Following Muse: An Interview with Designer and Textile Artist Rachael Levine
Welcome to our new series, Following Muse, Interviews with Self-Employed Creatives, Makers, and Healers. Our mission with this new series is to introduce you to your peers in various industries and provide some inspiration for your own work or dreams. The people around us are beautiful mirrors that show us hidden aspects of ourselves, desires we didn’t know we had, and the parts of ourselves that perhaps we would like to focus on more often. This is also part of our effort to focus on community over competition. This is a space where we can support one another, lift each other up, and praise each other’s gifts and talents.
So, without further ado, I am so honored to introduce you to Rachael Levine! She is a wildly talented clothing designer and textile artist. Her designs and creations inspire me so much and I always look forward to seeing what she will create next. Let’s dive in!
Rachael Levine of Arae Shibori
Tell us a bit about who you are and the creative work you do:
I am a daughter, sister, friend, partner, designer, maker, seamstress, upholsterer, gardener, weaver, sometimes a chef, traveler, hiker, skier, dancer, fisherwoman, water lover, nature lover, mentor, mentee, and much more.
What is your cultural background or upbringing?
My mother is Japanese and Bolivian, from Bolivia, so I grew up going there every few years to visit family and listening to her speak Spanish on the phone often. She cooked every meal for us and we rarely went out to eat, only on special occasions. To this day 90% of the time I cook my own food. My dad is Jewish but we weren't raised Jewish, we did observe the holidays and still do.
What are your big picture, big dream visions for your life, and what you do?
I really just want to continue to push myself creatively and keep bettering my work, continue to focus on zero waste and slow fashion, and I would love to have a museum exhibition someday focusing on zero waste design and what that can look like. And of course, travel the world :)
What projects are you currently working on that you are excited about?
I'm loving creating the Juju collection, which I'm doing very slowly and as I feel inspired. Each piece is made with scraps of silk I've saved from my collection and I create a sort of Shaggy garment using the scraps. They just keep getting better and better!
What are your biggest pain points as a creative? As a small business owner?
When I agree to do things for people that I actually don't want to do/make. It doesn't happen as much as it used to because I've learned how to say no or charge what I'm worth for the job.
How do you get yourself into a flow state to create? Do you have any rituals you enjoy performing?
Most of the time I have to put my noise-canceling headphones on to start creating, otherwise, I get distracted especially in the beginning.
What was your favorite thing to do as a child?
I loved to get dressed up!
Are there any cycles of nature that you pay attention to? How do you align your life with them?
I do design according to the season. I don't design a whole new collection from scratch unless it's a small Capsule Collection but I think it's important to create pieces people are inspired to wear immediately upon seeing it.
What's the closest thing to real magic in your opinion?
Coincidences.
What’s inspiring to you lately?
I'm learning Spanish, just finished Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, and watching AJ and the Queen and Alone.
How do you find inspiration?
Meditating, taking breaks, traveling, being in nature and out in the world with people. It's very broad but things just come to me when I'm living my life, not usually while I'm working.
Favorite song of the moment?
Favorite way to connect with your six senses?
Eating a fancy meal at a well-decorated restaurant.
Is there a question you have never been asked but always wanted to answer?
What would you be doing if not pursuing fashion design? I would have tried my luck in LA as a professional dancer.
