1st round of Spring 13 designs for Mata Traders!

​One of the main companies I freelance for is Mata Traders, a fair trade fashion company based in Chicago, IL. Everything is designed in Chicago and then produced and manufactured through women's cooperatives in India and Nepal. The garments are made using mostly traditional techniques through screen printing, block printing and hand weaving. I have designed a good chunk their textiles for their Spring 2013 collection.  This week is especially exciting because a handful of my designs are now available for retail purchase on their website!  These are only the dresses that have come in but there are shirts, skirts and more dresses coming soon!!!!

​Textile design by Shifra Whiteman. Dresses available through Mata Traders.

Closer Look: Michael Kerbow

This week I came across this San Francisco based artist Michael Kerbow, specifically his piece "Compulsive Actions", which became a magnet for me. I have been staring at it all week! This piece is a 16 ft wide oil painting and immediately reminded me of the mindset I was in while working on my thesis project, an installation piece focused on hand drawn patterns titled "Over and Over". In a blog post Kerbow wrote in January 2013, he mentions that piece was only supposed to be 8 ft wide and he just felt compelled to make it wider and wider, having it grow. After putting it up in a gallery he said it seemed small to him up on the wall and is considering painting it LARGER!!! I personally hope he does.  

"​Compulsive Actions" by Michael Kerbow

Design featured on "The Arty Semite"

A few months ago, I designed the book cover for the Yiddish Lige (League for Yiddish) magazine called Afn Shvel. The issue focused on new Yiddish literature and featured pieces from all across the world. The Arty Semite, a blog under the Jewish Daily Forward, featured the issue and included an image of the cover! 

Pinterest Surprise!

I don't know about y'all, but I have a slight obsession with Pinterest. I especially love when I come across my own designs on Pinterest, like this print I designed for Mata Traders, a fair trade fashion company based in Chicago, IL.  I found these images on 5PoundApparel's Pinterest board labeled "Vintage Inspired", which is dedicated to styling vintage with fair trade in mind.  They are a great company that believes that a business that gives back can change the world!

I love seeing my designs out in the world and on people! Get ready, because this is only the beginning. In the next few weeks a bunch of my designs for Mata Traders will be out and about!

​Textile design by Shifra Whiteman. Dress by Mata Traders. Photo by 5PoundApparel.

Closer Look: Kristina Lahde

I recently came across the artwork of Kristina Lahde, a Canadian artist. Her project "Beyond Measure"   was shown at a solo show, in Toronto. My reaction, could be summed up in one phrase - "For the love of tape measures!" The combination of working with this tool on a regular basis with my own work and my obsession with patterns (and optical illusion) had me needing to share this work with you all. 

Metric System (Blue, Green and White)​​

Metric System (Blue, Green and White)​