Meet Brittani Bumb: Indie Sewing Pattern Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brittani Bumb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brittani, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Oh gosh, balance is one of those things that I find forever changing! It makes me wonder if there really is ever a time when both are in perfect equilibrium. Over time, I have learned to really lean in to different areas of my life. This concept of “leaning in” comes from the book Slow by Brooke McAlary, where the author describes finding a sort of wobbly balance in life. Sometimes, work is all encompassing, so you may find yourself working longer hours trying to finish up a major project. When doing this, it is understandable that other parts of your life may be neglected — the dishes might pile up, you may find yourself ordering food in a bit more, etc… The key to wobbly balance, however, if knowing that it won’t (and shouldn’t) last forever. There is that fine line between working hard towards a goal with an end in sight and just completely burning out. So I guess my balance has changed more so in how I view achieving the coveted “work life balance,” in that I don’t. I tend to go more with the ebbs and flows of life which have a natural season to them. At least, in my experience that has been the case. Of course, I still sometimes have to remind myself during a particularly stressful or busy season that it is only temporary and things will calm down. But I have become much better and just going with the flow and accepting how things are balancing themselves in any given moment.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Getting to where I currently am has been a long and winding road, for sure. It’s not been easy, and there have been loads of times that I have wanted to throw in the towel, but something exciting always lights a fire within me during those low moments that brings me back to trying something new. I think my restlessness has really been the driving force for my business. I remember meeting a professor in NYC once who told me about all the different jobs she had taken before becoming a professor, and for some reason that really resonated with me. I loved hearing the stories she told of her past experiences and how they brought her to the present day, and I definitely feel as if I have taken a similar approach to my life and business. It is what has kept my business going and growing and constantly changing. As far as what I feel sets me apart from other businesses and what excites me the most (they are one in the same) is my unwavering dedication to sustainability. Whenever I read anything that sheds light on sustainable living, business practices, activism, etc. I feel the inspiration surging through me. That probably sounds so silly, but I truly do feel a rising sense of excitement in my chest that makes me want to jump up and just start creating and doing and thinking. And I believe this underlying passion really sets me apart from others, especially recently. I have always had sustainability on my mind whenever I develop a new product, but it sometimes felt as if it came around at the end of a project. Now, I have it set to be the lens in which I see a project through in its entirety. This has definitely caused a major shift in how I see my business moving in to the future, but it’s such an exciting shift, at least for me!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whew, what a tough question! It’s been so long since I have actually been in the city – over a year I believe! – so I am honestly not sure where I might take them. Maybe I will have a better idea after COVID is over, and I have had a chance to safely re-explore the city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh goodness, so many people deserve this shoutout. There are literally so many people I have met IRL and online that have helped me and my business to grow and without their support I truly would not be where I am today. It’s overwhelming to think about, sometimes. I guess my main shoutout would have to go to the sewing community as a whole on IG. It is a wonderfully vibrant, thoughtful, uplifting community that I am lucky to have found! And I wouldn’t have found them had it not been for my former boss and forever friend, Leigh Metcalf of Topstitch ATL (https://topstitchatl.com/pages/leigh-metcalf). Leigh introduced me to the indie sewing community a few years ago and has always been so supportive of my dreams and ambitions! She was the first to suggest I maybe start making patterns for the home sewist and she was the first to carry my patterns in her shop. Honestly, she is just an overall amazingly supportive person who also runs a fantastic business as well! It has changed a lot in the past year due to COVID, but she is still fostering that sense of community through her brand which is magical to witness.

Website: www.untitledthoughts.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/untitledthoughts/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/public-profile/in/brittani-bumb-40566426

Twitter: https://twitter.com/untitldthoughts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UntitledThoughts

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrFAg9bi4sOF_dR2BlsRLIw

Image Credits
All images were photographed by either myself or my husband.