There’s busy — and then there’s Josh Madans busy. In January, after more than a decade with Todd Events, Madans stepped down to go solo. He was integral to the company's evolution from small startup to nationally recognized event planning and design firm, solidifying his place as a local PR darling during his tenure there.
But, in his words, “it was just time to move on.”
And so he has. Unable to find a “normal 9-to-5” that suited his diverse background (marketing, public relations, business development, branding, etc.), Madans “took the leap” and launched three — yes, three — new companies.
“Because why not?” he says. “There are 24 hours in a day.”
Madans Mgmt., a boutique PR-marketing-branding firm, scratches Madans’ itch for storytelling, for which he credits his success in the field. Meanwhile, Halo Homme and Billy Baker Co. fulfill his longtime dream to break into fashion.
A self-proclaimed “menswear geek,” he introduced Halo Homme by Josh Madans this summer. The gentleman’s counterpart to Halo Home by Kimberly Schlegel Whitman (a collection of monogrammed home linens and china), the brand boasts personality-filled pocket squares for the modern man.
“To me, pocket squares are the new tie,” Madans says.
To fit the slimmer cut of modern suits and sport coats, Halo Homme pocket squares are smaller than those typically seen in the market.
“If you ever try to put a traditional pocket square in your pocket, it’s impossible. They’re huge,” Madans says. “I’m trying to correct the stuff that drives me crazy in my day-to-day life. I’m obsessed with the way things are made.”
Designs are whimsical and irreverent — think acronyms (WTF, SUP) and emojis (winking, wearing sunglasses) — and quality is impeccable. Edges are hand-rolled, and the collection is made from 100 percent fine linen. Pocket squares start at $50 and are available online and at St. Michael's Woman’s Exchange in Highland Park Village.
Then, for the man truly looking to up his accessory game, there’s Billy Baker Co., offering “handmade accessories for the man to whom details matter.”
Named for Madans’ son, the line features handmade bracelets and necklaces made with beads sourced from across the globe. Everything is hand-strung here in Dallas.
“I’ve been buying bracelets forever,” Madans says. But he was underwhelmed by the options in the market. Much of what he saw was either too gaudy, too expensive, or too difficult to put on.
Billy Baker Co. bracelets, priced from $30, are designed to comfortably slide on and off, and they are meant to be mixed, matched, and layered. Each bracelet is available in four different sizes and custom-made to order.
“It’s been fun,” Madans says. “It’s a chance to express myself creatively and provide a cool product that’s not out there.”
Josh Madans stepped down from Todd Events to launch not one, not two, but three new companies.
