Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/934095
letter editor STEVEN VISNEAU, SISTERBROTHER MGMT. 8 F or an editor, there are few things more exciting than stumbling across something unexpected. It's like find- ing a hidden treasure — uncovering a lesser-known detail about someone and helping share that story is a driving force in what we do. This issue packs plenty of those kinds of gems, and they all share one common thread: passion. First, PaperCity editor at large Max Trowbridge opens up about her nonstop trek through the Grand Canyon as part of the Project Athena foundation. When Max and I chatted several months ago and she first shared her journey with me, I was so inspired by her incredible determination that I begged her to write about it for PaperCity. Max's story of conquering the Grand Canyon is about so much more than raw physical and mental strength. It's a thoughtful lesson in self-empower- ment and humility — and finding confidence in places you might least expect. It also shows that there's often so much more about us than meets the eye. (Dearest Max, sign me up for your next hike.) Another passion project comes by way of the remarkable Andrew Glassford. On the surface, Glassford is a suit-wearing, numbers-crunch- ing banker. But there's more: After loving and admiring jewelry his whole life, Andrew decided to self-fund and launch his namesake line a year ago on New Years Day. This was yet another meeting I left feel- ing undeniably inspired. How often do we speak of passions we wish we had pursued, or creative projects we've merely dreamt of, only to quietly push them to the side — trading the things we love (or have never tried) for the daily routines we have grown accustomed to. Rather than just talk about it, Andrew bravely and boldly did it. The result is a stunning collection of precious jewels inspired by Mexican-border culture and his childhood in Laredo. Another example of trading the expected for the unconventional is jewelry designer and Dallas native Ashley Pittman's wedding to Taylor Hamra. After having planned the wedding at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, Ashley decided she'd rather do something intimate at her mother's home in Bel Air. When I spoke with wedding designer and owner of Jackson Durham Events Sara Fay Egan about the big day, we got on the subject of obligation — brides who feel like they have to do things a certain way. In the process, Sara Fay said, it's easy to make decisions for the wrong reasons, ultimately losing sight of doing what you actually want to do. In this case, Ashley traded the traditional venue for something smaller and at home; she didn't have a long line of bridesmaids and opted for an unconventional officiant, choosing a family friend instead. She even decided — last minute, no less — that the gown she had originally chosen wasn't for her and that she would wear something modern and off-the-rack instead. For Ashley, just like Max and Andrew and so many others featured in this issue, it all comes down to breaking the rules. Christina Geyer Dallas Editor in Chief christina@papercitymag.com