Intuit TurboTax Hosts Designer-Led Workshops to Empower the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Aspiring creatives and students from the local community joined the fashion designers behind the limited-edition TurboTax collection for a hands-on masterclass.
Demonstrating how entrepreneurs can strengthen their creative output with financial logic, Intuit TurboTax partnered with NYC designers Kody Phillips and Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore of Who Decides War to host a series of hands-on design workshops to empower the local community of creatives with resources geared toward financial literacy, after the tax filing brand launched a co-branded limited-edition fashion capsule with each label. The designers spoke first-hand to how they navigate the nuances of running a growing business, from production to creative direction, and the tools they use behind the scenes to instill confidence in their operation.
Rising creatives and NYC students from Pratt Institute, FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology), Parsons and Kent University gathered to attend the sessions, just a few blocks down from TurboTax SoHo, the brand’s new flagship store — a modern, tech-enabled space offering a completely done-for-you tax filing experience with a local tax expert. These designer-led workshops were joined by a TurboTax expert who provided guidance for those eager to start their own businesses, followed by a thoughtful Q&A for the audience to ask any tax-related questions, ahead of the upcoming April 15 tax deadline.
Upon entering the space, guests were immersed in a series of moodboards, pattern drafts and sketches, which filled the walls, floor to ceiling, to emulate the organic textures and elements of each designer’s studio, and a mirroring atmosphere that fuels their creative workflow, day in and day out.
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The TurboTax x Kody Phillips capsule is intentionally worn-in, distressed and weathered to demonstrate its rugged utility. You see these details at work with the capsule’s hero denim jacket, replete with custom antique “KP” hardware and paint-splatter motifs, and its artfully tailored matching denim. A jewel-adorned Camp Collar shirt and smaller accessories, such as the monochromatic Lasso Cap, complete the collection.
Who Decides War’s capsule uses distressed elements, fringed piping, patchwork designs with open seams and Watermelon-colored accents (nodding to TurboTax’s brand colors). The capsule includes a leather moto jacket, denim button-up, hoodie and tote bag — workwear-inspired garments celebrating the grit and hustle mentality of NYC’s larger creative community, with a dedication to the cross streets of the new TurboTax store.
For the workshops, each designer’s lesson plan was uniquely tailored to the financial lessons they were most passionate about sharing. Kody Phillips encouraged attendees to unleash their creativity with a unique hands-on activity. Guests had the opportunity to personalize their own version of the Camp Collar shirt, a hero piece from the custom TurboTax collection, with sewing and fabrication kits set up at dedicated work stations. Phillips and his team guided the students on how to properly secure various jewels, beads and Lasso appliqués to their garments, while discussing the importance of fiscal decisioning when selecting hardware and materials. Phillips encouraged questions and reinforced the value of local community support, pointing to resources like your local TurboTax store, which provides expertise that can give you the financial confidence to propel your future ventures and visions.
In another workshop series with the founders of Who Decides War, speaking to the TurboTax x Who Decides War collection, Bravado and Téla D’Amore began with a raw and real conversation about their label’s rising imprint and the steps it took to launch their brand, with some lessons learned along the way. Joined by a TurboTax expert, Lisa Greene Lewis, together the panel discussed how the label maximized their efforts and remained true to their vision despite financial obstacles and setbacks at the outset. From how to file for an LLC, to budgeting and managing finances at a young age, the audience – comprising fashion design students from local design institutes – learned how harnessing both financial literacy and creativity together can help build a stronger, more sustainable future for their projects and endeavors. Bravado and Téla D’Amore ended the workshop with dedicated time for each attendee to share their personal portfolios, to get professional feedback to support and bolster their future opportunities.
Students emerged from the workshops carrying with them personalized guidance, and a comprehensive understanding of the local resources available to help build a secure financial future. To commemorate their time with the designers, each participant took home their new workshop supplies, along with a one-of-a-kind garment gifted from the custom TurboTax collection.
Take a closer look at this curated workshop experience in the galleries above, and read more about the designers’ custom capsules in the latest Behind the Design series.
