Modern Makers: Culture Flock

Blog Category:  Museum Shop
Two light-skinned women stand behind the light-wood counter of a modern retail space. They wear light-blue tie-dyed T-shirts that say
January 12, 2022
1/12/22

We spoke with Brittany Bilyeu and Summer Trottier, founders of Culture Flock, about creating colorful and inclusive apparel, goods, and accessories for people of every shape, size, color, gender, and orientation.

Shop Culture Flock in NMWA’s Museum Shop!

Two light-skinned women stand behind the light-wood counter of a modern retail space. They wear light-blue tie-dyed T-shirts that say "Culture Flock" in bright pink cursive lettering. Both women have tattoos on each arm. They smile brightly. Behind them, "Culture Flock" is written in big, illustrated bubble letters on the wall against a light blue and pink geometric background. On the counter, a display of colorful keychains, pride flags, and colorful cards and pins are arranged.
Culture Flock founders Brittany Bilyeu and Summer Trottier in their Springfield, MO, brick-and-mortar shop

1. Can you tell us about Culture Flock and your mission?

Culture Flock is a LGBTQ- and women-owned apparel, accessories, and gift shop. We’ve been designing, creating, and selling our own products online since 2013, and in 2018 we opened a flagship store in our hometown of Springfield, Missouri. Our brand pillars are individuality, uniqueness, cultural relevance, optimism, and community.

2. What is your creative process for designing new products?

We try to remember to always create things that speak to us. If they speak to us, they’ll speak to others. We’ve learned over the past eight years that if you base your creative process on what other people like, rather than what you like, your heart won’t show through your work. We then match our ideas with our brand pillars and go forward with our best concepts!

3. How does Culture Flock stay environmentally conscious?

We’ve shifted our focus to sustainability over the past few years. We’ve reduced unnecessary packaging, reuse packing and shipping materials when possible, and ship with recycled mailers. Since we also hand print apparel, any blemished items are either sold at a reduced price, reused for test prints, donated, or made into cleaning rags for the shop. We’ve got plans for a small vintage section as well!

A white T-shirt features a central illustrated grid in black ink of five rows each featuring four portraits of women artists throughout history. Each has their name written below the image. At the bottom of the grid, in bold text, the words "FEMALE ARTISTS" are written, with a strikethrough on the word "Female."
Culture Flock’s “Artists” T-shirt is available in NMWA’s Museum Shop

4. NMWA’s #5WomenArtists campaign challenges people to name five women artists. Who are your favorite five women artists?

Yayoi Kusama, Marisol Escobar, Amy Sherald, Maira Kalman, and Eva Hesse.

5. What’s on the agenda for you in 2022?

We want to continue being an open and inclusive space in our conservative area. We have plans to further our sustainability mission by offering a section of upcycled/vintage finds. As the past few years have been a difficult time for people, we want their experience with Culture Flock, whether in store or online, to be one that gives them a laugh, smile, or feel-good moment.

About the Author

—Tom Kinsella is the retail operations lead visual designer at the National Museum of Women in the Arts.

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