Get to know Blowfish Malibu Graphic Designer, Minjung Shin!
Welcome to the Blowfish Malibu Spotlight, a new feature on the Journal! We’ll be spending some time each month talking with different members of our team and giving readers a little bit of insight into what each person does in the office every day.
Tell us about your position at Blowfish Malibu.
I am the Graphic Designer here at Blowfish Malibu. I work with our Art Director in creating new content and brand assets for the marketing team.
When did you first become interested in graphic design?
My first job out of college was as a graphic designer in the Marketing Department of The Los Angeles Film School. Working in the entertainment industry, in the heart of Hollywood, was a very eye-opening experience that led to further interest in working with a marketing team and designing in-house.
I was freelancing for exclusive clients.
I was overly ecstatic to be scheduled for a virtual interview with Blowfish Malibu after applying during my trip to Hawaii. Luckily enough, we made a positive connection, and I was just counting down the days to joining the team.
My first photoshoot experience ever was with the Blowfish Malibu team. It was a very rewarding learning experience. I’m excited to be a part of this for each season!
Working in the fashion industry has put me in touch with the latest trends. I enjoy learning about the latest and greatest.
Every day is different from the next in terms of project. From email blasts to IG Stories to ads and trade show assets. It keeps things interesting!
I love this city so much that I’ve never moved out of it! I totally appreciate the variety that the city has to offer.
I love the wedge sneakers. They are comfy and provide extra height!
What advice would you have for someone who’s trying to pursue the same career as you?
Don’t be afraid to take risks with your designs.
JUST FOR FUN
Finding new and easy recipes for meal prepping and the great outdoors.
Growing up in Los Angeles has exposed me to ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as a city rich in the arts. I have to remind myself of how fortunate I am to have been raised in a city like this.
Australia or Japan
I think it’d be delightful to grab a bite to eat with Robin Williams or Anthony Bourdain. I’ll take either one!
After a session of self-care!
Don’t be scared, be prepared.
I’m left-handed.
FILL IN THE BLANK!
I learn the most from YouTube and hands-on training. I’m a visual learner.
I can’t live without Hank, my German Shepherd.
You can find me shopping at Amazon.com
My astrological sign is Libra!
I’m scared of Dismemberment. I watch too many true crime shows.
The last book I read was the Harry Potter series.
Most people would say I’m honest.
I’m currently listening to Hall and Oates.
My style mantra is casual all day.
I feel most comfortable in lounging around on a Sunday afternoon.
When I woke up today I felt happy but hungry, lol.
I feel the best when I’m adequately hydrated.
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Follow Blowfish Malibu on Instagram and check out more stories on the Journal.
Get to know Blowfish Malibu Marketing Assistant, Leah Sullivan!
Welcome to the Blowfish Malibu Spotlight, a new feature on the Journal! We’ll be spending some time each month talking with different members of our team and giving readers a little bit of insight into what each person does in the office every day.
Tell us about your position at Blowfish Malibu.
I am a Marketing Assistant here at Blowfish Malibu! Which means I assist social media & community building efforts and assist on a variety of projects in the Marketing Department.
When did you first become interested in marketing?
I don’t think I ever had an aha moment where I realized I loved marketing, but I have always loved visuals & story telling, and enjoyed the learning how to build a brand around telling a story when I was in college.
I started a swimwear company, Peachy Keen Swim, a few years back and still work on it now as my role at Blowfish Malibu is part time. Before working here I also spent a lot of my time freelancing and helping other brands build their TikTok marketing strategy, but I enjoy being able to work at an established company now and having continuity in my projects.
I really enjoy learning about the 4Earth collection and the sustainability efforts going into this line. Learning about the partnerships with Oceana and Bloom and being able to dive into the science behind the collection has been really cool! I took a lot of environmental science classes in college and I’m happy that I’m able to.
The ability to make make major changes globally and individually. I love the ability to express yourself and build confidence through creating your personal style, but know that the fashion industry can be very detrimental to the environment. I’m excited to learn more about the ins and outs of the industry and try to create change that will allow us to celebrate our style in a way that works in harmony with nature.
There’s a great culture! I’ve gotten to meet a lot of great people and go to fun events.
I loooove living here. The combination of nature and nightlife is a perfect balance for me. I love being able to go on a hike in the morning and a concert at night. You can really find so many interesting people and activities in this city.
The Redsen boots! So cute and minimalistic. I don’t think it will ever go out of style.
If you weren’t a marketer, what would you be?
I have a lot of interests but can never pick just one! Some type of artist would be cool.
