West Seattle women crowdfunding to launch Tomboy Exchange clothing for women over 40

That’s the pitch video for a Kickstarter campaign launched this week by two West Seattle entrepreneurs, Fran Dunaway and Naomi Gonzalez:

Their brand Tomboy Exchange aims to make clothing and accessories geared to women over 40 (preview it here), with an “attitude that reminds us of our daring younger selves,” as Fran says in the video, adding in an interview on their website, “As we get older I think there are very few women who can actually pull off the same look that they rocked as younger women. They still want to look good but comfort and fit are key now.” Tomboy Exchange’s founders hope to raise $75,000 to get the business going in a big way – including making the clothes right here in Seattle – and they’ve given themselves a month to do it. After just two days, they’re already a sixth of the way there.

golden February 13, 2013 (11:11 pm)

Fantastic!!!! I am a TOMBOY!!! Love the blazer.

happy February 13, 2013 (11:19 pm)

Great idea! Count me in. = )

cheers

happy February 13, 2013 (11:23 pm)

Nifty– I’m an Official Backer!
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Fran, Naomi: this is just the sort of clothing line I thought of creating several years ago. Congrats for making it happen!

Katherine February 14, 2013 (7:19 am)

YES! Original and made in the USA. Love the extra hidden pop on the inside seam and lining on the collar of the shirts! Sweatshirt blazer! YEAH! Love the flannel print. Love the longer back on the shirt ideas!

MB February 14, 2013 (8:00 am)

Pretty sure I know lots of tomboy-ish women in their 20s and 30s who would gladly rock those clothes. Nice work ladies.

Elizagrace February 14, 2013 (8:32 am)

Hidden button!!!! So genuis and so simple!! LOVE IT. NEED IT!

rick February 14, 2013 (8:41 am)

What is “crowdfunding”?

WSB February 14, 2013 (9:15 am)

Asking people for donations to fund your event, project, business, whatever. It’s certainly not a new concept – longtime readers may recall that before WSB became a business, we had a single “pledge day” in August 2007 that raised $2K in seed money that we used for equipment, licenses, phone line, etc. – but there are now entire Web-based businesses set up to facilitate it, like Kickstarter, which is being used here, and IndieGoGo, also fairly popular. – TR

TBx February 14, 2013 (9:42 am)

Thanks for the love on Valentine’s Day! To follow up on the crowdfunding question, we are using Kickstarter to receive pledges and we have some awesome rewards for these pledges as well. If we get the support we need to hit our goal, we receive the pledges and will use it to get our clothing line into production. If we don’t hit our goal, we don’t collect the pledges. It’s a great proving ground for new ideas and a wonderful way to help entrepreneurs get a ‘kick start’.

rick February 14, 2013 (9:58 am)

Thanks TR. Seems I learn something new everyday and forget even more.

jissy February 14, 2013 (10:08 am)

PLEASE tell me you are going to be making Plus Sizes??

Sue February 14, 2013 (10:10 am)

I hope they’ll be offering plus sizes too!

WSB February 14, 2013 (10:27 am)

On the WSB FB page, they have replied that they go up to 16 now and hope to expand beyond that. Your sizable editor here will be awaiting that, too – TR

TBx February 14, 2013 (10:27 am)

We had to limit ourselves to sizes 6 to 16 for our first line but we hope to quickly offer plus sizes as well. We know the need is there and are excited to include plus size women in our community.