Today we’d like to introduce you to Macy Della.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Macy. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I began my journey with Bear Fox Babe in 2015 as a pop-up in the Baltimore area. I was modeling prior to that in NYC, Europe, and Asia and I made the decision to put that career to the side and focus on living a more fulfilling life. I’m very thankful for time spent in the industry as it allowed for connections and guidance but was not content on the quality of life it provided.
The BABE is my husband and best friend has been a supporting role in the growth. The BEAR and the FOX, are our two children [ the pups ] and are often found greeting customers and taking the spotlight on social media. Together the BEAR, the FOX and the BABE are the greatest part of my life and form my fourth pride and joy, BEAR FOX BABE.
I believe in educating people on the importance of shopping for quality pieces that can be a part of our lives for years to come and I do my best to keep inventory affordable. Since the beginning, I’ve encouraged people to purchase with purpose. Originally I pulled inventory from showrooms that mainly consisted of samples and designer pieces. I also offered a rental option to promote sustainability as we opened our second shop in Maryland. As I evolved however, I realized that now many brands, including designer, will pick the manufacturer that’ll produce the unit the cheapest and I started to notice buttons loosening and seams unraveling just from being tried on and kept hung. I’m a firm believer in practicing what you preach and over the years, I dedicated more time to learning about construction and fabrics and decided to commit to sourcing primarily vintage pieces.
Bear Fox Babe, although young, has lived quite the journey so far. The most influential part of its journey was residing in a quaint cottage of historic town, Ellicott City, Maryland. It allowed for brand development and the focus on pieces that were of complete foxiness. It was in the beloved cottage where BFB won Best of Baltimore but also lost significant time because of a major 1 in 1000 year flood. Immediately after the town reopened began the buildout of our second storefront. A year after opening a unanimous decision was made based off experiences to close the storefront doors and BFB and we moved cross-country to California to settle and focus on another dream of both my husband and I, Bear Fox Base (a short term rental in the desert).
The past year I have essentially started fresh and have focused on our online shop and pursuing BFB as a pop-up in the Los Angeles area. It has been challenging operating as a pop-up versus a storefront. I feel like being in such a confined space and people not necessarily having the intentions to shop makes difficult for the story to be told and poses as a great challenge for conversation to be had. I personally love and miss being able to create an experience for anyone who walks into BFB as that’s the most rewarding part, helping others feel great. As I proceed into the warmer months of 2020, and in lieu of current events, I have been brainstorming creative ways to create an atmosphere I desire in a pop-up and continue to grow on other online platforms as well as our own site.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Our first major obstacle was suffering a 1 in 1000 year flood that destroyed the historic town of our storefront location. It took nearly a year to rebuild and we ended up relocating to a new space. I operated a year out of the new space and decided to shut-down because of various occurrences in the town and negative experiences I had. I spent the months leading up to the closure and months following angry, sad, hopeful and lost. I had worked very hard and was overwhelmed with joy of what I had accomplished in a short time. Shutting my doors meant an end to the chapter and a new beginning. Shortly after closing my husband and I moved our lives cross-country to settle in California. This was a dream of ours and it allowed me to be hopeful to BFB’s future. I am now struggling to figure out how I can create a welcoming space and experience as a pop-up. Although struggles are tough, and many have had their fair share, it’s important to be able to reflect on them; to see how you’ve learned, how you coped and how you’ll move-on.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Bear Fox Babe is a destination for quality products at an affordable price. I encourage our babes to be their foxiest by creating a welcoming atmosphere, honest styling advice and offering pieces that will serve a purpose for time to come. It’s rewarding to help others and I’m proud to be apart of a necessary shift in encouraging conscious consuming. I take great pride in my curation and making a memorable shopping experience.
What were you like growing up?
I don’t often take time to reflect on my past, however I know that if it weren’t for my upbringing, I likely wouldn’t be the person I am today. I was adopted twice and I think I was always lost. I didn’t have much guidance, but I did have a great motivation to escape the rural town I lived in my teenage years. Since I could remember, I was in awe of the hustle and bustle of New York City, which was polar opposite to the areas I was raised and I loved getting lost in the pages of Vogue and Marie Claire. When I was 19, I got scouted and began modeling which lead me to where I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bearfoxbabe.com
- Phone: 443-846-8085
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bearfoxbabe
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bearfoxbabe
- Other: www.depop.com/bearfoxbabe
Image Credit:
David Della
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
