Piecing together the Leaf Puzzle Print

The Leaf Puzzle print was one of the first prints I designed for Mata Traders as an intern in the fall of 2011. I had hopes that it would make the cut for the Fall '12 collection (like so many prints), but it had to wait until Spring '13 to make it's debut. 

The story behind this print is interesting because it deals with restrictions. Mata Traders works with a few fair-trade cooperatives in India and Nepal and each one has their own restrictions on what they can produce. A designer might get frustrated by not having the freedom to create anything their heart desires. However, I love a challenge and believe that by learning how to work with these restrictions and guide lines, my designs get stronger each season. 

This particular print was manufactured in a cooperative where I, as a designer, was only allowed to use two colors in addition to the white of the fabric. In the past, the designs Mata Traders had created for this cooperative, were small amounts of two colors and a whole lot of white as background. While that looks nice with one or two pieces of clothing, having too many garments with that color formula gets mundane. Also, I don't even have THAT many clothes with a white background in my wardrobe. I decided that I would challenge myself to design a print that is dense and minimizes the amount of white you see. My goal was from a distance, the eye would blur the shapes and colors together so that the overall print wouldn't seem to have any white at all.

Jin Ju Ruffle Dress pink/blue and Pagoda Pocket Dress yellow. Textile design by Shifra Whiteman. 

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! After playing with a few shapes, scale and the spacing, I believe my goal was accomplished. I focused on leaf and geometric shapes that together looks reminiscent of fabric from the 40's and 50's. 

This print was manufactured on two different dresses in two different color ways. The Jin Ju Ruffle Dress on the left and the Pagoda Pocket Dress on the right are now on sale through Mata Traders. 

Tools of the Trade

I have really enjoyed going telling the stories and processes behind each print in the Mata Traders Fall '13 collection and decided I should go back and do the same for prints created for Spring '13. The great part is that these next few prints I will write about are now on sale, and let's be honest, who doesn't love a good sale?  

Tools of the Trade print - Textile design by Shifra Whiteman. Dress by Mata Traders.

This print is called Tools of the Trade and I believe it is one of the funkier prints Mata Traders has created (so far). I introduced the design team to the beautiful artwork by Dan Funderburgh, a brooklyn-based artist. Funderburgh's art focuses on organizing illustrations or silhouettes of everyday objects in a way that references traditional ethnic designs. These two pieces are my favorite of his. Take a good look at the image of the hand on the right; It's made up of interesting shapes such as hangers, spray bottles and shoes, just to name a few. 

Left - Chinatown Flat Ball. Right - La Mano de Dios. Byan Funderburgh. 

The design team was just as inspired as I was and we went to work creating our own version. Nora Slavin Howe (the super talented mother of the creative director) sketched a single image combining retro geometric shapes and sewing supplies. Can you spot the scissors, bobbin, spool of thread, pencil, needle & ruler in the first image? Even the Mata Traders logo got hidden in there!  Once I got her original drawing in my hands, I began reworking it (just like I did for the falling floral). I started to flip it, turn it and pieced it together until finally it all fit, looked balanced and felt just right. 

Tools of the Trade print. Dahee Dress on the left and Shanghai Shift Gray on the right.

This print comes in two different dresses as well as two color combos. On the left is the Dahee Dress and on the right is the Shanghai Shift Dress in Gray . Both are on sale now! Plus, check out how Laura, Mata Traders' fashion blogger, styles the Shanghai Shift dress with current fashion trends! 

Closer Look: Cross-Stitching with Haley Reimer

Fellow readers! I have such a treat for you today... A guest blog post by Haley Reimer, a wonderful friend and craft exchange buddy. I hope you enjoy her insightful story, her facetious gifts and love of cats (especially her own feline, Mishka).

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During the fall of 2010, I was going through a tough breakup, on top of mourning the inevitable end of college and having to make decisions about next steps and life plans. To sum it up, I was a wreck. In an effort to help me tackle problems that seemed too big to deal with, my roommate Kate demanded that I adopt a handicraft. While it seemed inconsequential at the time, I have her to credit for my awesome hobby and, most likely, my sanity. 

Haley cross stitching away! 

Kate tapped into a suggestion that fit right into what I needed at the time, and I picked up cross stitching. The anal-retentive attention to detail directly contradicted the way I was managing all the other decisions in my life, and there was a calming sense of accomplishment when the pattern turned out with all the little x's right in a row, planned and perfect. Sitting on the porch through that fall and spring, with Kate working on her knitting and me on my cross stitch, allowed us to talk through what we wanted out of life, what we hoped for, and what we were planning while keeping our hands occupied. 

Now, I'm a (nearly) 25 year old living in Lincoln, Nebraska (soon to be the great Windy City!) with a cat and a penchant for hipster-stitching. The jokes roll in all too easily about being an old lady before my time, but the key is to use some of the great artists and designers on Etsy to give this old handicraft a face-lift. 

