The Year of the Fire Horse

Written By Erica Austin

The Fire Horse, once every 60 years, symbolizes intense energy, passion, and creativity and Synaptex Studios started it out strong.

The Lunar New Year was February 17, 2026 when Todd and I attended the SOURCING by Informa conference in Las Vegas.  Per their website it’s “North America’s leading in-person fashion resource”.  Our goals were  to meet manufacturers to become partners in growing Synaptex, to gain better understanding of the fashion industry as a whole, and to gather new ideas.

Sourcing at Magic by Informa, globe sculpture, Fashion conference

To tell you first about the experience of the SOURCING conference:

it’s enormous!  It was a cavernous convention hall with Hundreds of manufacturers from around the world making everything from shoes to swimwear to evening gowns. Manufacturers from China were working away from home on their biggest holiday of the year.  There was lovely linen from India and soft pima cotton from Peru.  We spoke with so many people, learning the whole time.

Table at fashion conference, sourcing at Magic by Informa, with stuffed happy horse and Sad horse for Chinese new year

Despite being a bit overwhelming, we left feeling we had met our goals. Additionally, we left realizing more of our current gaps in our business planning and  product development management- “areas of opportunity” as they say in the business world.

The Fire Horse encourages forward movement - Here are exciting happenings and what’s in the works at Synaptex Studios:

  • We have gotten awesome brain socks on many feet with good feedback on our designs in our Secret Sock Sale.

  • Neckties and bowties arrived last week and are…Amazing.  They are just the thing for a celebration dinner at that posh new restaurant.  We are learning product photography skills to get these on the website. 

  • We did fit tests on initial samples for our first line including a neuron peony wrap dress that belongs at the speaker’s podium and a soft brainy casual button shirt for men, women, and kids for intergenerational cognitive pride. Working with manufacturers has been fascinating, with nearly countless details to consider. 

  • There are fabulous creations from our collaborating artist waiting to be made in to future items; your brain will increase blood flow and dispense serotonin when it see these gems.

Our hope is that our celebration of art, science, and fashion fuels passion and creativity in your life and we are so glad you are part of our community.  We are just at the beginning and learning our way, driven by the spark of joy that comes from helping folks show the world who they are in a beautiful, comfortable way. 

Thank you for joining us.

Erica Austin