Mociun in the Ocean

Sometimes I come across a new line and I think “Oh that’s nice“ or “I want that.“ There are other, rarer [read: better] times when I see a line, read a bit about it, feel the aforementioned emotions and am still just dying to know more about the collection and its creator. Even better is when my curious instinct is correct and the line is as multidimensional and interesting as I thought it might be!

That’s why today I’m ever-so pleased to be able to share an interview with Mociun designer Caitlin Mociun. Look out, kids, because there’s a lot going on here: from Caitlin’s commitment to sustainable manufacturing, to her multiple multifaceted influences, to her California to Brooklyn via the rest of the world upbringing! Enjoy

Oh, and to see more about Caitlin and her clothes and find stockists‘ information, visit mociun.com

From your Bio section I see you had a really interesting travelling adolescence. What carried you so far away and what brought you back?

I went with my parents when they got jobs at international schools and I went to those schools. I really wanted to go to RISD in the USA so I came back for school. I have ended up staying but hope to live between Europe and the USA in the future (as soon as things are more settled with the business). The idea of living in just one place does not appeal to me. My work is somewhat driven by putting together somewhat contradictory ideas and imagery so I like my life to be like that in a lot of ways.

What were some of the best, worst, or completely neutral things you experienced abroad?

I traveled all over Asia and eastern Europe. one place that stands out in my mind from when I was young and traveling with my parents was going to Petra in Jordon. It was one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever been. We walked around there for two days and I never tired of it. Another weird thing I went to was a festival in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia (just a couple of months after we moved there) called Tipusam (I have no idea how to spell this). Its an Hindu festival where people are put in a trance and they stick skewers through their cheeks and hooks in there back and walk up like 1000 stairs to this temple in these caves and making offerings to gods. I was 12 yrs. old it was the craziest thing I have ever seen. I love that my parents never sheltered me my whole life and opened my eyes to some many cultures. They always instilled in me to follow my dreams and have encouraged me in every endeavor I have made.

What inspired you to make the initial jump to working in apparel (from a your textile focus)?

I was always interested in apparel. I actually stopped doing any apparel based stuff my senior year and started to work on fine art installation and wallpaper design. I did much stronger work with these mediums and really had no interest in apparel anymore. I kind accidentally got back into designing clothing and textiles for clothing. I was working at a wovens mill when I first moved to NYC and got fired (it was a bad match for me, its was actually a blessing to be fired). Because I was so unhappy in my job i was making one of a kind clothing at night for a creative outlet that didn’t make me want to drive sharp pencils into my eyes. I ended up talking to the women that owns Bird here in Brooklyn and put some things in there. The week I got fired two other stores, another in Brooklyn and one in Japan picked up the line. Within about a year of that I started making actual collections instead of one of a kind and three of a kind pieces. I still hope to get into wallpaper again someday and doing more fine art stuff.

How do you think your background in textile design has affected your work as a clothing designer? Do you think working in both mediums has, in turn, affected the way you think about your textiles?

My clothing really exists as a catalyst for my textiles. I do design them with the human for in mind, remembering they are going to be cut into small pieces and made into three dimensional forms but I really am in this for the textiles.

How did you first become interested in sustainable clothing manufacturing practices and how has that driven you as a designer?

I have kind of always been, not so much clothing because I don’t really think that people should be just designing clothes to be sustainable. First you must just make clothing that is beautiful, or interesting or for whatever reason you are a designer. I think its ones decision to be a responsible citizen of the world by using materials and labor practices that impact the world as positively as possible. I think that I kind of get frustrated with the whole Eco fashion things sometimes because it seems like some Eco designers put the Eco before the design. If you put design first then you will be marketing towards not the Eco market (whoever they are) and to consumers that want good design. Does that make sense? [Editor’s note: Totally.]

Have you had a central inspiration in your collection, a thread that’s run through the whole project?

My interest in textiles, functional design. I am really inspired by both Bauhaus and Native American textiles.

What senses does Mociun seek to evoke? (sounds smells etc.) Is Mociun more sensually evocative (as in the 5 senses) or is it more cerebral? If cerebral, what references ought we to be picking up?

I think that really depends on who is looking at it. There are some people that see it and probably think its ugly or crazy looking. But to me harks back to growing up, my family, my travels and where I want to go in the future. How I want to live my life and how I hope I can help to shape the world. I try and make my company really embody who I am, how I move through the world. I want my company to move through the design world in the same way.

Can you tell me a bit about your creative process? Do the prints come first or the silhouettes?

I do them together. I start collecting inspiration for both garment shape and textiles and go from there.

I also notice you tend to layer your references and inspiration. How are you able to synthesize so many far-reaching concepts into your collection?

I think that what makes new interesting ideas is putting together two or more seemingly contradictory ideas. That is what creates something new instead of just reproducing the same old ideas.

So you’re six seasons in. Where would you love to see the line go? Any other directions you’re dying to take the line in?

Home someday and shoes. I am thinking about collaborating with a friend to do some sweaters. I like working with other designers since I have been working along so much now ( me and the artist/designer Alyson Fox have started a new company called Fox in Mociun, it [is] limited edition tees, totes, dresses and undergarments that we are designing together). I want the line to really get out there and be in a lot more stores, getting it out there is a lot of work and I am trying to focus some time on that right now. I’d love to to [do] a giant installation with music and art and the clothing, sometime in the future. So many things I would like to do.

And so many more things we can’t wait to see! Thanks Caitlin and, of course, best of luck!