Happy Moto Monday Everyone! I’m writing today’s blog in beautiful San Diego, California as I prepare for San Diego Comic-Con! You may be wondering, “Hannah, why are you writing about a Comic Convention when this business is about motorcycles?” Well, that’s a great question, with a somewhat personal answer. So far, I have shared with you my motorcycle story and how I went from being a lover of bikes to riding and owning one myself! There are still many more motorcycle specific stories to share, but I would like to take time today to share another part of my life. I was raised in a geeky household! My Dad played computer games and shared his favorite comic book titles with me. The whole family would sit down to enjoy sci-fi shows and movies like Dr. Who, Star Trek and Star Wars. In addition to this, I was a very artistic child with a love of animated movies. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Animation and went on to work at studios like Rhythm & Hues, Sony Imageworks and DreamWorks PDI!
Growing up in such a nerdy household, I always wanted to dress up at Halloween as characters from these shows. The Halloween shops didn’t sell costumes for my chosen characters at this time. So, my Mom, having learned to sew from her Mom, would make the most wonderful Halloween costumes for me and my brother. I remember one year we went as Batty Koda, from “FernGully”, and a Dragon! In high school I was introduced to anime; the hand-drawn and computer animation originating from or associated with Japan. Subsequently I began to cosplay and attend anime conventions. What is cosplay? The Merriam-Webster dictionary says cosplay is a compound word of costume and play that refers to an activity or practice of dressing up as a character from a work of fiction (such as a comic book, video game, television show or movie). Often the costume included a wig, unique makeup, accessories and props. I always loved dressing up for Halloween as a kid, so the idea of cosplay was one I immediately fell in love with!
In September of 1999, I attended my very first anime convention, Anime Weekend Atlanta. I wore a costume that my Mom and I worked on together! While I had done some hand sewing prior to this, mostly making clothes for my Barbies, cosplay is what got me interested in making actual human sized garments! After that first convention, I was hooked! My Mom continued to teach me more and more about sewing and we attended many more conventions. When I went off to college, I began sewing on my own. This led to me teaching my roommates and friends to sew as well. I dabbled in drafting my own patterns and learned a lot from my mistakes. Most of all I made many wonderful friends and memories, all while discovering a passion for constructing garments and fashion! On a side note, one of my favorite animes, “Aa! Megami-Sama” even featured motorcycles! It’s still my dream to make an actual riding suit from it!
While I have always enjoyed cosplay as a hobby and personal creative outlet, it did give me a practical understanding of things like hair and cloth, which I eventually used in my career as a CGI Hair and Cloth Simulation Specialist! The very first film I worked on was “Alvin and the Chipmunks.” I made sure their fur and hoodies moved as realistically as possible! My career brought me out to California where I continued cosplaying and attending anime and comic conventions.
In 2009, I purchased my first motorcycle, along with the safety gear to go with it. As you may recall from my earlier blogs, I was disappointed at the lack of selection and unsatisfactory fit of the available garments. I remember talking to Josh and Johnny about the idea of designing motorcycle gear for women. They were incredibly supportive, suggesting that with my cosplay/garment construction background, I would totally be able to pull it off. There was just one problem, I lacked the confidence in myself as a designer. See, with cosplay, the main idea is that you recreate an already existing design to bring a character to life. I hadn’t put anything that was really my own personal design out there before. I didn’t trust from my experience that I could make garments that anyone else would like.
In 2014 Her Universe, a geek inspired clothing brand focused on providing stylish, sci fi/fantasy fashion for female fans, created the Her Universe Fashion Show. Not just a Fashion Show, it was a competition where the top 24 submitted original geek inspired couture designs were given a chance to walk the runway at San Diego Comic-Con. Two winners were chosen; one by a panel of judges and one by the audience. The prize: to design a licensed fashion line with Her Universe founder, Ashley Eckstein, for Her Universe and Hot Topic! This was an incredible opportunity, not just if you won, but to showcase an original design! I submitted two designs that year, both based on Asajj Ventress, a character from the “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” series. My gown design was chosen, and I began making a silk charmeuse gown with hand sewn lace applique and gradient dyed train. This felt very different from making costumes. Even though I used a lot of the same skills, I found myself really trying to construct things in a clean and more precise manner. Also, I was working on something that was more my own interpretation and not just recreating someone else’s design. I did not win that year but submitted and was chosen again for the second show.
