Say Gah! to: Madelyn Somers

Say Gah! to: Madelyn Somers

Say Gah! To Madelyn Somers—the designer behind Made Some Souvenirs, a brand born in 2020 dedicated to that special feeling you get from those unique, one-of-a-kind trinkets found on once-in-a-lifetime trips. By day, Madelyn is a creative director at Parachute Home, and spends the rest of her time developing her brand. We visited Madelyn at her Los Feliz home, filled to the brim with vintage goodies straight out of a Wes Anderson film, to celebrate our latest collab, Made Some Says Gah! Meet Madelyn and shop the exclusive tees, with patches designed by Madelyn, paying homage to our favorite UK monuments below!

LSG: Hi Madelyn, tell us a little bit about yourself, where you're from, what you do, and anything else fun or interesting we should know about you, your life as a creative director, etc.

MS: I was born and raised in Los Angeles, but lived in New York for most of my 20s working as both a graphic designer and art director. Those years were super crucial to my creative development and confidence as a creative director. Highly recommend everyone to live in NY if they can or desire to for the culture and grit.

My day job is as the Associate Creative Director at Parachute, truly a dream job and a dream company. I get to work, travel and shoot beautiful campaigns in stunning homes with really talented people and it’s all super collaborative which I love.

LSG: You're a creative director by day—what led you to wanting to start your own business outside of your day job?

MS: I’ve always had a really entrepreneurial spirit (ask my friends, I was selling bra strap headbands on the playground in 3rd grade) and it’s even in my name Made(lyn) Some(rs)….so creating is just in my DNA. I feel like I’ve always had a pretty clear design and fashion point of view, add fun color combos and humor with a sense of wanderlust and I couldn’t help but think others would love it too. If you’re true to who you are and passionate about what you’re putting out in the world, I see no way others wouldn’t want to be part of that. I love championing authenticity.

Dana is the true definition of a multi-hyphenate, constantly creating, no matter the medium. Dana is proudly of middle eastern descent, and is always looking to use her photography/film work to breakdown stereotypes, and depict a positive representation of middle-eastern/Muslim communities. Boulos Is also a fierce advocate for women's rights—she currently supports Free The Work, a non-profit initiative advocating on behalf of female directors for equal job opportunities.
"If you’re true to who you are and passionate about what you’re putting out in the world, I see no way others wouldn’t want to be part of that. I love championing authenticity."

LSG: What's the inspiration behind Made Some Souvenirs?

MS: Made Some Souvenirs came out of my love of travel and souvenir shopping. When I wasn’t able to travel during the pandemic I decided to make my own souvenirs, as a graphic designer by trade, color enthusiast and collector of all things 70s, it came about pretty naturally. It truly is an extension of myself - the colors, the graphics - friends tell me this brand is “so you” and that makes me so happy to hear.

LSG: Tell us about the patch designs on each shirt, how do you ideate and choose the locations for your tees? How did you choose the ones for our collab?

MS: Lisa Says Gah was the first retailer to pick up Made Some Souvenirs after I blindly submitted my linesheet last October. From there my brand has grown, and I can truly thank LSG for giving me a platform to showcase my tourist tees. When they came to me about a collaboration for their UK-Princess Diana-inspired season it was a no-brainer that I'd want to do an exclusive collaboration to highlight all our fav UK monuments. Going into Fall/Winter, I developed a long sleeve tourist tee in fun contrasting colors with Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the London Tower Bridge as an homage to all things British royalty.

As for my other monuments, I started with places I had been to and recently started making souvenirs for places I’ve still yet to explore...still a very long list.

LSG: Of all the tees you've created, is there a favorite? Do you have a special connection or memory to that favorite?

MS: The Leaning Tower of Pisa was my first tourist tee to make and probably the best-seller. I remember being in Italy with my parents for the first time when I was 15 and taking the train over from Florence to visit Pisa. We went at night when no one was around and it was one of the most eerie experiences seeing it in person, I felt like it was swaying in the wind. It’s something I’ll never forget.

LSG: When you're not traveling, how do you make home (LA), feel like an escape?

MS: Even though I grew up here, I left for a big chunk of time so I’m still exploring and getting reacquainted with LA, especially the east side. Melrose was the farthest east we’d go growing up. I love trying new restaurants, exploring the Arts District downtown, vintage shopping in Highland Park and walking from my home up to Griffith Park. I also love having my spots like grabbing a coffee at All Time and a glass of wine at Lolo’s.

LSG: Now that we're traveling again, what dream trip are you currently planning?

I’m headed to Paris for two weeks in December and of course I just made a bunch of Paris tourist tees to bring with me. I can’t wait to be back strolling the streets and eating at all the fromageries and boulangeries.

LSG: Lastly, what does Madelyn Say GAH! to?

MS: Gahh, so much! I recently came across Vintage Intaglios, basically small plaster souvenirs of people and places from the 19th century. Also, 70s Danish glassware. My gahhh’s usually happen during long Etsy rabbit holes, Rose Bowl flea markets and estate sale finds.

Madelyn Somers
1.29.21
Text: Madeline Sensible
Photos: Dana Boulos
@danaboulos
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