I met India Mona’ while wandering through the POP UP! shops in downtown Shreveport. I had just finished an amazing cinnamon roll from Baked, and had decided to peruse through some of the other booths. India’s fedora POP UP!, Red I Custom, was a standout with fedoras in colors ranging from linen to neon. What set her fedoras apart from hats on the mass market is, she and her co-designer, Ke’shea Jena help people customize them with any accessory they may choose. “‘Created by you; designed by us’ is our business motto,” says Mona’. I was impressed by the lengthy accessory list that included options such as leather, men’s ties, Saints and LSU ribbon, and more. Between you and me, I kind of wanted to buy the cute wide-brimmed hat India was wearing that day.

Have you ever played “Truth-Truth-Lie?” It goes like this: I am going to tell you two truths about Mona’ and one lie. You win if you can spot the lie.

1.     India spent close to three years playing professional basketball in Germany.
2.     She won two weeks of free rent for her business, and she hopes she will win even more.
3.     Most of India’s fedoras can be worn by men, women, and children – even toddlers.

Did you spot the lie? The truth is I am a terrible liar. These are all truths. India was in fact a professional basketball player. “I was recruited by Slimmer’s Agency to play basketball in Germany,” she said. If you stop by her POP UP! shop, ask her about it. It is a rather interesting story.

In terms of the second truth, according to Mona’, “Red I Custom beat out around 60 other vendors” for the chance to receive free rent for two weeks at the current POP UP! at 616 Texas Street. She plans to apply for additional upcoming Pop UP! shop opportunities, which grant business owners free commercial rental space for a temporary time period.

When asked what the biggest benefit was to being chosen to do a POP UP!, Mona’ said, “Definitely exposure. You meet such a diverse crowd.” She added, “There has been a lot of traffic.”

Back to the “Truth-Truth-Lie” game. I think most of us familiar with fedora fashion knew number three was a total truth. India describes fedoras as “androgynous in style,” and she says she loves to make them for toddlers, adding, “Many of my clients buy for their children.” Who isn’t a total sucker for a toddler in a cute hat?

Red I Custom has more information about their hats on their Facebook page. For more information about the POP UP! Project, visit POP UP! Shop Central on Facebook, or call the Downtown Development Authority at (318) 222-7403.

Upcoming POP UP!S:

• POP UP! 3 will be held November 3 – 8 in Shreveport Common and will coincide with the Texas Avenue Makers Fair.

•  POP UP! 4 will be a Holiday Market in the Red River District, open from November 17 – December 31.

-Crissy Malone