Today, Market Appointment turns one.
From having my husband and friends as the first subscribers to almost 2,500 of you. Look mom, I made it!
In the last year, I’ve met some incredibly smart and hardworking fashion people, written about my niche fashion interests, and cultivated a physical fashion club? I am literally living out my dream. Now that it’s out into the world and already taking on a life of its own, I can’t imagine my life without Market Appointment!
Looking ahead, I’m excited to bring you more reading parties and panels, as well as curate some exclusive experiences (fashion field trip anyone?) for my paid subscribers. Thank you to all of you for being here! You are so special to me and I can’t wait to take you along for the ride.
In honor of the anniversary, let’s revisit my favorites of everything I’ve written so far (in no particular order):
I will probably be referencing Doechii for years to come.
A lot of work went into developing the theory in this post, which is probably why Vogue Business used the dupe pyramid term without giving me credit :)
It’s true. We totally lost the plot on gift guides.
I love talking to people about style IRL. There goes my reminder to bring back this series.
It’s about to be another African jersey summer!
I wanna live in Willy Chavarria’s América.
Honorable mentions: Is Zara Too Big to Fail? and Why We're Obsessed With Japanese Fashion.
A highlight of writing Market Appointment: landing my first WSJ byline! Still pinching myself months later.
Last but not least, this section is brought to you by Eileen Fisher, a company I feel good partnering with to help advance the sustainability conversation.
On Saturday, April 5, my sister and I will be hosting Eileen Fisher’s Earth Month event, which will feature a special hands-on indigo dyeing session with the well-known natural dyer and textile designer Cara Marie Piazza. Please join us as she takes us through her process and shows us how to give new life to the clothing we love.
“I think many will use hand craft, or even just getting your hands in the dirt as a form of respite from this new path that is so unnatural to the way we are meant to exist,” Cara told me over email.
A timely reminder to continue cultivating the creative power of our hands in our digitally mediated times.
Please RSVP here and enjoy our Q&A ahead.
What early experiences drew you to the world of natural dyes and textiles?
I originally found the medium of natural dyes at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. The alchemy of the medium, the transformation from plant matter to color was mesmerizing and meditative. I joke that the practice found me, after I began experimenting I never looked back. I was finding synchronicities everywhere.
What do you love most about what you do? What have been the highlights of your career so far?
I love the transformation. The process. There is always an element of surprise and awe when creating a naturally dyed piece. I try to work in collaboration with nature. I can set up the parameters for creating the color, and act as a conduit for the plants to create their magic.
The highlights of my career have been working with all of my incredible clients. I really am blessed to work with incredible people. I've found that people interested in this practice are generally aligned, so it's really opened doors to an amazing community of creatives.
Where do you draw inspiration for creating new textiles?
My practice is very intuitive. The inspiration for creating textiles can come two-fold. When working with clients, they typically will send me their inspirations, an image or pattern. I then try to translate it with the plant matter and colors they're after. When making for myself, It usually starts with the plant or the technique. Water and the vessel that I am using for my work is an important launching point. Then it's the plant. From one plant you can achieve a rainbow of color, simply by altering the temperature, shifting the pH, experimenting with length of time in the pot - time is an ingredient, or your mood that day. That exploration is really what drives me. I let the process unfold itself.
I also love to walk. My feet always lead me to my next inspiration.
How important is it to cultivate this connection with your hands in a world increasingly dependent on technology?
It's the most important. I think it will actually become a luxury we will all crave. Perhaps I am optimistic but I actually see an analogue fraction of craft really splitting off. Many will embrace the AI / Techno revolution, and I think many will use hand craft, or even just getting your hands in the dirt as a form of respite from this new path that is so unnatural to the way we are meant to exist.
Lastly, what do you want people to take away from the workshop?
A little bit of joy. A sense of creative empowerment and the chance to let loose and have a little fun.
In the next post, I will be kicking off a shopping series called Why They Bought It that dives into the cultish appeal of some fashion items. First up—and you can probably guess it—the Margiela Tabis.
Until next time,
Shelcy
Are we supposed to bring things to dye?