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THE INSEAM VOL.97: DESIGN + CONQUER

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

topographica_slide_12 Photos: courtesy Aaron Aubrey

Morgan Mallett is a multidisciplinary designer that seeks to blur the boundaries between creative disciplines. Fusing her passions to fashion unique, eye-catching jewellery, Design + Conquer is a result of thoughtful process and innovative use of material. Geometric shapes, colour and unconventional textures cleverly complement the body to produce a bold statement.

Design + Conquer has even made its mark across the globe, as it was recently shot in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore and seen on Canadian bands like the Stars and Dragonette. To top it off, DC is an advocate for the BC SPCA and Vancouver’s North Shore Mountain Bike Association.

I chatted with Morgan to learn more about her initiatives and her process behind Design + Conquer.

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Valerie Tiu: You have a diverse background in design. Can you tell us more about yourself?

Morgan Mallett: I have degrees in painting and graphic design, which have come in handy navigating the diverse areas in which I design. The more I put my work out into the world, the more I realize how artificial the boundaries between disciplines can be. Design, fashion, sport, industrial design, science... if you're curious and driven, you will find connections between seemingly exclusive realms.

VT: How did you get into designing jewellery?

MM: I was frustrated with the often conservative and mass-produced selection jewellery in stores, and began making designs for myself. Around the same time, I'd applied and was accepted to the London College of Fashion and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, but couldn't afford to attend. My favourite part of my portfolio was my jewellery, so as school wasn't an option, I decided to push my accessories design, and see where this led. A day after my designs were shown at Vancouver Fashion Week, fashion writer Nathalie Atkinson published an article about my work in the National Post.

VT: How do you describe the concept behind Design + Conquer?

MM: To design and conquer in new realms with innovative materials. Jewellery gone rogue.

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VT: What materials do you use and how do they complement each piece?

MM: My collection concepts and art direction drive the materials I use. I'll track down and experiment with whatever materials I can get my hands on to execute my vision. My newly launched Topographica collection is inspired by topographic maps, the 1980s Blackcomb Mountain logo and trail markers. It incorporates thermoplastics, industrial hardware ad reflective signage material.

My Unlimited collection incorporates translucent hand-warped acrylic and pops of neon to reflect Future Unlimited's synthpop sounds.

My Tiki collection uses reed and pastel colour blocks to reflect the atmosphere of The Waldorf Hotel. The list goes on.

VT: Can you briefly take us through your design process?

MM: I'm continually collecting imagery and music. I love research, both academic and visual. Over time this collecting percolates, and I'll get flashes of ideas and sense what my art direction will be like. I'll sketch briefly to jot ideas down and then head straight to materials research. This is where I find out what is physically possible to design. I find that sketching too literally can limit ideas—tactility and playing around with materials is where impactful ideas dwell.

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VT: What's the biggest challenge in hand making each piece?

MM: Most of my designs are a hybrid of manufactured and handmade, so this helps minimize production time. Making sure materials are in stock from my suppliers is a continual challenge, as I use an array of components in my work, and orders vary from design to design.

VT: Can you discuss your latest collection, Topographica?

MM: The seeds for DC’s Topographica collections were planted months ago. I was trail running in Garibaldi Provincial Park, a reflective trail marker caught my eye, and that got me thinking about working with reflective tapes and coatings. The next few months were spent sourcing materials, prototyping, re-prototyping and refining the designs. The application of reflective materials got me thinking about how they are used in the outdoors and wayfinding.

I grew up in Whistler as a kid in 1980s, and distinctly remember the old Blackcomb logo and the typography and design identity surrounding it. Those visuals imprinted on me and I was compelled to transpose those visuals into a collection.

VT: Does living in Vancouver inspire your creations in any way?

MM: Definitely. My family and friends are here and after living in Calgary and Halifax for 13 years, it's been wonderful to come home. I trail run regularly—it's such a luxury to have the mountains at my doorstep. The duality of the rainforest and downtown/design life makes Vancouver an amazing place to be based.

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VT: You are a supporter of the BC SPCA and the North Shore Mountain Bike Association. Can you tell us more about this?

MM: I've always been a supporter of animal welfare and I refuse to use animal products in my work. I am equally passionate about being active in the outdoors. One of the great things about supporting the NSMBA is that there is no money is involved—you donate your time building trails. It's incredibly satisfying to run or ride those trails with friends and know you maintained this corner, or helped build that boardwalk. Trails don't build themselves—the NSMBA and its volunteers are key in preserving and maintaining our world renowned trail system.

VT: How do you envision the future of Design + Conquer?

MM: One of my goals in the coming year is to partner with diverse companies to develop innovative designs. Working with varied materials and creative problem solving with diverse people is always an incredible experience. Issey Miyake, United Nude and Arc'teryx are a few companies that I would love to work with.

http://vimeo.com/114646825

Design + Conquer is available online and at Retail Pond.