Meet Ty McBride of “INTENTIONALLY _________.” in Chinatown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ty McBride.

Ty, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have worked in and around the footwear industry for 15+ years, holding key roles at major companies like Jeffrery Campbell and Solestruck.com. My time was spent building brands, creating brand image, content, direction, product development, team management and doing sales. I have always worked at small companies, always been allowed to wear many hats. After many years working for others, it seemed time to at least try my own thing. I moved to Los Angeles three years ago to try it out. After I was here for a month, I was fired from my long-time position at Solectruck.com as creative director. I gave them a giant hair flip, packed my desk, and took one giant leap of faith. “INTENTIONALLY _______.” was launched just a few weeks after.

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?
You may notice, that new shoe brands don’t pop up that often–and there is a reason! While shoes do well in the market, fight well against recessions and struggling economies, they are not easy to start up. You need cash flow, contacts, and a lot of patience. When I started IB I had patience, and contacts, so I leapt out on my own, and I have been chasing my dream ever since.

Financially, it has been a huge push. I have had to sacrifice a lot personally to get where I am professionally. I attribute a lot of my success due to being in Los Angeles. In all honesty, I don’t really love it here, and I have a much smaller friendship circle, my life is different, more dormant, which allows me to really focus and keep my attention on work. I hate to say it, but I think I am one of those New Yorkers who may never fully acclimate to living here! I get it, I get it, the weather! I HEAR YA!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
“INTENTIONALLY ___________.” is sold in over 100 stores in the US, including our own tiny store in Chinatown. We are found in five countries outside the US and our direct web business continues to grow month over month. We are a small, and fiercely indie brand that creates shoes for the style forward on the go. You won’t find a lot of towering heels in the collection, or crazy shape and options–our brand is meant to move with your day-to-day life, allowing you to fill in the __________ with your own personal style mantra. We are sold in great shops, and often serve as an entry price, or a look for less option alongside higher priced designer items. Our shoes aren’t so much statement pieces, as they are slight twists on classics, punched up versions of original favorites.

“INTENTIONALLY __________.” fills an important niche in the market, and both retailers and shopping enthusiasts are responding. I believe the best brands are built from the ground up, from the street up, I believe that is where style starts. At the focus of my brand I hold very clear that distinct difference between STYLE and FASHION, it is that perspective that shapes what I do.

What were you like growing up?
I was born in a small town on the border of Eastern Oregon and Idaho. I grew up on a long road, less than a mile from the river, and at the foot of a dormant volcano. I am from a proud and modest small town, one that I still enjoy visiting today. I am the youngest of three and grew up on my dad’s farming and cattle ranch operation. At a young age, I made it very clear that I had other career goals in mind that didn’t involve branding, herding cattle or riding the range. While I hold my father and brother’s work in the highest regard, and give them an insane amount of respect, I knew then I could never do what they do. Something else, even at that young age, seemed to call me. I think a lot of young gay men who grow up in rural towns often feel the call to chase something else, to push outside what is offered, to wander beyond the city limits to find first yourself, then what your dreams are. That is what happened to me.

As a child I was very outgoing, insanely loud, class clown, and in my awkward years looked like a middle-aged lesbian. I had and have very close friends from my school days, I grew up in a town where we didn’t always lock the door, we spent all summer on our bikes, in a sense I grew up in a time that seems far away now. My passions growing up where in sports and also creative interests. I am an avid volleyball fan, and played tennis all through school. I have always had a continually evolving and fun sense of style and love of color and jean jackets.

Pricing:

• Shoes start at $129.00
• Boots and Booties Top Out Around $259.00

Contact Info:

• Address: 939A North Hill Street Los Angeles CA 90012
• Website: www.intentionallyblank.us
• Phone: 442 285 8187
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: iamintentionallyblank
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/intentionally-blank-los-angeles?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.