Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexianna Mundy.
Hi Alexianna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Business:
My parents owned multiple businesses together, but what really inspired me was their funky shop. In the mid-80s they opened a swim and activewear shop and tanning salon in a tight knit, rural community in southern Indiana. They brought city style to a country setting. They painted the building bright colors (which still brings color to the town square!). They had fashion shows. They sourced their clothing from Miami, Orlando, and Chicago markets, and sold my mom’s hand-painted jean jackets and vests. That’s way cool to me! And since I was young, I’ve watched my stepdad help lead and grow a family business that’s been around for 112 years, which is no easy task. I’ve been taking notes on it all. Both sides of my parents have always worked hard and despite their various struggles, they didn’t waver in that aspect. It has motivated me. These are my roots and where I feel my story started and grew.
Curating:
I’m very close with my grandparents and spent a lot of time with them growing up. My grandma and I’s favorite activity together? Shopping. We loved going to yard sales and antique shops together. Nana showed me the ropes and helped me develop an eye for gems. She wasn’t afraid to spend hours looking and digging. Same with my dad. They both love deals and taught me how to find them. I learned the thrill of a treasure hunt from them and I’ve been hooked ever since!
I began more seriously collecting vintage in the past 10 years. I got a lot of compliments on my thrifted finds and eventually it convinced me to curate for others too. I can’t stand to see something like a hand-sewn quilt or perfect condition Pendleton coat be discarded. I love to rescue these neat pieces and find them homes.
Dyeing:
As long as I can remember, my mom has dyed her own clothes to either freshen their color or give them a little spunk. It always seemed like an approachable medium. I gave it a try one day with a few blankets and pieces of clothing; they were all pastel flops and I lost interest! But I loved tie dye and how dyeing methods had evolved and still wanted to create my own. A couple years later I found a source for professional dyes and tried again. My dad and I did the first batch together, tying up pieces, sprinkling dye and ice on, and crossing our fingers. We were both shocked at how cool they turned out. I haven’t stopped since!
Photography:
I didn’t have a solid direction to pursue in college – those career tests didn’t reveal much! So I decided to go with something I loved: photography. Throughout high school, I carried my camera around and documented everything I did. I have thousands of photos from everyday life, from then and now. I was constantly editing, dropping film off at Walgreens, and taping prints to my wall. I loved documenting life more than anything else I did, and that feeling has never left me.
Upcycling:
As a kid my best friend’s mom Lisa inspired the hell out of me. She could whip anything up. It blew me away! She had the funkiest house, wardrobe, and art. She still does. I grew up watching her sew, paint furniture, make and decorate dollhouses, fashion purses out of cigar boxes, completely transform a space, and more. Her creative intuition is impeccable. I don’t know how she doesn’t have her own TV show! But upcycling is the base to a lot of what she does – giving new life to something. Elevating it. My mom does the same in her own way. She is always repurposing something or glamming it up. Both of them can make anything look great, and make something out of nothing. And I have carried this notion and translated it into my own creative practice.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My biggest challenge with owning a business is managing it, myself, and my expectations.
Managing it:
When you own a small business, you don’t get to just do what you love. You have to do administrative tasks, social media, website management, inventory, tax management, communicate promptly, seek out new opportunities, create connections, etc. It’s a blessing and I can’t complain about it, but it’s been a lot for me to balance and learn along the way. And I’m still learning!
Managing myself & my expectations:
My route to a finished task is not typical and it’s taken me years to be ok with that. I am extremely deadline- and list-oriented, and that’s about the only type of structure I find success with. Some days I am on task, organized, and can accomplish within a normal structure. But most days it’s an adventurous journey, like I’m in Lord of the Rings! I can’t just force production. Instead of stressing about not doing something, I’ve learned that I have to be patient and wait to be inspired or interested. I’ve developed trust within myself to know that inspiration will strike, and I will get the task or project done on time and done well. I always do.
But self-doubt and critique does creep in sometimes. I have an expectation in my head that I’m not as professional because I don’t operate like others do. Letting go of that expectation and working with, not against, myself has been a process. I’ve had to release a lot of self-judgments. I remind myself that this is the way I am most efficient, comfortable, and successful. How you do things doesn’t have to look like how others do them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Fried Treasures & Dyes is a curated shop of funky, one-of-a-kind pieces. It’s an extension of my personal style. I carry everything from tie dye to vintage flannel, square dancin’ dresses to old motorcycle tees, upcycled crochet granny sweaters to vintage denim cutoffs, handmade quilts to vintage valentines, and more. It’s groovy to grunge and all the in-between. You will find a variety of colors, patterns, and textures in my garments and home decor, in a number of shapes and sizes. My favorite eras to source vintage from are the 60s, 70s, 90s, and early 2000s. I tend to go for bright color in my dyes, with abstract designs or classic looks like the spiral. It brings me *so much* joy to see Fried goodies find their people.
Being a conscious consumer of goods, especially secondhand, is important to me. I don’t want to contribute to more waste and “stuff” when there is an excessive amount already. Not to mention the fast fashion industry is problematic in many ways and it’s best to avoid supporting it as much as one can. Shopping secondhand is a form of protest. I also don’t go treasure hunting and grab everything cool I can possibly find; if it doesn’t match my style or fulfill a need, I leave it behind for someone else to enjoy. I don’t stray from that.
For photography, I love documenting life as it is. Catching authentic moments, emotions, and interactions with travel, animals, people, and everyday things. A couple years ago I did a portrait project with animal sanctuaries around the US, and what I loved about it was that I could just be with the animals and document them as they were. I photographed like I would always prefer to – like a fly on the wall, getting authentic, unscripted moments.
My favorite thing to do right now is make granny sweaters out of vintage crocheted and knitted blankets. I appreciate the people who originally made them and how much time it took to create such incredible pieces. Each blanket dictates the size and style they end up as, which makes creating them exciting. You never know how it’ll go until you lay the blanket out. And who doesn’t want to wear a cozy, one-of-a-kind piece?
Currently, you can find my curated vintage, dyed pieces, and upcycled pieces via Fried, and my photography via Paulina M Photography. You can find me online, or in shops and pop-up markets in Michigan, southern Indiana, and Louisville.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
What has worked for me is approaching networking from the perspective of creating connections, rather than developing new contacts. If there is authenticity in the conversation and connection, I’m in! You can still successfully build a web of support and resources if you choose to opt out of the corporate energy behind some networking. I think of my clients and customers as friends, and industry colleagues as community. Building those relationships is important and being yourself helps to create meaningful, real connections.
I found my mentors by asking for help and looking for guidance. If you simply ask and put it out there, you’ll find that people are willing to share their experiences and knowledge. I call my mentors for life and business advice often. I want to know what folks have to say, what they’ve been through, and how I can learn from them. My mentors have changed my career trajectory, idea of what I can actually achieve, financial literacy, and so much more. And all it took was asking.
Contact Info:
- Website: shopfried.com, paulinamphotography.com
- Instagram: @shopfried, @paulinamphoto
- Facebook: @shopfried, @paulinamphoto
Image Credits
Alexianna Mundy
