Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Courtney Crawford. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Courtney, thanks for joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
I always knew I loved fashion design, I grew up watching Project Runway and sketching out designs. I decided I wanted to learn to sew so I took a sewing class to learn to sew a skirt. I decide I loved it and wanted to make a school project out of it that my aunt helped me sew. Then so on I went to college for fashion design and learned all the sewing essentials, after school I got into tailoring and found a local apparel designer to work for where I helped make one of a kind reworked clothing designs. Which leads me to today where I now create and design up cycled clothing for my own business which I love doing.
Looking back I could have sped up my learning time by allowing myself to make more mistakes during my earlier years I was always focused on whipping out a perfectly curated piece the first time which often stopped me from doing anything at all. Now I have let go of the need to have that perfect outcome every time, I found the mistakes often opened doors to learn and figure out new techniques. I also found more success when I surrounded myself around more skilled sewers or like minded individuals, I was lucky enough they all were willing to share their knowledge. Overall I feel the best skills I learned were to develop consistency and discipline toward devoting time to building my craft, you can always learn more.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Courtney Crawford I am a fashion designer in Cleveland OH. I knew I wanted to be in the fashion world early on. I always was drawing different designs and watching all sorts of fashion shows like Project Runway and Americas Next Top Model. I started sewing in high school after I decide to take a very basic sewing class to sew my first skirt. Then I got my first sewing machine the summer going into my senior year at high school. At the time I was in an art and design program in high school and was asked to do a big final project to close out my senior year. I decided in sewing a mini collection which my aunt helped me sew because did bite off more than I could chew at the time. However I pulled it off and decided to take my new found skills to college at The Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, OH . I worked hard for the 4 years I was there, during the years I focused on designing clothes from start to finish. I interned with a local fashion Designer in Columbus, OH Cierra Lauren, she made dresses out of vintage fabrics and scarves which I got to sew a lot of them because I was helping her prepare for a fashion show while I was interning with her. I then closed out my senior year with designing my very first collection which was presented and our schools juried fashion show, which truly felt like a dream to see my clothes down a runway. After school I unexpectedly moved back to Cleveland, at the time I was not happy about it. I found myself working as tailor at Nordstroms and working at a local sewing store where I learned about sewing machines and actually running them properly. I kept searching for different design jobs and ended up working for a local Cleveland apparel Designer Emily Roggenburk I started off helping with apparel printing. One day I messed up a printing job and because I felt bad I decided to use my sewing skills and sew a new design on the back of the jacket I thought I ruined . After that I wanted to incorporate more of my sewing skills because It was such a fun process and was very well received by customers . We started using my sewing skills more and more to create one of a kind apparel which customers loved. We often would do small clothing drops of the designs that would sell out in minutes if they were online. The apparel was very Cleveland focused and perfect for sporting events, but in an elevated high fashion type of way. This gained traction and I started making one of a kind pieces for different NFL wives and then other small business owners that wanted to rep their brand in a different and unique way. During that time it was so much fun I had a lot of creative freedom to try new sewing techniques. I recently decided to part ways with this designer because wanted to continue to grow and build my own brand which was always what I wanted to do when I was young. I now make one of a kind pieces where I mesh various garments and textiles together using patchwork and different embellishments. I spend a lot of time at thrift stores and vintage shops sourcing pre loved garments that I can give a new life! I love this because the pieces have history to them and are truly each unique and it’s a piece people know someone else won’t have. I also do custom pieces that I work with my clients to hep bring their visions to life! What love most about the creations I make are how excited my customers get when they buy a one of a kind piece because they know it’s unique to them and can’t be made again. It brings me joy to see the excitement of my customers, it’s truly the best part!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is bringing a project to life. I love the process of coming up with an idea in my head and being able to make it into a tangible object. As a artist you often feel very connected to the pieces you make so it feels very special to be able to share that with others. Especially when you see others looking at your and it sparks joy for them.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One big lesson I learned was to not stop yourself from making your art, if you have a skill you are meant to share it and you are doing a disservice to yourself for not sharing it and others. There is also always a place for your work and the end of the day no one can make what you make it because we are all different and are going to do things in your own unique way. So jut make the art and don’t worry what people think, there is always going to be a place for you and your work the right people will find you if you keep working at it.
Once I realized that, I found myself making more designs and always running into the right opportunities, so make the art!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.courtneypcrawford.com
- Instagram: courtneypaigecrawford