Raised in tropical Florida, I studied Fashion Design at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
I worked in every kind of job from assisting at a high-stress OOPS I mean, high-end fashion designer whose clothes were all made-in-LA from silks, cashmere, and leather; to teen surf brands manufactured overseas (I wouldn’t recommend either, but especially not the latter).
My favorite industry experience was designing “cosmically crafted” limited-edition embroideries for boutique brand Coast-Wide’s denim workwear.
Five years ago, after a brief stint living in NYC for an artist residency at Textile Arts Center, I founded Mixed Color in the Catskill Mountains of Upstate New York. This textile studio produces original garments and creates embroidered pieces on vintage garments. As a teacher, I also offer workshops in natural dyeing and embroidery. I work mostly with textiles – embroidery, natural dyes, and patchwork, but have been known to get down with some twigs, wood, and other natural materials.
To not only educate others on these ancient skills, but also share the methods of my own creative practice, I’ve created kits and booklets for students and DIY-ers.
Author of: MYSTICAL STITCHES + The ART of EMBROIDERY DESIGN
Instagram @christijay
