There's good news and bad news.

The good news is, I'm doing well. Summer is coming to an end and I'm preparing to head into my final year of undergrad. I feel hopeful and creative.

This summer has been eye-opening, and I've come away with a clearer vision of what this project means to me and what it can become. Commodore Scott started with a violent spark of inspiration, and it's maturing into something with structure and purpose.

The entrepreneurs I've met over the past 3 months have ranged from brand owners to political technologists to worldwide Avocado distributors, and each has moved the needle on my thinking about business ownership. One common theme – when you find your calling, don't look back.

Things are falling into place, and I'm grateful for my slow and steady approach to this business. Although it's been frustrating to learn so much but have so few external results to point to –– like revenue, followers, or orders –– I've armed myself with skills in design, product development and mental fortitude that will be valuable for decades.

Most importantly, I've learned patience. And that's handy because the bad news is, the first sample for the Matisse sweater is pretty terrible.

If you've been following me on Instagram, you might know that I've been vetting factories all summer. The one I enlisted to produce this sample set me back two weeks after sending photos that looked nothing like my design.

After some revisions, they sent a revised sample, and I thought it might be better, but I still dislike it. The feel is wrong, the fit needs adjustment, and the colors are too harsh – it lacks the subtlety I was aiming for.

I won't be releasing this until it's perfect, which will take some time. My very first company value was simplistic design, and I may have betrayed that commitment by pursuing a busier print for my first piece.

As I've said before, there are more than 4000 ways to make a sweater before you choose the design, and this is a reminder to build a strong foundation of materials, fit, and feel before taking risks with complex visuals.

So for now, it's goodbye to the Matisse, and hello to something much simpler. I apologize if you were looking forward to that design. If you're interested in seeing this sweater return later on, please reach out, and perhaps I'll bring it back – totally refreshed – for a future drop.

Luckily, I had a feeling this might happen, so two weeks ago, I started developing two other designs that are much simpler, much more accessible, and I think even more beautiful. Here's a sneak peak:

Finn