Focused on Handmade, Female-Inspired Goods

Katy is the founder and owner of Mosaic Makers Collective. It opened in Dallas in 2018, with a second location added about 90 miles away in Waco in 2024.

The collective’s focus is handmade, female-inspired goods, and she explained why. “Supporting handmade goods is invaluable — it stimulates the local economy and directly supports our community. I chose to focus on women because they are often underrepre­sented in the artisan world,” Katy said. “For example, only about 2.3% of venture capital funding goes to women-led startups, and women-owned businesses often receive less financial support compared to their male counterparts.”

Katy’s background includes working in nonprofits and then in marketing and social media management with small businesses as a freelancer. That led her to start a stationery company, Fresh Out of Ink, in 2016.

She had a light bulb moment while running that company. Katy was meeting talented women at local markets and pop-up events and said she realized there was a need to form a supportive community around them and provide resources because the women were often “wearing all the hats” in their businesses.

“I knew I wanted to create a space for community, friendship, and support, but I wasn’t sure how to activate it until I saw a space for lease in the Bishop Arts District of Dallas, Texas,” she said. “That’s when the idea clicked — we could create a shop format that would serve as both a retail space and a community hub for female artisans.”

Katy said the Bishop Arts District is one of the most vibrant and historic neighborhoods in Dallas. “Known for its small-town charm, unique boutiques, and incredible dining, Bishop Arts attracts locals and tourists alike. It’s a hub for creativity and community, making it the perfect spot for Mosaic,” she said.

Regarding the collective’s name, Katy said it reflects the concept of a mosaic art piece — a beautiful creation made from different, colorful pieces and each with a unique shape and style. “We are a ‘mosaic’ of women and artisans, each contributing something special to the whole,” she said.

A Fast-Moving Decision

“The transition from idea to shop was incredibly quick — about six weeks. I reached out to the network of women I had connected with through markets and pop-ups, and within a couple of weeks, I had contracts signed with seven other women,” Katy said. “My husband and I financed the shop ourselves, and we worked together to build out the retail space. In just a few weeks, we were open for business in a small, under-300-square-foot space.”

By February 2020, they outgrew the cozy, 280-square-foot space, moved to a 2,000-square-foot location in the district that also has a 1,000-square-foot patio, and opened there March 1 with 50 makers. Two weeks later, they closed the storefront due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pivoted to an online platform, with great success.

She explained how the Waco location came about. They wanted to expand within two hours of Dallas/Fort Worth, so she could easily visit the location but still give the on-site team creative control.

Waco was perfect. “We see Waco as just the beginning and hope to expand ever further,” Katy said.

The space there includes 2,300 square feet of retail space and 500 square feet of storage in the Silos District near Magnolia Market. “This area is a beacon for makers, tourists, and locals, thanks to its focus on craftsmanship and the influence of Chip and Joanna Gaines,” Katy said. “The neighborhood’s energy aligns beautifully with our mission to support local artisans.”

Inside the Collectives

Accessories, apparel, bath and body products, gifts, home décor, jewelry, goods for children and babies, men’s products, paper goods, and pet items are sold there. Katy said the categories remain consistent across both locations, though the specific inventory may vary based on local preferences and artisan availability.

They chose the categories based on the makers they initially partnered with and expanded over time to include more products for men, children, and pets. She said the growth has been driven by customer feedback and artisan capabilities.

About 100 artisans are featured in Dallas and approximately 80 in Waco, with 40 to 50 of them represented in both locations. Katy said that since starting the collective, they have “refined our inventory strategy to include a wide variety of mediums, limiting the number of artisans in each category. We also ensure that each artisan’s voice is distinct, providing diverse styles even within the same category. When sections are full, we maintain a waitlist to ensure balance and fair representation.”

She said their business model is a blend of consignment, community engagement, and a coaching program designed to support artisans’ growth. Six-month consignment contracts are offered, with Katy noting that period was chosen to cover key retail periods like Mother’s Day and the holiday season while also providing enough time for meaningful product analysis. “A shorter term wouldn’t provide enough data to help artisans understand trends, while a yearlong contract could feel too lengthy for newer makers,” she said.

They carefully curate complementary goods from wholesale markets to enhance their artisans’ products. “For example, we might add a wick trimmer to accompany handmade candles. I also attend the Dallas Market to shop for these items and to exhibit our in-house wholesale line, Girl Riot Society,” she said.

The bestsellers include T-shirts, jewelry, and paper goods like cards and stickers. Anything Texas-themed flies off the shelves, as does their Girl Riot Society collection, she said.

Sharing Stories

What makes the business successful? “Our adaptability and the coaching program we offer artisans have been key to our success,” Katy said. “When our artisans thrive and grow their sales, it directly benefits the collective as a whole.”

It is the only collective of women, Texas-based artisans in their region. “All of our goods are designed by local women, making us truly unique,” she said.

When it comes to marketing, she said social media, particu­larly Instagram, has been a powerful tool for them. “Reels that tell the stories of our artists resonate deeply with our audience and drive engagement,” Katy said.

Community Connections

They stay active in their communities through events, workshops hosted by their artisans, and local engagement, like participating in neighborhood wine walks. “Our patios in Dallas and Waco frequently host weekend pop-ups featuring other artisans, musicians, and performers,” Katy said.

She said, “We believe in the future of women-designed, local retail. Our mission is to celebrate the full creativity of women and support their entrepreneurial dreams. Though business has its challenges, the difference we make in individual lives motivates us every day.”

Katy said there is so much to learn. “I’m currently developing a licensing program to help others launch their own collectives. This all-in-one tool kit will provide contracts, software, merchandising guidance, and more, making it easier for others to replicate our model and foster community-driven artisan shops,” she said.

When asked what she likes best about what she does, Katy said, “I love hearing the success stories of women in our collec­tive. Whether they’ve gotten out of debt, landed major national partnerships, quit their full-time jobs, or made their first sale, it’s incredible to see how Mosaic has helped transform their lives.”

Mosaic Makers Collective’s journey has been an adventure. And Katy is excited for what is next.