The West Lawn transformed into a celebration of creativity and connection on Thursday as four alumni-owned businesses returned to campus for the Mini Mane Market, part of the larger Mane Event.
From vintage fashion and handcrafted jewelry to traditional letterpress printing and historic photography, the market showcased four diverse paths that Flagler College graduates have forged since graduating. The event invited students to shop local, support fellow Saints, and engage with alumni who once stood in their shoes.
Ryan Tempro, a 2013 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design and Fine Art, founded M.C. Pressure in 2014 after recognizing that printmaking could elevate digital design, adding texture, dimension, and a handcrafted quality that screens alone cannot replicate.
What began as a small press set up on a table in his roommate’s kitchen has grown into a full letterpress and design studio specializing in traditional printing techniques, including letterpress, foil stamping, embossing, die-cutting, and flat printing.
Returning to campus for the Mini Mane Market, Tempro said it was rewarding to reconnect with students and share his passion for printmaking.
“It’s been fun to come back and see all the students. I hope I can inspire them by showing a little of what they can do once they graduate and get into their careers or creative fields,” Tempro said
Nearby, Matt Keene of St. Augustine Tintype demonstrated wet plate collodion, one of the earliest photographic processes and the most widely practiced form of photography from the 1850s to the 1880s.
A 2014 graduate with a degree in communication and a minor in English, Keene creates handmade portraits and nature photography by coating metal plates with a chemical solution, sensitizing them with silver nitrate, and exposing them in a large-format camera.
Keene, who is also an award-winning journalist and record-setting adventurer, has hiked more than 3,500 miles, kayaked over 2,000 miles in Florida, and bicycled more than 4,000 miles across the United States.
Jewelry designer Carinne Marrazzo, who graduated in 2006, returned to campus with Pinfeather Designs, her earthy and eclectic jewelry line featuring natural stones and vintage chains.
After beginning her career as a recreation therapy assistant in the mental health unit at Flagler Hospital, she launched her business in 2015. Her distinctive pieces, including carnelian horn earrings, geometric lapis necklaces, and bar necklaces set with garnet, peridot, pyrite, and black onyx, have helped define her brand.
Back on the West Lawn, surrounded by students and fellow alumni, Marrazzo said the afternoon felt both nostalgic and full circle.
"I was just texting my husband about how nice it is to be back here. I was walking around and taking photos, just taking it all in again because it's been a while.
I was able to start my business after going to Flagler. I started off in mental health for a while with my degree and then went into jewelry. It's been great being back here and with some other alumni, too!” Marrazzo said.
Graet Goods, a vintage clothing store in St. Augustine owned by Georgia Rae Taylor, also hosted a pop-up during the market. Taylor briefly attended Flagler College to study graphic design before completing her degree online at Full Sail University. The purposeful misspelling of “graet” is a nod to her name and her interpretation of “great” as something considerably above average, extra, and whimsical.
The store features carefully selected vintage pieces, items Taylor has personally designed and made, and creations from other artists she admires, all housed within a single creative space that reflects her vision.
Beyond shopping, students enjoyed Flagler-themed temporary tattoos designed by alum Sierra Marie of Ink & Barley.
Together, the Mini Mane Market reflected Flagler College’s ongoing commitment to championing alumni entrepreneurs while creating distinctive, hands-on experiences for current students, reinforcing a community where past and present Saints connect in meaningful and creative ways.
