Around the time when I was 20, I started a small little business called “All Things G” which was basically a collective of services I offered of all the things I could do and create for people. I created logos for my friends and small business and designed a small website where I showcased all my work and listed all my services. I worked hard on designs and printed them onto shirts and would sell them. I created art digitally and sold prints and stickers, and purchased a camera and did photoshoots as well. I was proud of my little business.
After a year or so, I noticed my passion for all these services kind of faded. Most of my orders were custom made and I honestly began to hate making things for people that didn’t align with my vision, and having my name attached to it. I wanted to design stuff that I liked. So from this silly little business, I decided that I wanted to have my own clothing brand with my own designs. I realized I could make it happen, so I worked HARD to make it happen.
At the time, my entire family and all my friends were really into dirt bike racing. I spent my whole summer watching my stepdad and brothers race, my boyfriend race, and all our friends. I had so much fun at the races. I loved the vibe, the environment, the style, literally everything… So, I decided to make a clothing brand and target those like-minded individuals. I had the vision for over a year, but I didn’t want a silly little soft launch or anything like that. I wanted to be 100% ready and hard launch when the time was right. So I sat with this idea for a lot of time. I did research. I started designing my website. I collected the supplies, the products, and put in so much work. However, there was something stopping me from being able to launch. And that was a brand name.
I needed something unique, something that fit my vibe and the vision I had for this brand. It needed to sound good, it needed to be perfect. I knew this brand was going to follow me for a long time, and I couldn’t face the fact of hating a name. I couldn’t come up with a name for over a year. It kept me up at night. I had a mile long list in my notes app of inspirations, and I sat with it every day for over a year. It wasn’t until I interviewed my younger brother and asked him if he preferred motos or hare scrambles and why… His response was “I prefer motos… and I just love the thrill of it”. I wrote that down, added it to my website, and went to bed. The next morning, I woke up and envisioned the name “Motocrossed” in my head with the tag line “Thrill of It”. I remember immediately opening my computer and searching to see if that was already an established name, and to my luck- it wasn’t! I quickly designed a logo, made some mockups, and posted them to my Shopify. I set the visibility to public and sat with it. I was in Texas at the time visiting my dad, but I was going to leave shortly. On the plane, as we were getting ready to take off, I posted it on my Snapchat and Instagram with a link to purchase. I was so anxious, not knowing what people were going to think, or if it sounded stupid. I was actually terrified, but when I arrived in Minneapolis, I already had 4 orders and so much support. I was so excited. I continued designing and shipping and eventually built up enough courage to sponsor the local tracks where I would set up a little pop-up tent and sell my items. That also turned out to be really successful, and again just kept pushing me to make more art and stay relevant. I was so terrified of what other people were going to think, and it almost stopped me from doing something I was so passionate about. But luckily, I faced my fears and built my brand. It was on signs, dirt bikes, cars, clothing, trophies, wristbands… It was the coolest thing and still is! It is still so crazy to me seeing people love my work, and it’s even cooler to be out and about and see people I don’t even know wearing my art.
