Mohop

Artist: Annie Mohaupt
Website: Mohop
Where are you located? The Logan Square neighborhood in Chicago.

What do you create?
I make wooden sandals that are composed of a plywood core, recycled rubber sole, and veneer top sole. I make them from scratch, bending the wood in my handmade molds. A variety of ribbons, scarves, fabric, string, etc., can be used to quickly and easily form the upper of the shoe, by lacing through elastic loops on the sides of the shoes. I have a patent pending on this aspect of the shoes – the idea works well because the elastic loops ensure a comfortable, non-chafing fit, and the ability to change out the ties is unique and tons of fun. You could literally appear to be wearing new shoes everyday, simply by changing out the ties and/or tying them in different ways.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I decided to try to make shoes in May 2005. A friend had invited me to share a booth with her at the Renegade Craft Fair here in Chicago, and I was trying to think of something new and interesting to make for the show. I’ve always been ‘crafty’, and wanted to use the opportunity to see if I could make something that could be turned into a legitimate business. I worked on prototypes all summer, and the shoes ended up selling quite well at the Renegade – and the aftermath kept me so busy that I quit my job as an architect and decided to pursue shoe-making as a career.



When you first started out how did you get the word out about your artwork? What marketing avenues do you use now?
For the most part, everything has been word-of-mouth. I participate in an average of one or two indie-oriented craft fairs per month, and I also participate in a couple online forums, which have provided some great networking opportunities. I’m lucky in that about a dozen retail outlets already carry my shoes, and they’ve all contacted me – typically after seeing my shoes in a blog; I haven’t done much ‘real’ marketing yet. I do belong to a marketing co-op, where we join together to take out ads in magazines and split the price, which has led to some good opportunities. I do want to grow my business, and sandal sales have slowed down for the winter, so I’m currently working on a catalog and wholesale info to send to boutiques. I’m also working on a press pack to send to various magazines and media outlets.

Where do you see your business in 5 years?
I would love to have a real studio (as opposed to my basement) where employees will carry out many of the daily tasks, and I can work more on new ideas and product development (such as non-interchangeable sandals, and closed-toe shoes and boots). It would be great to have a storefront as well.



Where do you get inspiration for your projects?
My original inspiration was skateboards – they are also made of bent plywood and have screen printed graphics. For the graphics I print on the shoes, I like to try a variety of things, but I definitely have a propensity toward abstract patterns and floral designs. As far as the construction of the shoes, my background in architecture really helped me develop my design and construction techniques.

Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
I love my band saw. I mold my shoes in a curved ‘sheet’ of three pairs – when I cut the shoes from the sheet with my band saw, I can really see the shoe take shape. This is even more exciting when I’m working with new graphics for the first time, and I can see how the graphics interact with the shape of the shoes.

What keeps you motivated?
When I first started, it was more difficult to get motivated. Some days I felt as if I’d never be able to figure out how to make truly durable shoes, which was rather depressing, and also it was strange working under my own schedule - like most people, I’d always lived by other’s schedules, whether it was work or school. Now, it’s easy to stay motivated – foremost because I constantly have a million things on my plate so I really have to work long hours every day to keep up with things. Also, now that I know that I can really achieve what I put my mind to, it’s exciting to think about all the new ideas I can incorporate into my work.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
I would say the most important thing is to develop a unique product – it’s much easier to get people interested in your work if it stands out as something new and different. If you want to make things, but don’t know what to make, look around at the things you use everyday, and try to think about how you could put an innovative spin on it. Have confidence in yourself that you can truly create something original – as cliché as it sounds, try to ‘think outside the box’. If you already know what you want to make, of course the advice above still applies. Participating in craft fairs and both real-world and online networking groups has been instrumental in getting me to where I am now. And good customer service is the most important of all.

*****

Little Extras

What's your favorite quote?
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” – Thomas Edison

Can you recommend a good book or great music?
Even if you make accessories, ‘The Fashion Designer Survival Guide’ by Mary Gehlhar is a very useful guide to starting a business in fashion/accessories. Music-wise, my current obsession is Broken Social Scene.

Who is your favorite indie designer/artist?
Wow, is that a tough question – these are just a few local favorites that come to mind. For clothing, I love Lara Miller, and Bruiser by Shirley Novak (who knows how to cut pants for girls with curvy rears). Tivi makes awesome bent wood clutches, and Studio 1am makes great, innovative jewelry. I’ve been a collector of Jay Ryan’s screen-printed posters forever.


Thank you Annie!!