Lyndsey Butler

The founder of VEDA on running a small business, smoking CBD, and making tees for social good.

AS TOLD TO GOSSAMER

I grew up in Texas—San Antonio. I moved to New York for college, so I’ve been here for a while now. I feel like I've been saying the same number for a long time—15 years or something like that? I studied philosophy and religion. Not exactly a natural segue to being a clothing designer. I thought I wanted to go to law school but I graduated a semester early and got an internship at Yaya, a fashion line by Yael Aflalo, who also founded Reformation. She and I became good friends, and she was actually my partner on VEDA when I first started.

My internship really took me off course. I thought I was going to be done with it and go to law school, but Yael was like, “Nope, you’re moving to L.A.” She really gave me a great opportunity, so I moved out there for a couple years. Toward the end of my time there is when I started VEDA. My parents had a small business so I think part of it came naturally to me. Also being young and arrogant.

Growing up in San Antonio was great. It’s kind of quiet and sleepy in a lot of ways. Really family-oriented. I think I was always really conscious of the small business thing. I loved that my parents had the flexibility to come to my soccer games, but I also saw them work really hard. The business was kind of like another member of the family.

 

People seem to be genuinely excited to use their money to support a cause.

 

 
 

Lately I've been smoking CBD. Does it work? I don't know. I just like it.