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From our community:

Meet Madelyn Somers

Each week, we check in with a different member of Thingtesting's community to ask what brands they've spotted, what they're testing, and take a peek into their recent reviews.

This weeks feature is Madelyn Somers. Madelyn is the founder of Made Some Souvenirs, a company influenced by her love of traveling and affinity for 70's design. Read on to discover the brands she's spotted and everything else in her current rotation.

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COMMUNITY FEATURE
Hi Madelyn, please introduce yourself.

Hi, I'm Madelyn Somers. I am an LA-based Creative Director and I also founded Made Some Souvenirs, a wearable souvenir brand serving up tourist merch from all over the globe.

What are some brands you've recently spotted?

Fishwife. A true “hot girls love tin fish movement” - great smoked fish in the CUTEST packaging.

Alessi. Italian-made homeware items with a fun and playful twist.

Mush Studios. Playful rugs in fun colors and shapes.

What's a brand you've recently tested?
Do you have a favorite souvenir shop of all time or is there one in particular that inspired you to launch your brand?

Honestly, not really. I think just souvenir kiosks surrounding monuments have always been my favorite places to go and what really inspired me to start Made Some Souvenirs. I remember when I went to Athens in 2019 there was this souvenir stand at the bottom of the Acropolis and it had all this extra merchandise from the 2004 Summer Olympics - I just love moments of finding gems like that.

Do you have any dream collaborations for Made Some Souvenirs?

So many! I absolutely love Moncler and I think a collab Made Some puffer would be incredible, J. Press - Shaggy Dog sweaters are a classic and a staple in my wardrobe, Adidas because all their samba collabs have been so great, but if I was REALLY dreaming big it would be making Olympic games merch. So much about my brand is unifying the globe in a positive way and I’ve always loved the Olympic games for that reason.

What else is in your current rotation?

I love going to flea markets and estate sales - I’m super thorough so I could spend hours scanning every table to find the best souvenir. Trying new restaurants with friends and seeking out the old LA spots is also one of my favorite activities. My other favorite hobbies are ceramics, pilates, film photography and writing (that is a bit more of an untold hobby, but I do write a lot).

Who are some spotters in your community that you look to for new things?

For furniture and objects: @counter.space, @le_centerpiece, @shopgoodhouse, @casa__shop, @casa_veronica

For clothing and jewelry: @maryam_nassir_zadeh, @teget, @double3xposure, @marigiudicelli, @old_jewelry, @jen_wonders

AND so many more!

Spotted on my coffee table...