JOSEPHINE LIN
CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF
Following her passion to create things, junior Kehvee Teshima started Shibui Strands, her very own Instagram boutique, as a means to sell her scrunchie creations. But before Shibui Strands, Teshima began with only a roll of duct tape. “I started with duct tape wallets a while ago then I moved on to bracelets and then I decided that I wanted to make scrunchies. I’ve always liked making things so when I have an idea for something I just work on it.”
At first, Teshima only made scrunchies to practice her craft and show others what she was creating. But through word of mouth, Teshima realized that she could make some profit off of her projects. “After people started asking if i was selling, I started to sell.” A few Youtube videos later, Teshima was able to begin selling scrunchies made out of velvet and cotton and in all different patterns and colors. She also makes mini scrunchies and bunny- eared ones as well.
In the future, Teshima hopes to get her handmade scrunchies into a local store and continue to create and sell them throughout college.
“As of right now I don't have plans on becoming a business owner so I’d probably just keep it [as a business] on the side and go to college, maybe even use the money for college.”
The History of the Scrunchie
In 1986, nightclub singer and pianist Rommy Revson wanted to explore options for a softer alternative to the harsh plastic and metal hair ties that were commonly used by all women. After some time, Revson thought of making something similar to the waistband of her pajama pants and began creating the first prototype of her new creation using cloth and a piece of elastic. The first design she created was in a black and gold fashion and can still be found in the Smithsonian Museum today, along with the sewing machine she used to make it.
After a few tries, Revson decided that her new hair tie was patent ready however, it lacked a catchy name. As she pondered a name for the product, her dog was insistent on interrupting her train of thought so often, that she decided to name her hair tie after her pup, “Scunchie”.
Once Revson patented the “Scunchie”, she sold it to Scunci International, a hair accessory company that renamed it Scünci and later, added the “r” to create the iconic “Scrunchie” that is still popular to this day.