Meet Michelle Bassler | Founder

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

Hi Michelle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
There were a few things that really pushed me to start my own business. The strongest force was a desire to own my own time. I wanted to travel around the world, explore unknown places and cultures and create something. The thought of working in an office fulfilling someone else’s vision was not going to work for me. From that mindset, I decided to combine all the things that I love most and that’s how Blonde Peacock was born.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
When I decided that I wanted to create a clothing line with my screen printed art, I didn’t have much money or an investor. I was living in San Diego at the time and there weren’t many resources for the clothing industry there. I tried finding a place where I could go and screen print and at the time it didn’t exist. So, I turned my closet into a dark room and used a credit card to purchase the equipment and supplies that I needed. I burned my own screens using the sun and experimented with screen printing in my living room which had turned into my studio. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I have loved every step!

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.
Highland Park: check out shops on Fig and York Blvd. Get the best vegan donut at Donut Friend! Echo Park: hiking at Elysian Park, grab takeout at Sticky Rice and have a picnic at the lake, eat at Monty’s Good Burgers. Counterpart Deli is a great place to hang too with cute outdoor seating. Silverlake: check out the shops and hang at a coffee shop, eat at Pho Cafe. Little Tokyo/Arts District: Rakkan has the best vegan ramen ever! walk around and explore, grab some vegan ice cream at Salt & Straw. Shop at Melrose Trading Post. Walk along the beach from Santa Monica to Venice.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
A big shoutout to all the makers out there that strive to live life by their rules and their creations.

Website: www.blondepeacock.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/blondepeacock
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blondepeacock

Image Credits
Filippo Calvagno Luba Vitti Katra Awad Tori Washington Sitara Taddeo