Today I decided to highlight a few excerpts from passed interviews about inspiration. I encourage you to leave a comment and share where your inspiration comes from. Even if you are not an independent designer, you must still have inspirations in your life. To read the rest of a particular interview, click on the link.
Who or what inspires your designs?
“Odd objects found on my everyday adventures. Music and movies often
inspire my mood which inspires my designs as well.” Tara, Leviticus Jewelery
“I am inspired by new materials, manufacturing processes, fine art, historical textile patterns, kaleidoscopes, my computer aided pattern program, fashion magazines, and my Pantone books.” Jules, Yosifa Penina.
“Simplicity, lightness.” Julie, Lake
“Natural history is a big influence for me. i think it is of strong interest to me because it conveys life cycles, destruction, and the rehabilitation of existence. i also derive a lot of influence/inspiration from mediums of art outside of fashion, painting being the favored. i love collaborating with other artists, especially painters. the texture of paint on cloth is exquisite.” Kaytee, Papusza Couture
“GREG LYNN’S ARCHITECTURAL THEORIES… THE IDEA THAT THE BODY AND THE BUILDING (OR IN MY CASE CLOTHING) INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND SHOULD REFLECT EACH OTHER. ALSO INTERSECTING GEOMETRIC SHAPES.” Lara, Lara Miller
“People. i’m insatiably curious and nearly everything interests me. people’s behavior and motivation can occupy my imagination for a long time. i could study, pick apart, put myself in the shoes of, pretend to be and otherwise obsess about people forever.” Laura, Laura Dawson
“It can be anything. Recently it’s been a lot of architecture and interior design. So far, my collections have tended to reflect my surroundings and the environment around me. It could be from the view out the window or a piece of furniture in one of my rooms. I recently moved and I am very aware of the fact that some of the interior elements in my new apartment are in my collection. Things that are handmade, like the cotton waxprint fabric from Ivory Coast that’s in the upcoming spring line, are also very inspiring to me.” Jeanne, The 615 Project
“Many things. Sometimes a word, seaweed for sure, textiles, flowers, texture everywhere – man-made or in nature, movement, travel, food.” Mo, Catabella
“I am inspired by so, so many things…but in short, at the moment: Vintage Floral, Swedish, Japanese Prints. My latest clothing is sort of a blend of the Ladies of the Canyon – kind of 1970s California/Folky with an Annie Hall – kind of Understated Sexy/Tomboy idea … It’ll be on Smashing Darling shortly. As a standard, I am drawn to clean Italian designs, Indian and Moroccan Prints and Hues and of course, I love beautiful, soft, amazingly comfortable cottons.” Laura, Whosiepie
“My daughter inspires me a great deal. But, fabric, I think is the biggest inspiration. I love color! Coming across a new shade of velvet or accidentally putting 2 fabrics next to each other that were not intended to go together and having them work is very inspiring. Sometimes I can just play with fabrics for hours. I can create an idea just on having two textures come together unexpectedly. The surprises that happen along the way are really the best inspiration.” Lisa, Georgia Eve
“Lately I have been drawn to oriental rugs of all things. I love the colors. Rich and really warm. Sometimes it’s the outdoors. My flower gardens are a great inspiration in the fall when they go to seed. I find great shapes there. I Studied art history in college and still find myself looking in books at tapestries and such. And other times it’s just looking at color and remembering something from another time.” Sarah, Thistle Downs Wool Design
“NYC itself is very inspiring. Yeah, it can be loud, overcrowded, and dirty, but it is also has an energy like no other place. I also love the cultural diversity–something lacking where I was raised. People here know their style, and they aren’t afraid of it. I love that.” Rachel, Rachel Park
“I’m really inspired most by nature. The shapes and designs and patterns. I’m also fascinated at how nature eats away at man-made objects, the results of decay. But design-wise I get a lot of ideas from the mid-century: clean lines, very slight curves, simple shapes.” Stuart, Go Robot
