Back in December, I made this chic set of pocket mirrors for Amanda Stolle. Looking at the playful ‘Joy Ride’ artwork made me grab my computer in the middle of production (seriously!) to find out what Amanda and her company was all about. Turns out, Bird Industries makes bike (as in bicycle) accessories for urban ladies. Um… awesome!
As I started to learn more about Amanda, I became really impressed by her innovative spirit. With the rise of Etsy and the handmade movement, there are are a lot of talented artists out there sharing their work – but Amanda invents. Her line of practical bicycle accessories will truly make life easier the urban lady cyclists of the world. Very cool.
So, without further adieu, here is a brief interview with Amanda Stolle to talk about her company, Bird Industries, the products she has created, and a sneak peek of some new products coming soon. Enjoy!
Amanda, you are like the Thomas Edison of urban lady cyclists! The skirt garter is seriously genius. Can you tell us a little bit about this dandy little thing and how you came to invent it?
Wearing shorts isn’t really my thing. So, in the hot, humid summer months here in Minneapolis, I tend to wear a lot of skirts and dresses. One of my favorites was a lightweight cotton A-line that flew up so much when I biked, I had to ride with one hand holding my skirt down. I thought there had to be a better way, and started testing out different solutions. The current skirt garter is an elastic band that fits around the thigh, with a silicone back to keep it from riding up. The band has a clip that attaches to the skirt or dress to keep it from flying up. Simple, freedom!
