Check Out Kristy Smith’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Smith.

Hi Kristy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Hi. I’m Kristy. I often get asked how Furrocious began. This is our story…

I went to my first Burning Man festival in 2010. I instantly knew that I would be a Burner for life. As a fashion designer, what I immediately loved most about Burning Man was the abundance of creativity everywhere you look — from fashion & costumes, to art cars, camp structures, and art installations. I felt I was in an all-day fashion show and my mind was exploding with fashion ideas from so many creative minds.

Cold weather is not my friend.
I loved every aspect of Burning Man except for the extremely cold nights and even colder sunrises on the Playa. I know I am more sensitive to cold than the average person, but I simply can’t have fun and enjoy myself when I can’t dance hard enough to stay warm. The cold weather makes what should be a fun time into a miserable time… And the thought of freezing from biking home across the playa is just dreadful.

Let creation begin…
After 3 years of miserable cold nights, I was determined to solve this problem and never be cold again at Burning Man. I had a vision to to create the coolest and warmest, long, faux-fur, hooded, horned cape with matching furry boot covers and wrist paws.

I found the softest and most luxurious ivory and gray faux fur and plush velour lining in downtown LA. I painted and drilled holes in hard plastic ram horns to attach them to my hood. I loved how my creation turned out so much that I made a matching cape set in a rich brown & black faux fur for my boyfriend. I couldn’t leave him to suffer in the cold.

The capes were such a hit! So many people would approach us at Burning Man and other festivals asking where we got the capes. So I started making capes for friends and then friends of friends.

After my success with the long capes, I decided to make a short version, introducing the men’s 3 hook vest and women’s cape-let. After that came the first coat for men – the Vandal – and one for women – the Vixen. I have slowly added new faux fur styles and colors each season. Five years later, I have a faux fur fashion business!

I love seeing your smiles.
What brings me the most joy in this business is the overwhelming amount of praise I receive from everyone who has purchased a Furrocious product, and all the admirers who hope to one day own something Furrocious.

Everyone is so grateful for my creations because they truly are the warmest, softest, most comfortable, highest quality, everlasting, functional, and fun faux-fur coats on the market.

The smiles I see from Furrocious customers are truly priceless!

From the original Furrocious cape designs, above, to the latest LED coats, below, Furrocious has come a long way!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was finding skilled people who could cut and sew faux fur. Faux fur is notoriously difficult to work with because it is messy, and many professionals either didn’t want to handle it or charged exorbitant prices. It took a lot of trial and error to build the right team in Los Angeles who could meet my quality standards.

Another ongoing struggle is finding a marketing team that delivers quality work with proven results. Despite my best efforts, it’s been tough to find a reliable marketing team or creative team for video content creation. Additionally, I currently lack a dedicated sales team. As a designer, sales and marketing are not my areas of expertise, and managing these aspects alone has been challenging. I am essentially a team of one right now, and I’m actively looking to build a team to support growth in these areas.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Furrocious Furr, we specialize in creating superior quality faux fur coats for both men and women. Our coats stand out for their unmatched quality compared to other local brands. We use the finest materials, including the softest faux furs and cuddle soft linings, to ensure our products are both stylish and comfortable. All of our product are 100% vegan and sustainable made in LA.

Our coats are not just about aesthetics; they are also highly functional. They feature multiple zipper pockets and our signature backpacks, allowing you to wear the coat as a backpack when it gets too warm. We’ve perfected the fit of our coats through meticulous design, making them incredibly comfortable to wear.

One of the key aspects that sets us apart is our commitment to customization. Our coats are made one by one in Los Angeles, allowing us to offer custom fits for those who do not align with our standard size chart. Unlike most brands that mass-produce overseas, we provide a personalized touch to each garment. We do custom orders where customers can choose from a wide selection of styles and fabrics, and completely customize their dream faux fur garment.

Our LED collection is particularly unique. It is truly spectacular and high-tech, offering a variety of styles and light changing patterns that you won’t find anywhere else. Our LED products are operated with a rechargeable battery and controlled with a bus tooth app on your phone. This innovative approach, combined with our dedication to quality and customization, is what makes Furrocious Furr stand out in the fashion industry.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to us at Furrocious Furr is customer happiness and satisfaction, as well as producing a high-quality product we are proud of. We believe that our success is directly tied to the joy and satisfaction of our customers. We take great pride in knowing that our customers love and enjoy our products. Ensuring that we deliver superior quality in every piece we create is at the heart of our brand, and seeing our customers happy and satisfied with their purchases is the greatest reward we could ask for.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.furrociousfurr.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/furrociousfurr/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/furrociousfurr
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Furrociousfurr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMvEt8LK9J8zZvvG3Tm2LIQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@furrociousfurr?lang=en 

Image Credits
Furrocious Furr