Forbes 30 under 30 list features RISD, Brown alums

THE GREYCORK TEAM, from left to right, Alec Babala, Jonah Willcox-Healey, Myung Chul (Bruce) Kim and John Humphrey. The easy-to-assemble furniture business has closed after four years in business. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN
THE GREYCORK TEAM, from left to right, Alec Babala, Jonah Willcox-Healey, Myung Chul (Bruce) Kim and John Humphrey. The easy-to-assemble furniture business has closed after four years in business. / PBN FILE PHOTO/FRANK MULLIN

(Updated 3:09 p.m.)
PROVIDENCE – Eleven entrepreneurs with Rhode Island connections have made it onto Forbes’ annual “30 under 30” list released Monday.

They include graduates of Rhode Island School of Design and Brown University, and their products range from easy-to-assemble furniture to special athletic wear for women, as well as fashion photography.

Alec Babala, 24; John Humphrey, 27; Myung Chul “Bruce” Kim, 25; and Jonah Willcox-Healey, 24, were recognized in the art & style category for their company Greycork, which they call a “better alternative to IKEA.” They sell their furniture online, and say it can be assembled in minutes. All graduated from RISD with the exception of Humphrey.

In the retail and e-commerce category, Julie Sygiel, 28, a Brown University graduate, was recognized for “Dear Kate,” a company that makes leak- and stain-resistant underwear and yoga pants “to free women from the tyranny of garments ruined by their periods.”

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“She names collections after pioneering women like first programmer Ada Lovelace,” Forbes wrote on its website.

Also recognized in the art & style category was Sophie Elgort, 29, who, after college at Brown University where she was pre-med and studied comparative literature, realized her true love was photography, Forbes wrote.

“Her work has appeared in Glamour, The Financial Times and Elle, and she’s shot for Mercedes Benz, Clinique and Top Shop, among others,” Forbes wrote about the daughter of fashion photographer Arthur Elgort.

Other art & style category honorees were Mike Eckhaus, and Zoe Latta, both 28, who founded the fashion label Eckhaus Latta in 2012. RISD said they graduated in 2010.

“Their work has been dubbed youthful, edgy and sexy. Zoe also founded textile design company Prince Ruth, whose clients have included Mark Jacobs, Vera Wang and Calvin Klein,” Forbes wrote.

And, Meg Callahan, 27, a 2011 RISD graduate and quilt designer, was recognized for M. Callahan Studio; her quilts, inspired by the American West, can serve as hangings or bedding.

In addition, Joseph Guerra and Sina Sohrab, both 25 and members of RISD’s Class of 2012, were recognized for Visibility, a New York-based industrial design studio.
“The company specializes in simple, functional products improved with small, but important modifications, like an aluminum coat hanger partially encased in cedar,” Forbes wrote.

This year’s “30 under 30” class numbered 600, and shared space with the likes of stars such as fashion designer Lauren Conrad, 29; plus-sized model Ashley Graham, 28; and NBA star Stephen Curry, 27. This is the fifth year Forbes has created the list, which will be printed in the Jan. 16 issue. The list includes 20 categories with honorees who were all vetted by a panel of judges, Forbes said.

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