One very judgmental rabbit.

I was in my room, looking at Spaz. She gave me that disgusted, judgmental look—the one that said I’d been staring for far too long. Who’s always offended? Spaz. Who wants all the snacks? Also Spaz. There she was: my very own Fat Rabbit.

I’d always imagined a network that could help you feel local anywhere: understand a place, find your feet, meet people, and get through those first few days with a little humility. The rabbit had the personality. The idea needed a network. And suddenly, there it was: Fat Rabbit Network.

“FAT RABBIT NETWORK, BABY—HOP ON IT!” Spazzio Machdaddio and I had a world of people to meet.

Two jobs. One idea I couldn’t let go.

I was a bartender, working two jobs while building FRN. Graphic design was my strength, but I was still learning, and turning the idea into an app was a challenge. A regular at my bar became one of my closest friends. He spoke my language: business, possibility, and how to keep going.

I wanted to lead by showing up—standing beside people, taking responsibility, and finding ways to turn a difficult encounter into a friendship.

Go there. Meet them. Understand the work.

My search took me to China to look at printers and pizza boxes, with the aim of helping friends and clients find better options. When plans fell through, I found myself stranded and had to find a way forward. A friend I’d helped pointed me toward Shanghai.

Those were lean years. I was learning the language, checking locations, visiting workshops, and seeing how things were actually made. When something wasn’t right, I asked questions and worked through it. Progress came one visit, one conversation, and one problem solved at a time.

Kindness stays with you.

As a trained educator, I shared what I knew with children and adults. I was learning from the people around me, too. We didn’t always share a language, but we could still help each other.

One day, a stranger outside a market showed me a small kindness that helped me get home. He probably had no idea how much it meant. I still carry that moment with me. It shaped the way I want to treat people and the kind of network I want to build.

From the street to the workshop.

I visited every expo I could: fabrics, printing, machinery, and the tools behind the finished product. I spent time in factories and workshops, looked at equipment, checked samples, and met experienced people who took pride in their craft.

London, Shanghai, Dubai, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Ireland, Egypt, Prague, Nepal—each place added a new perspective. It wasn’t about collecting destinations. It was about knowing who I was working with, understanding what they could make, and building relationships that could last.

Keep learning. Keep showing up.

The pandemic changed travel and the way we worked. The bigger ideas took time, and there was always more to learn. I kept developing products, working through challenges, and staying connected with the people who had become part of the team.

The work behind the scenes wasn’t always visible. But the purpose stayed the same: help people, make useful things, and keep improving together.

Made personal. Built together.

Today, I bring those relationships into Fat Rabbit Network: clothing with character, personal tailoring, and a direct conversation about what you want to make. I want you to know there are real people behind it.

I’m still meeting makers, checking the work, and finding ways to do things better. This is my life’s work, and the next chapter is still ahead. Hop on it.