Monarch Clothing

photography by Sally Matsukawa

Today I bring you handmade fashion by one of Nashville’s own, Elisabeth Donaldson. Her Monarch Clothing line is full of regal statement pieces “…because everyone rules their kingdom in a different way.”

photography by Sally Matsukawa

Furies Magazine: Was there a particular piece that drew you into the world of design?

Elisabeth Donaldson: There was never a singular piece that I can pinpoint.  In a world of such diversity, I think it’s impossible to locate singular elements of influence.  As an Artist, I certainly observe central themes and patterns within my work, but I always want to leave the door open, at any given moment, to move in an entirely different direction

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FM: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

ED: Life is inspiring.  The Human experience is inspiring.  Watching the way that Life force itself pushes through and molds the physical universe is a constant inspiration to me.  With each piece that I create I am trying to tell a story of some sort – so I am constantly looking for what stories are contained within the people, environment and object around me. Of course I love looking at fashion and getting a feel for what others are doing and how they are creating,  but sometimes I create a piece for a specific model, or because I just loved a certain fabric and it speaks to me as to what should be done with it, or I’m at the thrift store and see a piece that is just dying to be turned into something amazing.  I also go about my designing much in the way of a painting.    I may have a particular idea as to style, structure or concept, but I am always willing to simply go where the piece takes me and abandon any fixed ideas. 

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photography by Sally Matsukawa

FM: Where is the first place you turn if you’re lacking motivation?

ED: Sometimes you just have to start, force your hand to pick up a piece of fabric and drape it across a bodice.  And the rest will begin to evolve.  Sometimes I go for a jog and listen to really loud music and all of the considerations of the day start to fall away and as I continue to look at the environment around me and get more physical space the ideas will just flow.  Sometimes I dance it out.  If I’m just feeling a lot, but it’s confused and frustrated I just turn on some music and dance around in a wild frenzy until I’m all settled down and able to think clearly again.  Cleaning never hurts either.  Cleaning the work space, touching my tools and fabrics…  If I am in a really bad rut I usually have to take a look at the current project and discover if it is in alignment with my basic purpose as an artist.  I have found that the ultimate cause of any slow or stop in my creativity comes from not being connected to my own purpose.  If I am designing based upon what I think some other viewpoint would want to see, or if I am allowing my creativity to be molded by some real or imagined criticism, then I tend to put stops in my own way.  I think the job and the beauty of any artist, is that they are putting forth their own unique viewpoint and communicating it to those around them.  It is extremely important to me to foster this in both myself as well as other artists, so if I am unmotivated, I try to look at my basic purpose as an artist and get re-connected with that.

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photography by Sally Matsukawa

FM: What is your working environment like?

ED: It generally consists of really loud music, a dog or two, fabric everywhere, and me, running around in wild patterned leggings. Sometimes I wear a captain’s hat, sometimes I wear panda ears…I don’t like to take myself too seriously.  It’s hard to get much done when you are being serious 😉

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FM: What are your favorite materials to work with?

ED: The vast majority of my work is totally original and one of a kind.  Part of what I find exciting is working with a wide variety of materials and seeing what happens

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photography by Sally Matsukawa

FM: What is your favorite part of being a fashion designer?

ED: I love that I am helping to create this little universe that someone can actually step inside of and become.  Fashion is pretty amazing because there is actually a collaboration that happens with the designer and the wearer.  The designer brings a concept into being, but the wearer then steps inside and imbues the piece with their own decided beingness and life force.  To fully pull off any look these two things must exist in harmony.  I totally love the fact that fashion gives each individual an opportunity to become a walking piece of art.  A piece of clothing can actually transport you into some other realm.  I have totally experienced that feeling of putting on a piece and suddenly I am a queen or a little kid, or some magical carnival character.  I think it’s so important to keep magic and imagination alive in this world and I think clothing can be a wonderful part of doing that. 

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photography by Sally Matsukawa

FM: Is there anything that you don’t like about it?

ED: I am very much of the opinion that it is up to any individual to take responsibility for the things they don’t like-in any sphere of life.  I feel it’s my job and responsibility to create my clothing line as I see    so I can out-create any obstacles that come in my path.  That being   my biggest obstacle is simply the huge amount of art that I want to create and all of the people I want to communicate with – how can I fit it all in!? 

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FM: What are your plans for the future – where do you want to go next?

ED: Monarch started out with many wonderful collaborations between me and my friend Sally Matsukawa of Toy Elephant Photography, planning shoots every week and exploring what sorts of images we could produce with the clothing/photography combination.  I love creating Art and collaborating with other artists so I want to continue along this path and create work that is not only beautiful and interesting to look at, but work that tells a story, and is uplifting and inspiring to those who view it.  My goal is to really remind people of the potential that exists within them and to create an environment that is more alive and beautiful.  While I continue to work on getting my clothing known and into the hands of those who want it. I also want to foster and contribute to an overall expansion of Art and see how many mediums I can weave together with the through line of clothing.

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You can buy a piece from Monarch Clothing in Elisabeth’s shop. You can show your support for a local designer by liking Monarch Clothing on facebook. And you can follow Elisabeth’s blog to see what she’s working on next. 

photography by Sally Matsukawa