ABOUT THE DESIGNER
Michelle received her B.S. in Apparel Design and Merchandising Management with a minor in Business & Entrepreneurship from the competitive programs at Oregon State University. Later, she has continued her professional education by earning certificates in Creative Arts and Graphic Design from Colorado Mountain College. Additionally, she attended the prestigious PENSOLE Footwear Design Academy, where she worked with designers from some of the leading footwear design companies in the world.
While concurrently working in the fashion industry, Michelle earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Management & Executive Leadership with an emphasis in Business Sustainability from Penn State University, and is in the process of completing her M.A. in Sustainable Design from the Minneapolis College of Art & Design.
Michelle has a well-rounded background within the Fashion industry. She discovered her passion for design when she was young and began sewing, and soon learned to appreciate creating work with fine details. Michelle began her career working in apparel & footwear retail in sales, store management, and visual merchandising. She has also worked in costume design for costume designer Marti Calson. From there, she also worked as a graphics & print designer and product developer for retailer Fred Meyer, then went into fit, sizing & flat pattern design for the technical outerwear company, Sport Obermeyer. Currently, Michelle works as the Director of Technical Design for the sustainability-minded children’s knitwear company Misha & Puff in Boston, Massachusetts.
Michelle has also developed her own fashion line that has been presented in several runway shows across the country. Some of these collections have been invited to show internationally and have one awards for their originality. Michelle has also taken on several other professional projects that complement her industry work, such as creating jewelry and other art collections to raise money for charitable causes, which she continues to do so today.
OUR MISSION
Living and working up in the mountains of Aspen, Colorado, there is much to be inspired by. Stemming from her work in fashion, she then became interested in jewelry making and metal-working. Her jewelry pieces are made from materials found around the globe from her travels, as well as recycled and repurposed materials. Surrounded by nature and the Rocky Mountains, Michelle has found joy in creating, building, and working in many art forms such as needle arts, weaving, knitting, felting, ceramics, painting, printing-making, photography, and more. All these types of works can be purchased here on the online shop as unique one of a kind pieces.
When speaking about her working style and inspiration, Michelle says,
“When I work, I love to first start with something that is currently a challenge to me, whether it’s a new technique or a new concept that scares me a little. Pushing myself through the challenge, I learn more about myself and my abilities, but additionally more about what I am currently loving to work on and/or with. Each creative challenge I overcome, gives me expanded knowledge on technique, a broader perspective on problem solving, and a keener creative eye for overcoming the next challenge! I believe to push my fashion or art forward, I start with an inspiration of a more abstract reference point first, working with a question that I don’t know the answer to. By applying the idea to clothing or art, I am forced to come up with a result that can be more innovating, beautiful, or surprising”.
Through these efforts, Michelle has gained an appreciation for one of the biggest creative challenges yet- to make the fashion industry more sustainable. Michelle’s current goals are to create pieces that are sustainable, and to have sustainability become the rule, rather than the exception. Michelle spends her time creating some jewelry metalworks but mostly sustainable fashion designs. Working with limited resources up in the mountains, Michelle designs pieces using recycled fabrics, upcycled discarded garments, all-natural dyes and fibers, and unique repurposed materials in general. Taking the old and giving it a new and updated twist. Additionally, through her flat pattern experience working in Fit & Technical Design, Michelle also works using zero waste patterning techniques.
She states, “I dream to change the world for the better through art and design. Art makes the world a better place to be. This can be done by creating beautiful aesthetics, as well as through caring for our planet and philanthropic efforts.”
We have a passion for giving back! Every design sold, the profits go directly to charity. If there is a charity that you feel passionate about supporting, customers can specify a charity they would like to donate to in the "add note to seller" field, or simply send us a direct message. With every purchase, we will send a receipt showing where exactly your funds went to. Some causes we have donated to in the past include:
- Children's Hospitals
- Care for Foster Children
- Animal Preservation
- Guide Dogs for the Blind
- Preservation of American History
- Women's Health
- Assisted living
- Art Education
Find yourself something beautiful from the variety within our shop, while you yourself being beautiful—your purchase is contributing to the good of others!
RETURN POLICY
We hope that you love our products! Please keep in mind, that since we create for charitable causes, we cannot issue a full refund. Our designs are one of a kind pieces created for runway shows, and are only offered in sample sizes. Please read our product sizing info on each product page to learn more. If you have any questions at all regarding our products, please do not hesitate do write to us! Thank you for giving back to those in need.
CONTACT US
Have a questions, comments, or concerns? Any special requests? Feel free to contact us anytime. We are happy to help! Stay beautiful!