of the west. You’ll also spot my mules, Izzy and Oakley modeling in our photoshoots often. They’re the inspiration behind our name and the face of our logo, too.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think that growing up in an entrepreneurial family has been one of the most impactful things on my journey because it instilled the value of hard work. My mom is a small business owner and she taught me so much seeing that first hand. She set the example of believing in yourself, and that if you’re willing to put in the hard work to learn the necessary skills, you can take an idea and bring it to life.
I also believe that one of the most important qualities that has helped me on my journey is being curious. As a creative person growing up, I had a lot of diverse interests that didn’t necessarily fit into one box. To this day, I think that’s one of the things that is the biggest asset to me as an entrepreneur- the willingness to explore and bring different ideas together.
For individuals who are early on in their journey, the biggest thing I would recommend is working to create the mindset shift that you can do it. Limit outside influences that are going to discourage you- most of the people who are trying to dissuade you are people who are not actually putting the work in themselves. Along with that, keep the perspective that you’re always going to be growing and improving.
Lastly, I would say to stay true to your own vision. What you create authentically is always going to be better than something you attempt to emulate.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
One book that has helped me so much in my journey and that I would recommend all creatives to read is “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown. She has some of the best advice I’ve ever heard in regards to pursuing a life of creativity and creating authentically.
She includes a quote from Theodeore Roosevelt “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.,” that I think perfectly applies to becoming an entrepreneur.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://izandoak.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izandoak/
Image Credits
Amanda Wilks for Iz and Oak Western Couture
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