Meet Amanda Daum | Founder & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Daum and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I love this word balance. I’d say, pre-covid, I had none. No work-life balance, I was all work. I do think that when you are starting a business you have to put 1000% energy in each day. But, burn-out and anxiety are so real. I see it among my peers and my generation, and have experienced it myself. The race to be on Forbes 30 under 30 can be tough, and what I’ve learned is that slow, sustainable growth leads to lasting businesses. To get there, we must live a balanced, joy filled, gratitude filled life. A life of service and self-love.

Now, scale out a minute. Imagine the entire world. I believe we need an equal amount of balance for our ecosystem and humanity. At this very moment, there isn’t much. Take the pandemic as an example, it’s the result of being out of balance. At what cost will we finally say, “OK, no more, let’s do better!”

This is why I started Sticks. I want to heal the world by restoring balance to the fashion industry. The wave of health food has done an incredible job of opening our eyes to the idea that nourishment comes from the inside out. That fueling your body with organic foods leads to living a better life. It’s obvious. To me, it’s equally the case that what you put on your body can nourish people and our planet. The clothing you buy has a ripple effect. The problem is we’ve become so disassociated with those very people, mostly women, that make our clothes. We don’t live in the places that experience the environmental consequences of our consumer choices.

At Sticks, we are focused on craft traditions, what we call down-to-earth processes. We care deeply about preserving hand processes, like weaving, that uphold priceless history, culture, and tradition. Working with artisans and craft allows us to be a zero waste company that creates quality products that are environmentally and socially conscious. My dream is to see a world where we preserve the beauty of ancient craft, the biodiversity of this planet, and the integrity of people.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

I used to want to be a humanitarian. Grow up and work for the UN or UNICEF. Travel the world. And for a moment I did that. But in the end NGO work wasn’t for me.

Instead, I spent years on the ground and in the villages building Sticks. I think this is what makes me different. Sticks is the result of ten years of my immersion into cultures around the world. Cultures, often indigenous, that so graciously opened their homes and hearts to teach me. In so many ways I admire the way that the indigenous live. They are warm, welcoming, and most of all strong. I often say I learned how to be a woman in Guatemala. I lost my mother at a young age, but now realize I was mothered by women all over the world as I journeyed. That’s a very special thing.

I’m most proud of these relationships. I wish that everyone could feel the love that these women share. That’s what I want the world to know, to know the people behind every stitch sewn, every thread woven. When you see “made with love” on a Sticks garment,  I promise, it’s very true.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friends were in town for a day…trouble. We’d have way to much fun…you know who you are 😉

Here’s what we’d do:

First, early am exercise at White Rock Lake. Or Crossfit at CFDC (Mack) Grab coffee after at LDU. Fantastic coffee, great Aussie guys that own it!

Next, I’d drag them to my studio in Design District to show off all the Sticks clothes.

Lunch at Honor Bar, and walk through the village

An afternoon cocktail downtown at the Joule. Do a walk around down town.

Night tickets to Four Day Weekend so we can laugh.

Late night cap with jazz music in Deep Ellum

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

I would not be here today, speaking with you, without the many angels that have graced my path. Sometimes, people meet you just when you need them most.

Once, I was lost in India. Truly, lost. I was trying to board a train to Kolkata and no one around me spoke English. I couldn’t negotiate with the ticketer, kids were tugging at my clothes, and the Indians seemed to keep nodding their heads yes. My anxiety was growing with every second. I was 24, a woman, alone in a tiny village on the west coast of India. “Deep breath Amanda” I said to myself. Just at that second, I heard English spoken behind me. “Do you need help?” I swear to you he was lit up like a bright light. He just appeared!

There have been so many bright lights that have appeared in my life. People are magic. You can’t get anywhere alone and my work is a testament to that. Every person who has ever believed in me, loved me, and encouraged me deserves all the credit. So I want to say, thank you, to those very special people.

Website: www.madebysticks.com

Instagram: @madebysticks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madebysticks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nT73Hmt0lhUMbYIQ6UgUw

Image Credits
Cast Iron Photos: https://castironphotos.com/ Allie Jorde: alliejordecreative.com