Courtney Mitchell
Inspiriting Designer
“As a child I never seemed to stay in one place for too long. This wanderlust that grew within me since childhood has now come to influence my work as a designer. I am inspired by the variety of landscaped, cultures, textiles, and colors from around the world. My constant longing to be out in nature often influences my work as well. Sometimes it is a literal interpretation, but mostly what I take from nature is the feeling that being in a certain place can give you.”
Courtney Mitchell graduated in the Spring of 2013 from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where she received a BFA studying Apparel Design. She has worked as an intern at Ralph Lauren as part of the Women’s concept design team. She has also interned for Free People, where she worked on the “Dresses Team”, creating pieces that will be on the market as of December 2013.
Courtney’s most recent collection was her thesis collection, “Hanyut”, which was shown in the RISD Collections Fashion Show in the Spring.
“My Thesis Collection draws inspiration from my time spent traveling around Indonesia this past summer. The word “Hanyut” when translated from the Indonesian language means “to wander” or “to drift”. Much of my inspiration for my recent collection is pulled directly from the textiles and materials I collected while on the island of Bali, as well as from my experience living in the mountains of West Java. The collection blends handmade vintage batik fabrics, traditional Balinese laces, and sheer fabrics inspired by the ominous mist of the Javanese jungle.
In Bali Hinduism is practiced by a majority of the people, and makes the culture on this island so special, as you can see daily offerings left outside the homes and stores of the people who live there. White, worn on specific days of meditation in Hinduism, stands out amongst the endless sea of batik clothing. I was so drawn to how pristine and elegant the white looked, and to mimic this effect, I incorporated white as the base color for my collection.
Located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines, is the town of Ubud. While I was there I fell in love with all the incredible handicrafts, but what really stood out to me were the intricately carved buffalo skulls. The way they were carved with floral designs and curvilinear lines is reminiscent of many of the batiks. I wanted to incorporate this into my collection through various fabric manipulations such as laser cutting suede, and appliqué. The jewelry pieces I styled my collection with are all pieces I made myself, mostly from copper that I hammered out, and gave a patina to.
When I think back on my experience in Bali, I always imagine standing at Uluwatu Temple on the edge of the cliff, overlooking the ocean, with the forest behind me. The pieces for my collection are all things I imagine being most beautiful when they are worn outside, and the movement of the wind can bring them to life. My pieces I hope to evoke a feeling of calm. ”
In the future Courtney hopes to own her own company, and to create a lifestyle brand, encompassing her many hobbies, such as backpacking, traveling, climbing, interior decorating, jewelry making, and her love for designing clothing.
Visit Courtney Mitchell.
