Cincinnati-based artist and designer Shailah Maynard doesn’t want you to take life too seriously. Her brand, Working Girls, which started as an artistic experiment of sorts might inspire you to do just that. Selling ironic merch – anything from sheer organza “thank you” bags to a resin toilet seats with flowers – Working Girls is more of a concept than an actual store.
“I’m not that serious of a person, and neither is Working Girls,” said Maynard in an interview with the Urban Outfitters blog. “I hope that people who follow along and buy our products find some entertainment with our merch. I don’t take myself too seriously and am proud that that is translated through Working Girls.”
Inspired by the ’80s and ’90s, her products are also chock-full of nostalgia. In other words: Working Girls is where the cool cats hang. “Working Girls is mainly inspired by music/movies from the 80s and 90s with female leads i.e. Working Girl, Sister Act, Basic Instinct,” says Maynard. “The entire reason I started the brand is because of the pool scene in Earth Girls Are Easy when Geena Davis jumps into the pool onto a float shaped like a hand. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend. It is such a good movie filled with TONS of inspiration.”
In fact, Working Girls started as a line of pool floats in the shape of body parts. But since its early days of 2015, a lot has changed. “My focus now is mainly design and installation, but I love teaching myself new skills, so who knows what the next thing will be,” says Maynard.
