Today we’d like to introduce you to Isobel Mills.
Hi Isobel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I discovered textiles through my love of ceramics, which I studied and practiced throughout middle school and high school. Once I got to college (Go Dawgs!) and had to choose a focus, I really thought about the reasons I loved and didn’t love ceramics: the malleability of the clay and the endless possibilities it provided, the hand-building process, the fact that the clay dried out my hands and made a mess, pieces explode in the kiln, etc. and fabric seemed to offer all of those same positives and then some! In school, I learned how to weave, knit, sew, screenprint felt, and how to digitally create repeating patterns. This broad exposure of techniques opened up so many creative outlets for me and enabled me to pick bits and pieces of each skill to create my own aesthetic that deeply resonated with me. Upon graduating, I moved to NYC where I lived and worked for 8yrs. Although I never specifically had a job in textile design, I continued to build a portfolio of patterns and artwork after work and on weekends. Continuing my creative work outside of my not so creative 9-5(s) was my fuel and quickly learned too, the lifeline to my happiness. In 2015, I was given the once in a lifetime opportunity to apprentice with the world-renowned artist Isabelle de Borchgrave in Brussels and my life forever changed. She unknowingly nurtured a part of me that had been broken by simply being her authentic self every single day and I knew that was who I wanted to be. Upon my return to NYC, I knew what I had to do and immediately made it my business to make my passion my life’s work and that’s exactly what I did!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It was a smooth(er) road than it otherwise would have been because I continued to create in my free time. I also had a lot of amazing people in my corner who provided a lot of guidance in a world I had no idea how to navigate alone.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a textile designer and fiber artist who sells to the trade in showrooms across the country and most recently, Canada. I specialize in fabric design/art that has lots of visual and physical texture with an innate playful sophistication.
I’m most proud of taking matters into my own hands and not getting too comfortable.
What sets me apart in art would probably be my combination of fabric manipulation techniques and with my fabric line, the visual texture I try to create through pattern, color and scale. I’m not afraid of scale or color!
What’s next?
I just introduced a new cotton/linen ground with a new mill, which I am very excited about! Covid taught me a big lesson, which is to not put all my eggs in one basket, so you have different pots to dip into in times of trouble (aka supply chain issues)! I hope to continue to create new products-specifically an outdoor line and one day, open a store of my own!
Contact Info:
- Email: isobel@shopisobel.com
- Website: www.shopisobel.com
- Instagram: shopisobel
Image Credits
Austin Phelps took my headshot
