On Nourishing Your Creative Ecosystem And Sisterly Collaboration: Chauncey & Coco
In anticipation of our upcoming markets, we’re touching base with a few of our vendors.
Today, get to know Mehek Ahmed, the founder of Chauncey and Coco.
ABOUT MEHEK AHMET AND CHAUNCEY & COCO
“I'm Mehek (she/her), and I’m the founder and designer behind Chauncey and Coco, a lifestyle brand featuring noteworthy handcrafted goods influenced by our love of color and modern art. To be honest, there's nothing I don't do (shoutout to millennials hustling from your living room!) My hands and brain are always present in every part of this company I'm so proud of building.”
1. Describe Chauncey & Coco in three emojis.
✨💌✌️
2. What does being a creative person mean to you? How do you claim your creative identity?
Deciding to be a creative person portrays strength. It takes discipline, courage and so much optimism to indulge in our ideas and nurture something that doesn't exist in a concrete way just yet.
I claim my personal creative identity by showing up everyday with the intention of expanding my perspective. I'm someone whose interests vary greatly on several spectrums, am constantly exploring new mediums, and very open to the idea of change and perpetual growth. I can only hope people stick around to see the person I'm becoming.
3. Looking back on the last year, what have you learned from your business or creative work?
Somehow, this year was personally tougher for me than 2020, but it reinforced my determination to scale up our business and keep growing because, hey, we made it this far and it only gets better from here.
4. Describe the feeling you get when you make something new that’s in line with your vision.
First of all - I love this question! It's tough as a creative person to imagine something spectacular in your brain and then actually be content with the result after putting in the work, but when it all comes together I feel freakin’ invincible.
5. How do you get into the headspace to make something new?
I begin by factoring in the practical aspects and actually schedule time away from distractions to get started because that's the hardest part. As for inspiration, I've been regularly visiting museums and art galleries by myself since I was a teenager, and keep a small notebook in my purse to write down ideas.
6. If you could collaborate with any vendor on The Front Market lineup, who would it be?
Definitely my friend Tasha from Team Jemini Designs. She's always creating such fun stuff and I absolutely adore her vibrant energy!
7. What do you hope for the future of Texas?
I hope we keep taking care of each other when things don't seem to work out.
8. What has the word “community” come to mean to you this last year?
In the last six years, we've never spent a dime on advertising because our friends, family and customers spread the word to keep us in business which is absolute magic. Our community is our ultimate support system and the smallest gestures have really kept me going over the last few months.
9. What are some of your goals for 2022?
Hopefully, 2022 brings us a retail spot! Our ultimate goal is to open a physical space for people to shop our work, discover our small business friends' goods and attend gatherings to connect over French pastries and a bangin’ playlist.
10. Is there anything else you’d like to include that I didn’t get to cover?
We just released a ton of jewelry pieces and new artwork! It's called The Hourglass Collection, and I've poured so much of myself into it over the last 1.5 years so currently feeling pretty proud and relieved we can finally share it.
11. What’s it like working with your sister?
She's my best friend! We're usually on the same wavelength when it comes to aesthetic taste so brainstorming sessions flow really well between us. Fun fact—we kinda hated each other as kids and only really got to know one another after our awkward teenage years, and now we can't picture working with anyone else.
12. In your website, you mention that, “love is intrinsically greater than fear.” What does this mean for your business and the work that you do?
Thanks for catching that. It's actually a quote from one of our faves Hasan Minhaj. In relation to our work, it's a reminder that our values and tenacity is bigger than the fears holding us back, and to keep nourishing the bonds with people who want to see the world flourish.
EVERYTHING WE DO SUPPORTS WOMEN AND LGBTQ+ CREATIVES, DESIGNERS, ARTISTS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS FROM THE TEXAS SOUTH.
You can browse the 190+ vendors on holiday season lineup here.
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