Foreign Fare - Founder Thy Mitchell
Thy Mitchell is the founder of Foreign Fare, a travel-inspired brand aimed at encouraging others to experience the romance of travel and the spirit of adventure. Together with her husband, Matt, Thy draws inspiration from exploring the world and then brings those ideas to life in their travel-related businesses. From bringing the tastes of the world to diners in Houston to helping others travel in style and comfort as they adventure, Mitchell shares what ignites her spirit at home and while traveling.
Q: What was the first trip you took that left you feeling inspired?
A: The first trip that really captured my imagination was a trip to Morocco which also happened to be one of the first trips that I took with my husband, Matt. We visited Marrakech, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate, and the combination of being in such a truly exotic place while in a new relationship truly had my head spinning.
Q: How did you get the idea for Traveler’s Table?
A: Travel has always been at the heart of Matt and my relationship. We had both traveled prior to meeting and then together as a couple, and we were always left with a sense of wanderlust after every trip. We were inspired to bring one of our favorite parts of traveling, the cuisine, to our hometown of Houston because we felt there was amazing food, but not many places where people could try flavors from all over the world in one place.
Q: What is one dish that instantly transports you to that destination?
A: Lamb Kebabs (which we have on the menu at Traveler’s Cart, our modern, global street food restaurant.)
Q: Where was the idea for Foreign Fare born?
A: While our restaurant developed a following, attracted notable Food Network shows and allowed us to bring the world to us, we wanted to expand the ways in which we help others see the world. This led to creating Foreign Fare, an apparel brand inspired in every way by travel. Foreign Fare feels like the natural culmination of my professional background, personal achievements and passion for seeing the world.
Q: How did your own travels inspire the collection?
A: As I became a more savvy traveler, I began looking for articles of clothing that were versatile and served a purpose. For example, if I had a meeting shortly after I landed in a new city, I was looking for something comfortable yet polished that I could wear and show up in. (I’ve had travel nightmares where my luggage would get lost, and I had to show up to a meeting in a new city with my plane outfit that didn’t do my professional appearance any justice!) Necessity is truly the mother of invention. Also, I wanted to make pieces that looked cute and functional for leisure travel, such as a dress that I could wear touring the city in sneakers and then pair with heels for a dressier dinner - and bonus points if there were pockets! There were some items, but function definitely superseded fashion. I was inspired by the idea that you shouldn’t have to give up luxury and flair for comfort and convenience.
Q: Food and clothing are very different. How do you manage to keep your businesses in both industries successful?
A: While the industries are very different, owning any sort of business comes with similar challenges. For any business, identifying your customer and appealing to their needs is what will ultimately lead to success. For my businesses, bringing those with a desire to experience the world just a little bit closer, while in very different ways, has led to our success.
Q: What’s next for you and Foreign Fare?
A: We have a new line debuting early next year! One thing I always keep in mind is comfortable materials that can still look polished and fashionable. I don’t want to give it all away just yet, but I’m very excited for one piece in particular, a new vest whose design I’m in the process of finalizing. You can wear it cropped or long over a turtleneck for example, and it’s easy to layer on top to dress up or warm up an outfit.
