Look At Me Series: Bon Bon Vie
T-shirts can be a canvas for your body. When they are done the right way, they can be billboards for how you feel. Someone that has mastered that art is 27-year-old entrepreneur Shari Neal of Bon Bon Vie, a t-shirt company in which Neal designs and operates the business all her lonesome (not to mention she’s helping co-produce the newest MBS podcast coming soon). Enjoy.
MBS: Tell us who you are
SN:My name is Shari Neal and I am a 27-year old lifelong Chicagoan of Belizean descent.
MBS: Tell us about your business
SN: I am the owner & designer for Bon Bon Vie, an online tee boutique (www.wearbonbonvie.com). Bon Bon Vie is my baby until I actually decide to have children. During the day, I am an Interactive Developer at a pharmaceutical advertising agency.
MBS: How did u get started with your business?
SN: For real though, I woke up one day and just decided to do it. I had been wanting to start a business for year. I had toyed with the idea of doing handbags & home furnishings and I previously did freelance design/web work. But I wanted to really to something where I had full creative control that I would also enjoy and possibly make some cash…T-shirt design was my answer. I had tee designs in my head and ideas I’d written down through the years, so I took 3 of my idea, some cash I had saved up and got them printed.
MBS: Do have plans to venture into other týpes of fashion with your clothing line?
SN: Definitely. I love fashion. I dabbled in fashion design in high school & college and would love to revisit that.
MBS: Tell me your five fave artists and how they inspire your work
SN:Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan
Just kidding :) Ok, in no particular order:
Legends: Saul Bass, Herb Lubalin, Ernie Barnes, Romare Bearden, Tamara DeLempicka
Current:
Vaughn Fender,
Alejandro Paul,
Stina Persson,
Andrea Pippins,
Cecê Nobre…
They inspire me because they make dope work.
MBS: Greatest work achievement to date.
SN:Starting Bon Bon Vie and turning it into a successful business in less than a year.
Be sure to check out the site and cop some stuff @ wearbonbonvie.com and check out her limited edition 10-year-anniversary shirts she designed for Res.
