When Texans think of homecoming mums, two images come to our minds: the style of mums popular during our high school years, and the gigantic mums we see today in social media. If asked why this upsizing phenomenon is happening only in the Lone Star State, we shrug and say, “Everything’s bigger in Texas.”
The forces driving the evolution of homecoming mums are complicated and intertwined with the history of the state itself. The most important influencers by far are Texas women. Women are taste-makers and tradition-keepers, proud parents and serious entrepreneurs, and by focusing their superpowers through the lens of school spirit, they have created a niche industry that well exceeds $200 million annually. When it comes to homecoming mums, you might say that “Everything’s bigger in Texas” is both a statement of fact and a call to action.
Presented by: Amy J. Schultz is the owner of Unplain Jane Studio, which blends her enthusiasm for photography, writing, people, and, as she puts it, “stories that hide in plain sight.” Amy’s book, MUMENTOUS, began as a photography study. Then in 2019, she turned it into a multi-media art exhibit during her time as the artist-in-residence at the Arlington Museum of Art. She continued to research and refine the story until MUMENTOUS became a book, published in 2023 by Atmosphere Press. In Fall 2023, her book was adapted into a traveling cultural heritage exhibit by the Texas Historical Commission. In her free time, Amy is attempting to start her second book, and enjoys spending time spoiling her golden retriever Bentley and her husband Brian, in that order. Websites: unplainjanestudio.com