“Fluffy, Fly, and Fabulous”

A Conversation with Founder Keisha Ransome of The Lotus Bloom Co.  

When it comes to being a creative entrepreneur it is often that spark - that idea that just won’t leave you alone - that plants that seed of passion to build a creative company. At the Baltimore Creatives Acceleration Network (BCAN), we tried to infuse the energy of that spark into our tagline: "Scale Your Passion". Considering Baltimore is full of creatives who are turning their passions into thriving creative companies, we decided to dedicate a monthly interview series to spotlighting the many ways entrepreneurship shape place locally. This month we caught up with Keisha Ransome, owner and resident designer at the lotus bloom co. 

On a blustery early fall day, we stopped by the self-taught designer’s studio space in The Fox Building, a large factory and former home of the Noxema Company at the edge of the Hampden neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. The 10,000 square foot building had been left largely vacant until redeveloped into a mixed-use facility comprised of both residences and artist studios in 2018. The site sits within the larger historic Jones Falls River Valley, which before the building of the Jones Falls Expressway and a mass industrial exodus from the city, was home to several large mills including the largest global supplier of cotton duck, the cloth that was used for ship sails in the late 19th century.

Ransome’s studio is located on the first floor of the building, just shy of an expansive gallery space. Visitors are welcomed by a slew of plants, in-process designs, a fencing mask (an homage to her love of the sport), along with a few magazine and newspaper clippings serving as somewhat of a mini mood-board. Though cozy, the studio radiates the kind of whimsy befitting the fashions that she crafts, her custom fashion imprint for the lotus bloom co.  specializes in “tulle skirts and apparel for every day and your most special occasions...desire is to provide high-quality tulle fashion that is beautiful, functional and garners joy...and plenty of compliments.” 

The self-taught designer started out making prom dresses for friends and classmates while still a student at Baltimore City College High School. The Baltimore native and Morgan State University graduate would go on to recieve a bachelors degree from the college’s prestigious Engineering program and a masters in city and regional planning, had been a transportation planning consultant several years prior to launching her first creative company 2live2love, an affirmation based line of t-shirts, in 2012.

“I wanted a tulle skirt for my birthday, so I made one…”, laughed Ransome glancing at the rack of skirts at the far corner of her studio “...and the rest is history.” It is easy to see why the fluffy, fly and fabulous made-to-order creations have been a hit with Ransome’s clients - a base comprised mostly of brides-to-be that she has been able to cultivate via Etsy, a platform founded to 2005 that focuses on providing e-commerce selling space to “handmade or vintage items and craft supplies”. 

The self-described “extroverted introvert” began using the platform after a referral from her acupuncturist and has come to enjoy selling her goods through the site, finding it to be the perfect “training wheels to e-commerce” and being an overall good space to grow as she learned the ropes of being an entrepreneur. But as the business grew she wanted to connect with other sellers on the platform who were also Baltimore-based. Which lead Ransome to start Baltimore Etsy Sellers in 2016. Though the first meeting included only herself and one other attendee the group now boasts over 250 members. “I have a natural desire to want to share whatever knowledge I have and help others succeed - and I feel like that has been returned back to me three-fold, and I appreciate that.” The designer has begun sharing her expertise in selling on the platform with other groups, in 2017 she began partnering with Greenmount West’s OpenWorks and Moms As Entrepreneurs to offer a Maker Academy, where she teaches maker moms how to establish and grow their businesses through the e-commerce site.

With an abundance of creative spirit and willingness to share often limited resources,  Baltimore creative entrepreneurs have always known what kind of future they want to see but many individuals and organizations, including BCAN, have wondered exactly what that looks like. When asked, it is clear that Ransome already knows her answer. Without hesitation she states, 

“Educational resources! There are so many workshops but a cohesive series of classes are needed to help [new business owners] start strong and help whip existing businesses into shape. In 5-10 years I want to see more people with firmer foundations in their businesses. Because even folks who are successful still have questions - about taxes, growth, etc.” 

“Oh, and mentorship!”, she adds. 

As more organizations and service providers like BCAN look to create offerings for Baltimore entrepreneurs and their sometimes unique needs, feedback like this is crucial. With the upcoming holiday season and prom and bridal months to follow soon after, Ransome is sure to stay busy. At the time of this interview, she was putting the finishing touches on the waistband of a wine-colored piece that will be shipped to yet another happy customer. 

Keisha Ransome and BCAN Executive Director Maggie Villegas will be speaking more about creative entrepreneurship and what it looks like to “Scale Your Passion” at the Annual Convening of Arts Administrators of Color 2019 in DC at the Eaton. You can register for the event here. 

The Baltimore Sun op-ed “Jacques Kelly: The 'Fox' of Jones Falls showing new stripes in move from industrial building to housing” provided the historical background on The Fox Building and the Jones Falls River Valley for this article.

Are you a Baltimore creative scaling your passion? We would love to hear your story!

Please reach out to BCAN Engagement Manager Jenné Afiya Matthews at jenne@baltimorecreates.org with inquiries, ideas, and hellos!