Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Smith
Hi Katie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am a hardcore Swiftie. I have a Taylor inspired pop-up boutique, The Unhinged Swiftie. We pop-up with our tshirts, tumblers, Stanleys, jewelry, and handmade Swiftie gifts every weekend throughout Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.
I am the featured vendor for Reputation : Tribute to Taylor, a Dallas based Taylor tribute band. I bring my boutique, featuring my youth collection since Reputation has such a huge following with kids. It is so amazing to pop-up and enhance the experience of Texas’s best Taylor tribute band. I love that the lead singer and the multi-instrumentalist are sisters from a four generation Bluegrass family. They have true generational talent and put on a hell of a show.
I have popped up at:
– Taylor Rave
– Taylor’s Version Dance Party
– Get It Games’s Taylor Trivia Night and Fearless Listening Party
– TTPD Listening Party with CandiPop
– Montrose Live
– The Houston Farmer’s Market
– Legacy Hall
– Post HTX
– Rise Rooftop
– Concerts Under the Stars
– Marriott Marquis
– The Hub
– Hub 121
I also produce Swiftie events. I hosted Houston’s Weekend long Celebration of Taylor’s Birthday at Montrose Live, with a full weekend entertainment line-up. I hosted a Lover Market, a ‘Lover’ album themed Valentine’s market with local artisan vendors. We had a Swiftie Speakeasy Valentine’s Party at a photo loft in Downtown, with Eras themed photo environments and live performances. For the TTPD album release, I hosted an interactive listening party – The Tortured Poets Department Experience and market. Performers from The Houston Ballet choreographed a lovely duet to ‘The Lakes’ just for our event.
We are thrilled to host a whole weekend of entertainment at the Royal Sonesta in New Orleans during The Eras Tour. When Taylor is in town to rock the Superdome, we will be there too! We’re so excited to hype up our fellow Swifties with our full boutique, DIY Friendship Bracelet Making, Custom Tshirts and Denim Jackets, themed cocktails, live performances, and a surprise Dallas-based DJ (not announce yet).
We design and produce our whole collection by hand in Houston, Texas and in Irving, Texas. A one-woman show, Katie Smith is a graphic designer, costume designer, marketer, and serial entrepreneur. It has been so thrilling to create Swiftie designs that have been received so enthusiastically by my fellow Swifties. It is such a fun subculture and community to be a part of.
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Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finances are a constant struggle as I bootstrap this Swiftie start up independently. The balance of funding new inventory and operational expenses get rough. However, the growth has been phenomenal. As this is my fourth business, I can truly say the “Taylor Effect” is miraculous. I am constantly under estimating how passionate her fan base. It is truly like living my Shark Tank dreams I’ve hope for, but not thought possible. I’ll always bet on Taylor. She is so remarkably inspiring to myself and others. Whatever struggles I face, however long I’m on the road traveling between shows, Taylor is always there with her empowering messages. I find constant inspiration by her lyrics which helps me rise above and overcome.
In life, I’ve struggled with seeing my life in context. I have had a really diverse career in theater, design, marketing, and technology. These different phases and passions have at time been confusing. Taylor’s contextualization of “Eras” is such a remarkable concept. I get it. All these disjointed parts of my experience were part all part of the journey to where I am now. All the successes, failures, grit, and reinvention have been my “Eras”. The best Era is yet to come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Creative Director behind The Unhinged Swiftie. I make most of my products myself and am totally Unhinged crafty. I worked for a decade in theater as a Costume Designer and Costume Crafts Artisan for ballet, theater, and opera. My love for artisan hand crafted products runs deep. I feel The Unhinged Swiftie is unique since I can constantly innovate designs at the same pace as Taylor. The week she announce the TTPD release – we had our new designs ready. When Taylor and Travis went to the Superbowl – we had our blockbuster Swelce Collection within a week. After they won, we were pressing Swiftie Bowl Championship Tshirts on site at Houston’s best sports bar – McIntyre’s.
With a passion for live performance, I am so thrilled to partner with Reputation: Tribute to Taylor. What better “office” than bringing my pop-up to concert venues every weekend? For someone who grew up singing and in theater, I feel right at home in performance. venues. I love that my boutique is the pre-party and post-show after party for Reputation’s sold out shows. It is such a kismet win-win that really boosts the experience for their fans.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Independently being able to pursue my creative ideas, with a flexible schedule, and hope for growth. I am so passionate about the designs and products I create. Connecting with a following that loves my collection warms my heart.
“To Live for the Hope of it All” is one of my favorite lines by Taylor. To me it means, that creative pursuit. I may not always know what my next Era will be, how my business and career will evolve, but I know as long as I’m always running towards what I love there is hope. Having my designs gain traction with a growing Swiftie community has given me such hope.
Producing good work that people care about and having my ideas appreciated is all I can ask for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unhingedswiftie.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunhingedswiftie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheUnhingedSwiftie
