We recently connected with Chris Gomez and have shared our conversation below.
Chris, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I inherited my work ethic from my mother. Being raised in a single parent home I witnessed first hand the true meaning of the word hustle. I learned at a very young age how to be self sufficient as well as learning that if you want something in life you have to go out and earn it.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Kaiju Cut and Sew is an accessories brand that highlights ethically sourced leathers from the Pacific Northwest and imported fabrics from Japan.
2022 Winner of The Editors Choice Award for Best Accessories from Austin Monthly.
2022 Creative Arts Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce
I have been very fortunate to have collaborated with Austin Beerworks and Hold Out Brewing to brew beers to help raise awareness and funds to local non profit charities like the Austin Asian Film Festival, Austin Family Support Services of Austin to name a few.
Our Lunar New Year event at Austin Beerworks has now become a yearly event in which we brew a new beer and bring in several local asian small businesses for an event that the local community can come and enjoy. The next Lunar New Year event at Austin Beerworks will be Saturday February 21st.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Surround yourself with people that believe in you and your journey. I can’t emphasize this enough. These people are your champions through thick and thin.
2. Don’t talk about it, be about it. There will never be the “perfect” time to do something as it relates to your company/brand. You just have to do it.
3. Build relationships with your contacts. Networking is the best way to spread the word about your and your brand. Sometimes the “no’s” are a blessing in disguise, it may not be the right time for an opportunity but don’t give up because it only takes a single yes.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Taking down time throughout the day to just unplug is key. For me that’s either listening to music, podcast, or an audio book. Sometimes when I’m struggling with a new design I have to step away from a project in order to regain focus.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaijucutandsew.com
- Instagram: @kaijucutandsew
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaijucutandsew
- Twitter: @kaijucutandsew
Image Credits
Photo Credit: Chris Gomez
