Designed to Carry a Cause: Textiles for Malia Designs!

I am THRILLED to announce that I can now add wallets to my textile design list! Last winter I was approached by Lia Valero, one of the founders of Malia Designs. Malia Designs is a fair trade bag company working with women in Cambodia, rescued from human trafficking. They are such an inspirational company and their tagline "Designed to Carry a Cause" is beyond appropriate.

Textile Design by Shifra Whiteman. Wallet by Malia Designs. 

During the initial design meeting, it was pretty clear that Lia had a direction and gave me the reigns to run with it. In the past the textiles have gravitated more towards organic floral designs, inspired by the natural flora and fauna of Cambodia. However, times are changing and she felt Malia Designs needed a fresh new perspective. I designed a few patterns for them, but in the end we chose two variations of this triangle print for their Fall 2014 collection. Together we played with colors (there are some fantastic bright colors in the lining!)  and decided the pattern fit the signature collection of silk wallets. 

Textile Design by Shifra Whiteman. Wallet by Malia Design.

Rumor has it, they are so successful because I haven't even gotten my wallet yet! The first shipment instantly flew off the shelves! Thankfully the second shipment is in and you can get your own wallet by clicking here. 

Malia Designs also supports Stop Traffick, is a Chicago-based, grassroots effort to raise funds for victims of human trafficking and spread awareness about this critical human rights issue. One of the 2 organizations they support is Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation, known as CAASE. Please consider donating to CAASE. 

Where am I and What am I doing?

Hello world!!! It has been FAR too long since I've written something. I figured I would start by answering the questions "Where am I?" and "What am I doing?" 

Shifra Whiteman, struttin' around in one of her textile designs.

First of all, I am still in the great city of Chicago. However, I am now a graduate student! I am currently in the middle of my first semester in the Business and Entrepreneurship program at Columbia College Chicago (not to be confused with Columbia University in NYC). I am hoping to gain as much during these next 2 years so that I may be able to focus on establishing my own creative and fair trade business. So far, I have been taking courses in accounting, economics, marketing and fundraising. Yes, it's true, the majority of my classes have to do with numbers! I will still be designing while I'm in school, so stay tuned because I have so many goodies that I will be sharing oh so soon.

Field Trip to Pilsen

Pilsen is a wonderful neighborhood in Chicago, located on the south west side of the city, off of the Pink line (yes, there is a pink train line!). It is primarily a Mexican neighborhood and has recently become popular for artists to live there (rent is cheap cheap cheap!!!). Last week, after a quick visit to Katie's apartment, the two of us headed to the National Museum of Mexican Art to get some inspiration for textile prints. The museum is quite small, can easily be gone through within an hour and is FREE!!! What a resource! I found many color combos and motifs in their Mexican folk art that I am thinking about using in future designs.

After the museum we walked back through the streets of Pilsen, finding many quirky and artsy additions to homes, murals and signs, and bought a few Conchas (Mexican cookie) from a local bakery. If you live in Chicago, make it a priority to visit this wonderful neighborhood and if you visit Chicago, try to squeeze it into your trip!

Guerrilla Truck Show, starring Katie Chappuis

Last Tuesday I went to the 9th annual Guerrilla Truck Show in Chicago, which is a summer event that takes place during NeoCon (the world's largest international trade show). The event is hosted by Morlen Sinoway Atelier and what started out as a 13 truck show, has blossomed into 60 trucks! This one night event, is an opportunity for selected local artists and designers to display their work inside their own truck (and when I say truck, think a moving truck... Uhaul, Budget or my personal favorite, Penske!)

My dear friend Katie Chappuis, was one of the few who made the cut and introduced herself to the design community here in Chicago! Her truck was by far, the most colorful one and she was very very VERY well received!  

Katie Chappuis at the 9th Annual Guerrilla Truck Show in Chicago, June 11th 2013.

Closer Look: Katie Chappuis

One of my closest friends here in Chicago is a lady by the name of Katie Chappuis. We met in the summer of 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark, where we fell in love with textile design. A few years have past and we both made Chicago our home. We are also each other's "textile therapists"  and have helped each other process our careers, ideas, passions, inspirations, desires and dreams. There are plans in place for us to collaborate on bigger projects in the not too distant future, but that is for another time and post. 

Katie has spent the last few months designing patterns that have a contemporary flare, focusing on composition and color. She has finally launched her website and last week I had the pleasure of helping her sew up some samples for her Chicago debut. She will be displaying her work at The Guerrilla Truck Show in Chicago's Fulton Street Market neighborhood, June 11th 2013 from 5:30pm - 9:30pm! If you live in Chicago, I urge you to go see her work in person, and if you see that bubbly redhead with the contagious laugh, tell her Shif sent you!

Hard at work in the studio!