JUST FOR FUN
Painting pottery!
I grew up in New Jersey and was very motivated to move out to California. I definitely feel at home here but the older I get the more I appreciate New Jersey, and I especially love the farm my family lives near. It’s really peaceful and laidback.
Bali!
When I’m having a meaningful conversation with a friend.
Be authentic or die trying!
I studied Mandarin in college, but I’m not very good. 我中文不太好!
FILL IN THE BLANK!
I learn the most from meditation.
I can’t live without my friends.
You can find me shopping at the anthropology candle section.
My astrological sign is Aries sun, cancer rising, cap moon!
I’m not scared of public speaking.
The last book I read was The Women who Run with the Wolves.
Most people would say I’m fun.
I’m currently listening to Mac Miller.
My style mantra is don’t follow trends, express yourself through your own style.
I feel most comfortable in comfy pants with a fun print.
When I woke up today I felt like hitting the snooze button lol.
I feel the freest when I’m in the ocean.
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Follow Blowfish Malibu on Instagram and check out more stories on the Journal.
Get to know Blowfish Malibu’s Marketing Project Manager, Carin Mazaira.
Thanks for taking the time to meet with us, Carin Mazaira! We’re excited to learn more about your role at Blowfish Malibu, what inspires you, and what future projects you are excited about.
I am the Project Manager for the marketing team. My job includes managing projects to ensure timing, execution, and quality is to brand standards. I am also the marketing point of contact for tradeshows and sales team requests.
I first became interested in marketing when I was in high school. My school offered Marketing electives and I became so fascinated in learning about the four Ps! I began going to stores and picking up random items to investigate the packaging, pricing, branding and overall feel of the product. I knew one day I would be behind the scenes working on product branding!
Before Blowfish Malibu, I worked at a creative studio called Powster, which made websites for movies! I was their Digital Producer and managed all the projects in relation to building sites for the studios.
I bought a pair of Blowfish Malibu sandals, Bungalow, 6 months before applying for the role. I wore those shoes every day and insisted I needed to work for the brand! Karen, the VP of Marketing, and I connected via LinkedIn and the rest is history!
The 4Earth campaign is something I am very excited to work on! The 4Earth collection consists of styles that are made from recycled materials so the message behind the campaign is very relevant and powerful. We have worked on various interesting components of the campaign, like in-store displays, influencer strategy and overall messaging of the campaign. Such a fun collection to be marketing!
Trying on the shoes, of course! I love seeing the release of our new collections and seeing how our designs take rising trends and including them in our styles. Our team is really great in spotting what will be hot the following season.
My favorite part of my job is seeing the projects in action. One simple task can make a huge difference to a campaign. It feels great seeing how our team’s energy and momentum brings an idea to life.
My favorite part about the city is how close I am to both the mountains and the ocean. As a snowboard and a surfer (well wanna-be surfer), I get the best of both worlds in LA.
My current obsession are my Raco boots! They are so cute and add a cool touch to any outfit.
I would advise the person to gain as much experience as possible, working from the bottom up in different capacity. As a Project Manager, I have to understand all projects inside and out while also understanding all roles that are needed to complete a project. My diverse background has helped me break down a project to develop something amazing!
My apartment! I just went through a phase where I redecorated and organized my entire apartment.
I’m originally from Miami. I think the most important thing I have learned from living in Miami is how to understand diversity and working with different backgrounds.
I have yet to explore South America and would love to take a month or so to travel around countries like Argentina, Brazil and Colombia!
Phil Knight, founder of Nike
After decorating my apartment!
No worries!
I have never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich! Probably because I am allergic to peanuts 😉
I learn the most from: People around me
I can’t live without: Music
You can find me shopping at: Old Navy
My astrological sign is: Capricorn
I’m scared of: Sharks!
The last book I read was: Shoe Dog
Most people would say I’m: Easy-going
I’m currently listening to: Whatever is on Discover Weekly
My style mantra is: Avoid pants whenever possible! I am a skirt/dress person.
I feel most comfortable in: A cute, long skirt
When I woke up today I felt: Tired, I flew home yesterday from Denver on a late night flight.
Most people don’t know: I take magic classes at the Magic Castle.
I feel the most free when: I am at the beach on a sunny day.
Thank you, Carin Mazaira! We’ll catch up with you soon.
Get to know Blowfish Malibu’s Vice President of Marketing, Karen Bueno.
Tell us about your role at Blowfish Malibu.
