Creativity can get your business far, even exceeding your own expectations. Just ask Jesse Genet.
Jesse Genet, Co-founder of Lumi, was a Sophomore of High School when she started her T-shirt printing business. She got this brilliant idea to photo-dye a T-shirt – just like the good ol’ 60’s. The idea is to “print” photo – or any designs you have in mind – on fabric.
She kept working on it through high school and college. While she was studying Product Design in college, she met Stephan Angoulvant, who then co-founded Lumi with her.
How it works?
You print an image onto a transparency film. You can coat any natural fibers, textiles or fabrics with Lumi dye (called Inkodye), then put the negative, transparency film on top of the applied dye – then put your project to the sun – and voila! You can learn about the process here.
Lumi encourages everyone to have access to the material and method – and share the creativity (artwork created using Inkodye is called Lumitype.) Promoting creativity, Lumi grows from a humble T-shirt shop to a multi-disciplinary design company. Today, Lumi ships worldwide and the small business doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
How Lumi make it happen?
Crowdfunding. Ms. Genet and Mr. Angoulvant launched a Kickstarter project in 2010 to fund the research of the photo-dye technology.
Successfully funded (at $13,597,) Lumi launched another Kickstarter project in 2012 to make the technology accessible by anyone via its product, Inkodye and Lumityper mobile app. This project was also successfully funded, raised $268,437 – way over the $50,000 goal.
Takeaway
What can we learn from Lumi’s success? Passion for your business is the first and foremost; but what next?
Providing tools for people to be creative
Lumi rides on a unique premise: People can make incredible things and Lumi can help you make something more awesome than things you can buy.
Developing Inkodye, Lumi bring photo-dying to the public, so anyone can print anything on any textiles or fabric. Not only T-shirt, you can print your own couch, bag, wallet… anything, as long as it’s made from natural fiber.
Leverages via crowdfunding
Photo-dye technology was born – and continuously developed – using funds via crowdfunding projects. Platforms like Kickstarter can bring more than just funds for a promising project; they give exposure and buzz. From Kickstarters, Lumi not only get funding, it also getting customers and media coverages.
Partnership rocks!
Lumi embraces partnership. If you are interested in partnership, no worries – Lumi opens for partnership with businesses and educational institutions. Lumi offers special pricing, as well as full-support by addressing their needs.
Great idea, the technology to make it happen, and enthusiastic people who are eager to make any creative prints on any fabric surface – those are the right ingredients make Lumi a successful small business – and you ain’t seen nothing yet, as they continue to develop their photo-dye technology.
Get inspired!
