Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Maready.
Hi Grace, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Over two years ago, I was working as a tour guide in Alaska when I kept getting this idea that I should design bandanas. I have always loved bandanas, and I saw people wearing them everywhere, but I hated how most of them felt like dish rags. They were all thick, stiff, and not something you actually wanted to wear all day. I also felt like there weren’t many designs that felt fun, artistic, or unique. When I came home that fall, Mattie — my business partner — and I started talking about all the things you could do with a simple cotton square, and Birdy was born.
Originally, we were actually going to name the company “The Pigeon Shed” after the tiny space we were going to use in my brother’s backyard (literally an old pigeon shed), but after some market research (talking to our families) we landed on “Birdy.” It felt more fitting and meaningful to us because birds come in every shape, color, and personality, which mirrors how we want Birdy to feel: made for everyone.
We started with one design, the Sofia, and a pretty simple vision. We wanted to create lightweight cotton bandanas that actually feel good to wear, make designs that feel special and collectible, and collaborate with artists we admire. From there, we slowly built our collection. We wanted Birdy to feel nostalgic, like something familiar you somehow just discovered. We’re inspired by old camp badges, roadside gift shops, national parks, vintage storybooks, cabins, and all the little memories tied to being outside with people you love. More than anything, we wanted to create something that felt both useful and meaningful: a simple accessory that could become part of someone’s everyday adventures and be the most multi-tool accessory.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been completely smooth, but we’ve been pretty lucky that there haven’t been any catastrophic bumps in the road. We have mostly just had a lot of learning as we go. In the beginning, we poured all of our savings into Birdy, which was both exciting and terrifying. It was definitely a gamble because we had no clue if people would even care about our product. Bandanas have their season as well, so there has been a learning curve of patience and growth. I mean, we didn’t even have enough money at the beginning of it, to order a sample (if we wanted enough money to order any stock). So, we ordered our first design blindly, hoping that it would turn out okay. Thank goodness it worked, too. Otherwise, Birdy would be a goner. So everything from manufacturing and photography to packaging, wholesale, website design, and inventory management has been learned firsthand through trial and error. We’ve definitely had designs that didn’t turn out the way we imagined or samples that completely missed the mark, but we usually try to rework those ideas into something new instead of seeing them as failures.
I think one of the hardest parts has been balancing creativity with the practical side of running a business. There’s always pressure to keep creating, posting, planning launches, and staying ahead, even when you’re starting to burn out. But overall, every challenge has helped shape Birdy into what it is now, and we’ve tried really hard to keep the process fun and meaningful along the way. For us, we go outside to recharge.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What sets Birdy apart most is probably our approach to design and feeling. First of all, I, Grace, am the designer of all of our bandanas (unless it is a collaboration with other artists). I have this odd thing called Aphantasia, meaning, I have no minds eye. So I usually just start a design idea the same time I start the design. I have no idea what I am making until it’s done. That being said, we do have some main points almost every one of our designs encompass: unique designs that tell a story, add color to your life, and evokes a feeling of joy. A lot of our inspiration comes from nature. We want Birdy to feel nostalgic in a way that’s hard to explain — almost like finding something old and familiar that you somehow haven’t seen before.
One thing we’re especially proud of is how community-centered Birdy has become. So much of the brand has grown through markets, social media, word of mouth, and genuine connection. We love collaborating with artists and involving our audience in the creative process. It’s been so fun to see how every lifestyle finds its way into a bandana — hikers, painters, bakers, teachers, students and everything in between. There’s truly a bandana for everyone, and it’s been amazing watching people connect with Birdy in their own way and talk about it like it’s part of their story too. People send us pictures all the time of their adventures they take a Birdy on, and its so fun to see our own version of a “flat stanley” haha. Everyone wants a bandana, and everyone loves talking about Birdy!
More than anything, we want people to know that Birdy is for everyone. You don’t have to be a hardcore outdoors person or fit into one specific lifestyle to belong here. We want Birdy to feel like it has a place alongside you.
Birdy loves doing collaborations with influencers that are known for their bandanas and ways to style. We found that it is a great way to get our product in front of new eyes and to keep us in conversation, especially with people who already love it. We also do custom bandanas for businesses and private parties. A running joke with our friends is that we are aiming to hit all the popular pillars of Provo with Birdy– BYU, UVU, Sundance, IHC, etc. Surprisingly, so far, we have made custom bandanas for UVU and for Sundance (hoping to keep the ball rolling). Those have been some huge steps for us, and I’m excited to share that there is another one we are working on right now that hasn’t come out yet.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Just start! I think if you are ever considering making a product that you believe in and are passionate about, make it. You will find your people.
Another huge thing I’ve learned is not to create something just to please others or chase what you think will sell. Make it because you truly love it. There are already so many products in the world that don’t carry much meaning and just add to waste.
Pricing:
- All of our bandanas are $22
Contact Info:
- Website: https://birdybandanas.com
- Instagram: @birdybandanas
