This work was recently exhibited at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, in Washington D.C. as part of the ACCelerate: ACC Smithsonian Creativity and Innovation Festival.
The Association for Craft Producers
In 2013, I worked for the not-for-profit, fair trade organization ACP located in Kathmandu, Nepal. While providing design, marketing, management, and technical services to low-income Nepali craft producers, I also produced commercial lines that blend traditional craft with modern design and technology to suit market trends.
Early mornings in the capital city of Kathmandu, Nepal, saw the narrow neighborhood streets fill with produce vendors and fruit carts. Textural and rickety, the carts overflowed with a vibrant selection of brightly colored fare: mangoes, bananas, lychee fruits, dates, and figs.
Inspired by these retro models of bicycles, rickshaws, and carts, the Nepali fruit cart motif adds flavor to the trending fixed gear road bike and vintage transportation craze. The wheel, abstracted and patterned, is further used as graphic element, adding versatility to the motif application.
Originally a set of woodblocks and a screen print pattern designed for boy bedding and textile, the line expanded to include dish towels and bags, perfect for the hip and younger parent. This line also incorporates embroidery, pops of trim, and scrap fabric.
