Photo source Seek and Swoon
I think Jala Smith-Huys is a creative genius. She’s got an eye for design, but also a head for business. Jala has created a business that merges her love for travel, her belief in sustainability, her mastery of social media and her talent for design. Jala Smith-Huys is the incredible person behind the eco-blankets of Seek and Swoon.
Story Telling Throws
Seek and Swoon blankets are not your ordinary throws. Each throw tells a story through its design and feel. Most of Seek and Swoon’s uniquely designed throws reflect Jala’s impressions and sense of joy from her travels. For example, Envie evokes the sense of being in Paris. Slip under the blanket, and imagine you’re looking out at the Eiffel Tower and walking along the Champs d’Elysee. In fact, each blanket comes packaged with its own story.
Natural Design
Jala has worked in design all of her professional life, and her expertise is in graphic design and social media. She spent nine years as creative director for New Seasons when it first opened. In fact, she was one of the original 12 employees. After getting married, Jala went out on her own as a freelance graphic designer, working mostly with her network in the food industry. She adeptly saw the boom of social media coming, and was an early adopter of Twitter. Soon, she found herself developing social media strategies for some of the bigger food brands in the Pacific Northwest.
Ingenious Dreamer
Photo source Seek and Soown
Jala almost sheepishly admits to being what she calls a serial entrepreneur. Jala says she’s always dreaming up new businesses to launch, but most ideas lay dormant. I rather think that’s a positive trait. I think it shows her ingenuity in action, but also the smarts to know when an idea is ripe for the market. Jala explains she’s always been interested in making products instead of providing a service. She’s always looking for a way to find that balance in her life.
In 2015, Jala and her husband decided to do something different. They packed up their two young boys and took a traveling sabbatical. Over the course of 60 days, they traveled through four countries in Europe and visited seven cities. Staying in Air BNB’s and multiple days in one spot, Jala and her family got a glimpse of what life is like somewhere else. They also caught the travel bug.
Travel Inspired
Photo source Seek and Swoon
Jala went to work on her idea. She started creating designs. She contacted the knitting mills and discovered the recycled yarn. Jala learned about the manufacturing side of the business. The website www.seekandswoon.com launched in September, and she’s already building inventory from the eight different blankets she has designed so far. She’s even got a blanket, The Hope Throw, designed to bring hope to women suffering from ovarian cancer. This blanket is inspired by Jala’s mother’s fight with ovarian cancer. Jala donates $20 from every sale to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance.
Make sure to check out the website Seek and Soon. There, you can find all the blankets and read their stories. You can also learn more about Jala and her story. Her blankets are also available at a few retailers in the area, also listed on the website. And yes, make sure to follow Seek and Swoon on social media to keep up with the adventures:
Instagram: http://instagram.com/seekandswoon/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seekandswoon/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/seekandswoon