Elizabeth Brunner is a San Francisco based designer and a mom of girl-boy twins. StereoType was born with the mission to celebrate kids’ individuality and freedom of expression by blending traditional ideas of boys’ and girls’ wear. Elizabeth also ran a successful clothing line called piece by piece using scraps from designers to eliminate the waste, which shut down in 2018 when she decided to stay home and focus more on her kids.

Ep. 20 – Elizabeth Brunner, StereoType Kids

1:55 –Elizabeth Brunner is a San Francisco based designer. StereoType is a gender-free kids clothing brand that’s designed to empower kids to express themselves authentically.

3:02 – StereoType was inspired by her girl-boy twins when they started to dress from each other’s wardrobes as their preference.

4:30 - Studied fashion design at California College of the Arts

5:50 – Launched StereoType kids in November of 2020 during the pandemic after feeling the calling.

6:28 – Advocating for all kids’ individuality.

7:12 – Her kids were her DNA of the brand, Co-founders, and models.

7:49 – “Wow mom, you are making changes for the world.” They wanted to be part of a bigger mission.

9:00 – Became an accidental entrepreneur, her family did not own their own businesses.

10:00 – Home schools her kids along with a naturalist caretaker. They are learning what they want to learn and what they are called to learn.

11:25 – It was all about the creative process and commitment to follow through. What is the goal and how are we unique?

12:23 – Gender Neutral tends to be toned down. Gender-free is more about blending what is typically considered masculine and feminine. Defining it as blended fashion.

13:35 – Once I had the definitive brand, things started to fall in place. That’s when you know you are on the right track.

14:10 – I consider this business as raising a third baby. I need help raising my baby to help get those first building blocks going. It’s never ending, sharing your vision and your passion.

15:10 – It’s like another child, you have birthing pains, you have growing pains at different stages of growth of your business. As mom’s we know what that feels like. Like Ariella’s line of CD’s and books on singing, every time she completes a CD it’s like I gave birth to that and now it's there. It’s such a cool feeling. Nourishing our newborn baby/business.

16:10 – As an entrepreneur it is so hard, how do you know what to turn it off/on? She has a great answer here…

17:30 – Allowing our kids to express themselves naturally instead of telling them boys play with this and girls play with that, or boys wear this and girls wear that.

18:50 – It would be nice if there was not just a boys’ section and girls’ section, but just a kids’ section.

20:30 – This brand is about educating parents to consider what would be normal for their child to express themselves and not limit them or limit ourselves. They should not be labeled.

21:50 – Some people have a hard time with change. It’s a fear of going outside the norm.

23:20 – There is a point when our kids become aware of who they are and what they want.

25:15 – What are they going to do next?

27:14 – Still in start-up phase with direct to consumer using high quality, limited quantity products that support local manufacturers.

30:40 – What are your hopes and dreams for your business? Advocating for adults and kids to step outside of your box, get uncomfortable, do something you normally wouldn’t consider. You will learn something about yourself that you never thought you would.

31:50 – Advice to mompreneurs – Go for it!!! If you have a burning idea that your heart is calling you to do, then do it. Start small but get started. Once you align your heart with your vision, things will start to fall into place. It’s not always going to be easy, but your voice matters, and we need to hear what you have to say and share.

Find Elizabeth and StereoType at the following links:

https://www.stereotypekids.com

Instagram:

@stereotypkidsofficial

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizaeth-brunner-of-stereotype/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/stereotypellc/

Some Background on the hosts!

Ariella Vaccarino-

Once an opera singer, mother to 5 children, voice and piano teacher, creator of

Voice Lessons To Go, a line of voice lesson CDs/downloads that sell nationwide.

She is also the host of the podcasts:

The Talented Magical Mommies Club

Ariella's Vocal Notes

and she has her own YouTube channel about singing:

www.youtube.com/VoiceLessonsToGo

Theresa Ofstad-

Is currently working a fulltime job while running a Basketball Club with her husband and teenage son. She is developing a business called Fuller Life, a resource for patients, seniors and their families. She is an area director with Toastmasters, a lifetime learner, leadership fanatic, and community connector.

Fuller Life

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