Meet Devon, 22, and Sydney, 19, Carlson. The two gorgeous faces behind the brand, Wildflower Cases, which blossomed by accident a little over four years ago. With a lot of talent and some help from singer/actress Miley Cyrus, these girls have made a name for themselves.
With celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, Lucy Hale, Ashley Tisdale, Bella Thorne, and many more, there is no doubt that Devon and Sydney have created a brand that is a hot commodity. Their cases are sold worldwide as well as in high fashion stores like Free People, Nordstrom, Nasty Gal, Anthropologie, and hundreds of retail boutiques across the country. Anything is possible for these two and they continue to take the world by storm. I was lucky enough to speak with the ladies to discuss their cases and all their success.
1. I know you credit Miley Cyrus for helping you launch your company. Can you explain how she did? Do you know how she first heard about Wildflower?
Devon: Well it all started when my family went out to a normal family dinner at one of my favorite restaurants at the time. My sister and I went to use the restroom and while waiting in line, Miley Cyrus walked out of the bathroom stall. Being the huge Miley fan i was I couldn’t miss out on an opportunity to chat and take a photo. While taking the photo she noticed my phone case and freaked out. I told her my mom made it and she couldn’t believe it. She told us we needed to start a company and asked if she could talk to my parents. We walked her back to our table and she told my Mom and Dad how cool the phone cases were and that we NEEDED to start a company. Later that night, she tweeted a photo of the cases and tagged me in her tweet. It was just so crazy to me that a girl like Miley Cyrus, who could have anything she ever dreamed of, wanted our cases!! That was the beginning of it all!
2. What’s the story behind how the name Wildflower came about?
D: The name “wildflower” came about because we had about 30 minutes to come up with a name and it was something we all agreed on. We also like that is was very representative of our product as well as Sydney and I.
3. Can you explain what a typical workday is like?
D: A typical workday from me starts by waking up, making coffee then checking emails. Then I will usually help create content for our social media as well as work with our graphic designer on new designs, banners for our website, or email campaigns. Then I’ll probably check my email again and then constantly search for inspo. :) I love my job!
Sydney: Every morning I wake up, grab coffee with my mom, workout, and begin working. I am so so blessed to be able to work alongside my family. Typically I’m doing things like taking photos, editing, social media stuff, or researching ideas for new designs and concepts. It is so fun to be able to use my creative energy into something I can then produce to show everyone!
4. When it comes to designing your cases, where do you usually get your inspiration?
D: My inspiration comes from everywhere. I love looking around vintage stores and seeing cool patterns and prints. I also will think about my wardrobe and what could add to it because my phone is usually always in my hand and it is my most important accessory. I love making fun, unique cases.
S: I get inspiration everywhere. The best part is my inspiration grows everyday. I’ll stumble across something new, whether it be online, on social media, or just someone walking down the street! Inspiration is everywhere and has helped me open my eyes up to the world. Definitely made me realize there’s creativity and inspiration everywhere!
5. You guys have had some amazing collaborations that have been such a hit! How do you decide who to collaborate with and what is the process like?
D: All of our collaborations have been with people who have supported Wildflower from the beginning. We love to give them a chance to design their own case. It’s really fun getting to hear all their ideas.
S: Luckily enough basically all of the people we collab with are friends of mine! They love the company and cases and just get so excited when the opportunity to collaborate arose. Which makes it even more fun being able to work with my friends!
6. What is the coolest thing that has ever happened to or for Wildflower?
D: The coolest thing is probably the friends I’ve made through Wildflower!! My sister and I get to experience a lot of crazy opportunities because of our company and I’m so thankful! I also think it’s pretty cool when people I admire use our cases. :)
S: Probably one of the coolest things for me was seeing people all over the world supporting our company. Having girls send me these long messages saying I’ve inspired them means so much to me and just reminds me of how much of an impact we can have.
7. If you could have anyone rock your cases, who would it be? Is there a specific case you would you want them to use?
D: I would die to see Rihanna with one of our cases. Honestly I’d totally wanna make her a custom one that’ll suit her style perfectly. I also think she’d like the Hottie case. If she had one, that would be crazy.
8. If you weren’t working on Wildflower, what do you girls imagine you would be doing?
D: I’d probably be a professional dancer. I always wanted to do that out of college, but I love to travel and I love to dance I’d be able to both with that job. :)
S: It’s SO hard to say! Before Wildflower, I was on dance team and did different activities. When the company stopped, I stopped them to focus on work! So who knows maybe I’d still be dancing!
9. Sydney, you just launched your denim line! Congratulations! Tell us about that.
S: Yes! Thank you so so much. It has been something I’ve been working on for so long and is just crazy to see my vision finally coming to life. This is just the beginning, I have so much more in store!
10. What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone who is trying to start their own line, brand, or company?
D: Make sure you’re passionate and believe in your product because it is a lot of work to start your own business. Don’t let people bring you down and always believe in yourself. :)
S: Two things… always have a clear vision of your goals/ what you ideally want to achieve and don’t give up. Haha it sounds very cliche but that’s because it’s true! When someone is passionate about something, it really shows in their work. Yes, it will get hard and there will be times when you’ll want to quit but if you truly believe in something, keep doing it. Especially if you’re constantly envisioning what you want and can see yourself there, you’re already a big step ahead!
Be sure to check them out on social media to stay updated on their latest projects! Thanks a million girls! XOXO
Keep up with Wildflower…..
- Wildflower Cases: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Website
- Devon Carlson: Instagram, Twitter
- Sydney Carlson: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube