Tell us about your brand.
I started my brand just over 3 years ago. Night Moves Atelier designs colourful retro-inspired handmade polymer clay earrings and accessories for rad people everywhere. I draw a lot of inspiration by going to thrift stores and looking at vintage sweater designs and knick-knacks. I spend a lot of time looking at colour trends in magazines and then I start playing with colour combinations and shapes that I think are interesting.
What do you like about your job?
I design and create because it’s what I’ve always done. It is the one true constant in my life. I guess also because I have a restless mind and it soothes that. If I get a cool idea for a new design, I have to make it right then and there or it feels like I’ll burst! Being able to create wearable art that people want to live in is the ultimate high.
Do you have a signature style?
My style is definitely more avant-garde. With a lot of clay jewellery artists, you see a lot of muted pastels and earth tones, and smaller sizes. Night Moves is not that. We are into fully saturated colour, very playful and fun, large statement pieces. More art than accessories. Our most popular design and best-seller are our Fruit Punch Terrazzo Fan Earring, which is inspired by an artist’s painting palette, it’s quite possibly our most colourful earring.
Tell us about any exciting projects or new collections underway
I am always working on new pieces! We release new collections/product drops every month or so. I am also working on releasing my own set of polymer clay silk-screen designs for other clay makers, so I am really excited about that!
What was your happiest and proudest moment?
I’m happiest when I see my pieces being worn and enjoyed by my customers. When someone discovers my work for the first time and you see the literal joy and serotonin high they are experiencing from finding my funky designs is my absolute kryptonite. My proudest moment was seeing my pieces worn on the runway in New York Fashion Week last Fall. It was such a surreal feeling and moment. You see NYFW coverage on TV and the internet and you spend a lifetime thinking of how cool it would be to be showcased as an artist and then, bam, there your earrings are, on a literal model!
Some tips for aspiring artists who want to start their own accessory brand
Perseverance and patience. You can be technically skilled at something or have a huge social media following but not every day is going to be a TKO punch. There are a lot of hats you have to wear as a small business owner that gets in the way of the creative side. Give yourself grace on the hard days and remember your ‘why’!
Comments