Where Are We Going? Let’s Start At Our Origin.
Platinum Hobo™ started around 2008 in Philadelphia. I was excited to get back on track with my creativity in a big way. By going ham a craft stores, borrowing a sewing machine to use whilst in Maryland and stalking a Joanne’s scrap fabrics section in Greenbelt; I was ready to make one-of-a-kind accessories and bags with scrap fabrics and cool embellishments. I hand sewed pieces. I made little compact mirrors. It was fun. I got my items into Nestology at King of Prussia Mall. I got some paintings into Absolute Abstract in Philadelphia; it was nerve-racking and exciting. These two places especially gave me courage and validation with showing my pieces to others. The owners were kind and encouraging. I got tables at other stores here and there and set up an Etsy.
A Set Back.
Just as my momentum got going. I became ill and was diagnosed with an autoimmune problem. It was in my first “episode” or “flare”. There wasn’t time to ponder on this new mystery of what all this was, because I was trying to stay alive. I went to the hospital at least once a week. I couldn’t use my hands. I was weak. I lost weight.
With all of this, I lost my livelihood. And I also of course had to give up on my creative endeavors, as I couldn’t even use my hands to turn a key or undo buttons at times. After about a year and a half long “episode” I suddenly began to get better.
A Second Try…
Fast forward to 2019, I felt stable and motivated to get back into it. This time making Platinum Hobo™ official, legally. I would set it up so that no matter what happened to me health wise, Platinum Hobo™ would continue. Platinum Hobo™ started May 2019 and it was awesome! There was a lot of learning that year and it always continues.
I planned on starting pop-ups in 2020. A big one, at a shop called Nubian Hueman in Baltimore but by April 2020 or so realized that was not happening. There was a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes. Trying to see how to help out but not being able to. Supply chains at a virtual standstill. The world was in crisis beyond these trivialities and later that year unbeknownst to me, I was starting to show signs of the beginning of a very bad lupus “episode”.
I knew that this time Platinum Hobo™ could live on. However diminished, it was still alive. After all of the “stuff” that happened between 2019 and 2022, Platinum Hobo™ is still here and this time in 2023 we are on.
Moving Forward
I never wanted to bring lupus into Platinum Hobo™ but I suppose since I am a part of Platinum Hobo™, so is lupus. I have had lot of time to reflect on the direction of PH, since I couldn’t do as much as I wanted. Platinum Hobo™ started with upcycling and zero waste. Unique one-of-kind pieces. In 2019 I still didn’t want to be wasteful. Everything is made in small batches or upon demand, and Platinum Hobo™ uses quality materials. In 2023 we have some fun new items coming. Adding unique, upcycled, one-of-a-kind items, and more. Keep a look out for them on our website. Platinum Hobo™ also plans on finally doing some pop-ups this year!