I’m VP of Marketing here at Blowfish Malibu. The role varies from day to day, but for the most part, I’m in charge of ensuring we execute all of the brand’s marketing campaigns and strategies. In short – I try to ensure we grow brand awareness.
When did you first become interested in marketing?
I’ve been interested in marketing from the moment I was a consumer and started shopping. I loved reading magazines and looking at ads, and always remembered memorable TV commercials. I’ve always been fascinated by how a story can be communicated in various ways and how much of that story we retain as customers!
What did you do previously before joining the Blowfish Malibu team?
I worked in footwear at a retailer called OFFICE in the UK. I worked with merchandising, inventory, and assisting the buying team at their corporate office.
How did you get started with Blowfish Malibu?
I have had some great mentors in my life, all of which have worked or work in the footwear industry. I had actually wanted to quit my prior job to travel but was convinced to stay in the footwear industry by my mentor to take on a new opportunity in America when Blowfish Malibu first started. I’m originally from London so after lots of deliberation I moved to America and here I still am!
What creative projects at the brand have you been working on that you’re excited about? Can you tell us about them?
There’s been so many! I’m pretty excited about some campaigns launching next year. I cannot go into too much detail, but stay tuned. 2020 is going to be fun!
What do you like most about working in the fashion industry?
I love that the fashion industry allows you to be expressive! Whether it’s your personal style, or collaborating on projects, it’s an industry that values point of view and personal expression. I hope that never changes.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Honestly, I love seeing the product on people’s feet when I’m out and about. Whether it be in LA, London, or in a random airport, I get so much joy out of seeing people wearing the product.
The Blowfish Malibu offices are in LA. What’s your favorite thing about the city?
The blue skies and weather. I was born and bred in London where it is rather dreary. The blue skies keep my spirits up and allows me to spend time outside!
Which is your favorite pair of Blowfish Malibu shoes?
This is so hard and I’m not just saying that! Personally, I love the Leeds sandal. I wore them ALL summer and they were so comfy. I had them in leopard and always got so many compliments on them also. Lucky for me they are coming back next year in more colors. 
What advice would you have for someone who’s trying to pursue the same career as you?
I’ve got two pieces of advice. One is – be the most prepared person in the room. I think it’s important to understand your field, but industry in general – knowledge is power.
Second piece of advice is to get comfortable being uncomfortable. The fashion marketing industry can be full of people with opinions the same as yours, or very different. This can call for some uncomfortable situations which we need to be aware happen. Taking these moments in stride can help a lot.
If you weren’t the VP of Marketing, what would you be?
This has changed a lot over the years. I’d love to work in a musical or for a theatre as I love musical theatre. I also did consider being a teacher once!
What was the last thing you were obsessed with?
Jane the Virgin. I’m weirdly obsessed with this show at the moment!
Where are you from and how has that shaped you?
I am from London and very proud of it. It is a culturally diverse and accessible city in so many ways. This diversity has really helped me understand people and where they come from. I have such an acceptance of everyone’s story, no matter where they are from or what they believe in. This definitely stemmed from my upbringing in a multicultural city.
What’s your dream travel destination?
I’d love to go to the Maldives or South Africa on safari!
If you could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
This could go so many ways. I’d love to have lunch with Beyonce or Elton John. And to pick their brain for work purposes, Steve Jobs.
When do you feel best about yourself?
When I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to in a day. However, I’m also good at knowing when to cut myself off from work or engagements so I can have some “me” time. I love me some “me” time!
What’s your personal motto?
“When life gives you lemons paint that s**t gold.”
It’s from a hip hop song by Atmosphere. It sticks with me because it’s just another way of saying roll with what life may throw at you, and make the best of what you’re given! We live in a world via marketing or social media where it’s easy to compare our lives via curated media. We all get dealt different hands in life and I think it’s how you move forward through tough situations that make us stronger.
What’s a fun fact about you most people don’t know?
I once danced in a performance for the Queen’s Jubilee celebration many years ago.
I learn the most from: experience.
I can’t live without: people I love and my dog!
You can find me shopping at: Zara, ASOS, & Other Stories.
My astrological sign is: Leo.
I’m not scared of: heights.
The last book I read was: The 5 Love Languages.
Most people would say I’m: small.
I’m currently listening to: The Someone Great Soundtrack.
My style mantra is: I wear what I feel comfortable in and what expresses myself!
I feel most comfortable in: sneakers, wide leg pants and a fitted tee.
When I woke up today I felt: a little tired to be honest!
Most people don’t know: I have an English accent. Ello!
I feel the most free when: When I don’t have to be somewhere at a certain time. I feel the most free when I can live in the moment!
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