ANNOUNCING THE WOMAN OF THE MONTH
Fort Worth women are making headlines daily as business owners, entrepreneurs, top management officers, and political leaders. So, here at Fort Worth Woman, we are selecting one of our city’s shining stars each month. These are the movers and shakers you need to know, and we are proud to honor their accomplishments as our WOMEN OF THE MONTH.
Mary Kay Bishop
Co-Owner of Island Baby LLC
Meet March’s Woman of the Month! Mary Kay Bishop was born and raised in Galveston, Texas. Having immigrated from Greece just a few years before she was born, her mother worked as a trained seamstress and her father was an experienced electrician. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in Accounting, Mary Kay moved her way north to Dallas where she met her husband at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.
“On the day we married, I received a signing bonus of three adorable children (then ages 8-10) giving me an instant family,” she says. Five years later the couple added their own baby to the mix and their family was whole. As we all know, motherhood comes with a ton of work and typically, lots of unexpected volunteer hours. “When being a church, community, and school volunteer became too much and not enough at the same time, I went back to school.” After taking prerequisite hours at Texas Woman’s University, Mary Kay later attended UT Southwestern School of Health Professions and became a Physician Assistant.
After graduation, Mary Kay began helping and healing patients alongside a GI doctor in Denton, Texas before finally moving to Fort Worth. Between joining Shady Oaks Country Club, having all the children grown and out of the house, and entering a new season of life with their parents having passed on, the time was right to move to Funkytown. “We love the funky vibe, the relaxed pace and the variety of activities that Fort Worth offers,” Mary Kay says.
After building their Fort Worth dream home near the club, Mary Kay began sewing again. Given that her mother, grandmother, and grandfather were all skilled in the trade, she grew her passion for fashion by sewing children’s clothing. She soon began adorning her niece in her cute creations and alongside the encouragement of her sister-in-law Joanna, the idea of creating Island Baby clothing came to fruition.
Island Baby is stylish, but comfortable clothing for children, sewn with social responsibility. “We believe kids should feel comfortable in anything they wear-but why should fashion be sacrificed?” Most recently, to keep up with online demand for these quality clothing pieces, Mary Kay and Joanna have found help with the sewing to ensure the sustainability of their product. Each item (mostly sold online unless you are visiting Galveston), from cozy dresses to matching brother/sister sets, is made with both play and quality in mind. The lines, fabric, and comfortability allow kids to be themselves while still sporting a look that screams the epitome of a classic childhood.
Because she grew up in a laid back, stress-free, ‘let’s go to the beach’ environment, Mary Kay loves the fact that Fort Worth has a similar vibe. “Although Fort Worth doesn’t have a beach, the environment and people are alike. Fort Worth provides a peaceful way of life while allowing you to enjoy the amenities of an urban area. The citizens are easy going yet still have a driven, can-do outlook to life. In starting a business, I think it is imperative to surround yourself with people who know how to succeed and Fort Worth provided that to me.”
When describing her impact on our city, Mary Kay used the word effective. What she creates has a meaning that can last generations, and she knows it. “By manufacturing wearable, comfortable and stylish clothing for children we are able to provide mothers with durable clothing that can become family keepsakes and that kids will enjoy wearing,” she says.
Summer is quickly approaching and Island Baby has the perfect sets for your upcoming family vacation. To view Mary Kay and Joanna’s creations, click here or send an email to islandbabyclothing@gmail.com!
Want to discover past features?
Michelle, aka @fortworthwoman, is a teacher turned counselor turned mommy turned entrepreneur.
Michelle has a passion for connecting, encouraging and informing about the good happening in our city. The good people, events, food, stores, entrepreneurs, and good deeds are her focus. She has created a niche for herself by using social media as a native marketing tool that has created meaningful exposure for local businesses in Fort Worth to a wide but very particular local audience.
Lauren Losack
Lauren is a Strategic Communication Major at TCU with a minor in being a “busy bee”. As an intern for the Fort Worth Woman, Lauren enjoys meeting new people and trying all the food this city has to offer!