1.Fawn & Squirrel 2.Galaborn Patterns - geometric patterns 3.Mid-Century Maude 4.Bombastitch - Sugar Skulls 5.Grannies Panties - subversive stitching 6.Satsuma Street - incredible little cityscapes of iconic cities 7.Danceneedle 8.Gecko Rogue - for the super ambitious

Many of the patterns I've finished over the years have come from these talented artists and, their patterns are now displayed all over the country as I've given finished pieces for weddings, birthdays, new babies and just becauses! I've stitched myself through stressful decisions, cozy fall evenings with a glass of wine and lots of laughs while I've taught friends how to cross stitch themselves. If Jeff can learn, truly anyone can (just check out that excellent cross stitching form!)

A few of Haley's pieces she has completed.... Also, check out her handsome cat Mishka! (Clearly a cross stitch fan)

Even if you're someone like me who felt that "art" wasn't in your wheelhouse, the incredible value spending energy on creating something fun, colorful and tangible can't be overlooked. Just keep looking for that "handicraft" and maybe you'll stumble onto something that keeps you sane in a hectic world. 

Haley Reimer is a University of Michigan graduate working for Kenexa, IBM in Lincoln, NE (but will be moving to Chicago, IL in the not too distant future!) She enjoys planning parties with heavy emphasis on adorable paper goods, speaking Spanish, playing Boggle, napping in a sunny spot with her cat Mishka and of course, her favorite hobby, cross stitching. Feel free to follow her cross-stitch board on Pinterest!

Frocktober Fest

These last 2 years as a freelance textile designer for Mata Traders has taught me so much not only about myself as a designer and the process of designing for a collection, but it also reminds me that in the end, it makes someone happy. Recently, I have been finding images of women who are wearing my designs who share it on social media and blogging about it. It is one thing to design a pattern for a product, but to actually see it on a person in the real world is a wonderful feeling. Seeing that it is the beginning of the month, I will refer to this as a Frocktober Fest!

I gathered some images of these fabulous ladies (some of whom I actually know!) and am excited to share their blogs and websites with you, my fellow readers! 

1.Mushmina 2.Jenny Levison ( a family friend fabulously sportin' my rooster print!) 3.Walking with Cake 4.Birds of a Thread 5.Cuddly Cacti (She owns a sweet fair trade, non-profit shop called Mitla Moda) 6.Fair For All Guide 7.Only Just Be 8.Un Petit Fauve 9.Anne Eaikin Moss (another family friend who said she saw this in a Baltimore shop window and instantly recognized that it was one of my prints!) 10.Mushmina 11.Un Petit Fauve (I am in love with the whole concept of serenading a corgi) 12.Verily Merrily Mary.

I hope you check out these fantastic sites and blogs, and may you celebrate Frocktober Fest in your own unique way! 

That's the Cats Pajamas!

Last weekend I went on a vintage adventure! Cats Pajamas is a vintage clothing, jewelry and textiles show/sale that takes place twice a year in Elgin, Illinois. Vendors from all over the midwest (and country) come to sell their goods, and let me tell you, I had a field day! 

My dear friend, Yonit the costume designer, has been telling me about this show for the last 2 years. She has gone and acquired many a funky pieces of jewelry, clothing and accessories for herself as well as costumes for shows she has worked on. This year I was FINALLY able to join her. We met up with another fantastic costume designer Rachel Healy, grabbed a few breakfast treats and drove out to Elgin. 

My textile design heart stopped dead in it's tracks! I began to hop from one booth to the next, combing through the racks of vintage clothing snapping photos of fabulous prints that I came across. The quirky florals with ribbons to the geometric ladders and spots, watercolored florals and paisley galore - they were all screaming for me. I began documenting every piece of fabric that seemed interesting, humorous, dainty, funky... you name it, I photographed it! 

I was surprised to find myself drawn to the crazy animal prints. I managed to find quite a few since this was a vintage sale and the 1950's were all about quirky prints & textiles. I clasped my hands and started to laugh when I saw a sweet little print that seemed like a few illustrations of Winnie the Pooh characters in repeat. It was so darling and yet so specific. It included honey pots, red balloons, piglet and Pooh bear! Another wonderful print I found were seals swimming across a pair of shorts. I kept imagining a teenage boy wearing these shorts and it made me chuckle. I have a special place in my heart for peacocks and when I found a dress sporting a hand drawn peacock and floral print, I instantly starting snapping photos of it. 

Kelly in the dress that stole our hearts!

At one point Yonit and I came across the most beautiful cream colored dress from the 1920's. We both fell in love with it and of course it wasn't either of our sizes. However, if it was and would have fit, I would have found my future wedding dress.  We then ran into one of Yonit's costume design friends Kelly. After showing her the dress that caught our hearts, she decided she would try it on. It fit her perfectly! According to the shop owner, it's a magical moment when a dress finds a lady with the right size and body shape to pull it off. She then ran over and found a hat that would pull the whole look together. Kelly happily purchased the dress and is now waiting for a special occasion to wear it.

At one booth, Yonit and I found a 3 piece vintage luggage set, in perfect condition and the price was a steal!  We talked it over and decided to split the set (first photo, bottom right corner). It is a wonderful funky paisley in blues with a hint of red & yellow, and we will always think of each other while traveling.  

This adventure was as fun as it was inspiring. After 5 hours of diving into wonderful clothes and jewelry of the past, I came away with a new excitement about textiles, prints and patterns. I have a collection of reference images of patterns that has grown dramatically since this trip and I am ready to start designing again.