In 2015, I created an “Aliens” inspired look! This was a very significant concept for me as I designed a Xenomorph jacket that would require being constructed with wet formed leather. At this point, I had never worked with leather before. So, I had two months to figure it out if I was to wear my look on the runway! I researched what I could, did some small tests and eventually just dove in. I constructed molds for each panel of the jacket using a thermoplastic called Worbla. I shaped the leather over it, dyed it black and sewed it all together. While I didn’t win that year either, I was so grateful to the show for giving me the opportunity to try something new! Not that I wouldn’t have done it on my own but having a goal and deadline can sometimes be the perfect prescription for pushing yourself outside your comfort zone!
By 2016, I wasn’t even sure if I would submit again. I had already had the chance to compete twice and didn’t know if they’d be interested in having me come back a third time. However, shortly after the 2015 show I was inspired by “Mad Max: Fury Road” and designed a look for Furiosa. I also designed a motorcycle suit based on “Avatar the Last Airbender”. When Ashley Eckstein called to tell me my Furiosa Gown design was chosen, I couldn’t believe it! Somehow, I had been selected 3 years in a row, with 3 very different styles and looks. It was that moment that I realized I could do it. If Her Universe believed in my talents as a designer, then I needed to as well.
Even with this newfound confidence, I remember still being hesitant to take on launching my own business. As an artist it’s a very intimidating concept!!! Thankfully I called my friend Yaya Han. She talked some sense into me! Telling me that I would regret never trying and that I owed it to myself and my dream to go all out! That night I discussed it with Josh, my now husband. We both agreed that it was time for me to pursue my dream of designing motorcycle gear and apparel for women! I reached out to Ashley to ask if she had any advice for someone just starting out. She did then and has continued to go out of her way to mentor me on this journey! So, in June of 2016, I left my job at DreamWorks PDI and focused on my fashion show gown. I began to lay the groundwork for what would eventually become Moto Muse LLC.
On Thursday, July 21st, 2016, I walked the runway in my “Oh What A Gown” Furiosa inspired dress. That night I was announced as the Judges Choice Winner! It was absolutely surreal! The self-confidence I gained from this competition already made me feel like a winner. I did not anticipate actually winning. I was joined by Camille Faciola, Audience Choice Winner, and Jesse Thaxton, Home Audience Winner. The three of us were given the opportunity to design a Wonder Woman fashion line that was sold online and in stores at Her Universe, Hot Topic, Torrid and Box Lunch! I think everyone did a fantastic job with this line. I was particularly excited to get to design a Wonder Woman inspired Moto Jacket!
Bringing us back to today, I am in San Diego, working with Her Universe as the Designer Liaison for the 6th Annual Her Universe Fashion Show! This show has changed my life! It means the world to me to continue to be a part of it and help to change other people’s lives as well! While I won’t be walking the runway, I have been working on a special Moto Muse piece. I will be revealing it this week and wearing it to the Fashion Show! It is just a prototype, but I believe it represents the aesthetic and style that I see for Moto Muse! Keep an eye on our social media channels for photos! I’ll be sharing and discussing the finished look for next week’s Moto Monday!
If you had asked me 20 years ago if I thought cosplaying would affect my careers, both in animation and now in launching a gear and apparel brand, I would have laughed. There’s no way I could have planned this. Sometimes life surprises us like that. So, while it may seem strange for a motorcycle brand to be talking about comic conventions, the truth is this brand wouldn’t exist if not for cosplay and conventions. I also can’t imagine doing this without the support of the amazing people I have met through cosplay, notably Yaya Han and Ashley Eckstein. Thank you both for all your support and encouragement! I wish you all a wonderful week, whatever you’re getting up to!
If you’re in San Diego and want to check out the Fashion Show, you don’t need a badge, just show up early and get in line! For more information see: Her Universe Fashion Show
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