Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1110892
letter editor ANA HOP 18 I n this age of disrupters and innovators, I often find myself wondering if I have what it takes to grow a seedling of an idea into something that changes the culture. Even more simply, I wonder: Would I have what it takes to boldly go off on my own with the spirit of an entrepreneur, ready to tackle a new business from the ground up. For now, I'll stick with my day job and remain inspired by people like those featured in our May issue — a wonderful mix of shapeshifters who have influenced the realms of fashion and interiors, e-commerce, and online dating. This issue's theme began to take shape back in February, following a long conversation I had with Brian Bolke in advance of the opening of his new store, The Conservatory, at Hudson Yards in New York City. After our chat, I couldn't help but bask in the glow that was this new version of Brian — laser focused and a bit more serious, not the fashion-obsessed retailer I had known him to be. The growth Brian himself underwent to develop and open The Conservatory was apparent. And, to me, there are fewer things more thrilling than watching someone evolve, pushing themselves from one project to the next and raising the bar on their own level of talent. Senior editor Lisa Collins Shaddock has spent the last several months charting Bumble's every move. The dating and networking app founded by SMU alumni Whitney Wolfe Herd is a success story familiar to many, if not for popularizing online dating with the millennial generation, then for being a leader in modern feminism, with its pro-female values and projects supporting women. But what many don't know is that Bumble began with very humble roots — and there are three young women you must know, who were there working for and promoting Bumble from the beginning, by way of grass-roots marketing right here in Dallas. Through Lisa's story, we get an in-depth look at what it really took to get Bumble buzzing. Another entrepreneurial success story comes by way of Rae Liu, co-founder of Leatherology — an online direct-to-consumer brand that specializes in monogrammed leather goods. Home design editor Rebecca Sherman takes us inside Rae's modernist home, designed by Joshua Rice (another whip-smart entrepreneur who has made quite the name for himself in the interiors world as a go-to source for modern design). I've been to Leatherology HQ in North Dallas, and it's safe to say the operation is rather impressive, with its bustling offices and warehouse packed to the brim with creative designers, tech types, and (my personal favorite) old-school monogram machines. Also making her mark is interior designer Amy Berry, who launches her first foray into retail with the opening of her store, Amy Berry Home, this month. The new space, which sells everything from caftans to nursery decor, is all things Amy — classic and traditional, with a youthful spirit. Something tells me I'm going to become a regular customer. It's worth noting that Amy's store resides in the space that formerly housed The Collective — the residential real estate firm co-founded by Amy's mother-in-law, Christy Berry, which was subsequently bought by Compass. Coincidentally, our culture/style editor Billy Fong selected Christy as his Bomb girl this month, making this issue a bit of a family affair. Of all people, this May issue should perhaps be dedicated to one of the fashion world's foremost innovators: Christian Dior. As the Dallas Museum of Art opens its major retrospective on Dior this month, we pay homage to the French fashion house in myriad ways. We look at Monsieur Dior's incomparable influence and staying power as a household name in high fashion — and we examine his lesser-known impact on interior design. What would the world be like, after all, without that perfect shade of Dior Gray? Here's to those music makers, those dreamers of dreams. Thank you for inspiring and enlightening us. Christina Geyer Dallas Editor in Chief christina@papercitymag.com