Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hope Macdonald. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hope, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

I have considered myself an artist for as long as I can remember but I chose to focus on fashion and design when I went to RISD for my undergraduate degree. This was in lieu of more traditional fine arts training like my love for painting or sculpture but I felt like design was more ‘applicable’ to real life. I was also fascinated with the industry, culture and economy around fashion. There are so many opportunities for problem solving when designing an item of clothing or accessories and I fell in love with this creative process. When I moved to New York to start my design career I did not have specific goals to start my own line but a deep hunger to just participate in fashion.

When I worked for my first big name brand, I remember the first time I saw a woman on the subway wearing a bag that I had sketched, specced, and designed- I knew every detail of the product and there it was right in front of me! This has happened a few times now in my career with different items and companies (my dream now is for it to happen with my own brand!) and it feels like a magic culmination of art, design, labor, commerce, and retail all coming together full circle. But I quickly got over the high of mass production when I started to understand the breakdown of these products and the process they go through to come to life. How they are made, where they are made, the materials that are used, the creative ideas that are uncredited, the unsold items that are literally destroyed and burned… I could go on. As a person who pursued fashion from an artist’s perspective, the industry slowly started to break my heart. I decided that this disappointment could either creatively deplete me or it could serve as a catalyst to do things my own way.

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 started my namesake label, Hope Macdonald in 2017. Mainly focusing on accessories, I’ve expanded to apparel, swimwear as well as fabrics, wallpapers, and items for the home. I aim to bring my art into your life in bold pops of colorful function. My first love and most of my professional background is in accessories design. My style aesthetic is always evolving between trendy, classic, girly, tomboy and I find that the well curated handbag can translate with anything! I’ve also worn a size 26- to a size a 4 and I know how stressful shopping and even getting dressed can feel, no matter what the size says on your label. Accessories are always fun to shop for and I like to think the functionality of our collection makes even the boldest product something versatile enough for everybody. Whether you’re like me and you dress like a rainbow or you’re a cool city chick who only wears black- there are no rules about adding color into your wardrobe and calling for a little extra attention. The combination of bold hues and “feminine” florals with clean lines and details like exposed stitching are an intentional contrast meant to feel as dynamic as the function of the product and the people who wear them.

I’m most proud of the one-of-kind process behind our collection. My prints come from large scale original paintings. My current collection was pulled from a 30″ x 40″ piece that I worked on for 3 years on and off and completed during the pandemic. My prints are re-colored digitally and printed in Queens, New York and manufactured in Manhattan. This season we’ve also collaborated with artisans in Mexico to create gorgeous, handwoven accessories made from naturally dyed palm leaves and inspired by earth.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The definition of my first name is also the mission statement for my work: Hope (verb) 1: to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true. 2: to expect with confidence: TRUST.

Sharing my optimism and affinity for bright and bold colors and connecting with those who feel like my art contributes to their personal expression is my biggest motivation. As a multi-disciplinary artist there are lots of different outlets and tools that I utilize to bring my creative vision to reality. Painting is the beginning of my process and a solitary craft, one that requires focus and time. I connect to this practice almost like a meditation and it’s become a deeply soothing part of my daily life. For me, making these paintings into prints and then into products feels like transformative healing energy- sharing my peace and hope with the world.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s rewarding to collaborate with local New York factories and laborers as well as expand our vision of sustainable production to other communities around the globe.

I love that due to the colorful and vibrant nature of our products, they are so often worn for joyous and life affirming celebrations. As an artist and human it is my greatest wish that we all have the resources we need to access joy and reach our full human potential. Starting in 2022, I announced that 2% of gross net profits from the collection will benefit the YMCA Brooklyn Community Fund. Their work provides access to basic needs like physical exercise, swim lessons, childcare, citizenship training, language classes, scholarship funding, addiction services, and more. The connection of creating art into fashion and contributing in small and meaningful ways to the community that inspires and contributes to your work is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.HopeMacdonald.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hopemacdonald
• Facebook: Facebook.com/hopemacdonaldNY
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-macdonald-16599349/
• Twitter: twitter.com/hopemacdonald

Image Credits
Product photography by Sydney Claire: www.sydneyclairephotography.com