We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mollie Decker. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mollie below.

Mollie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I went to college for architecture and worked for 7 years after graduating as an architect at various firms (up until 2 years ago). My partner Mike and I also have our own small architecture firm now so I defiantly know what its like to have a regular job all too well. While I am so grateful for the steady paycheck I had for the 7 years (and sometimes miss that part) I don’t miss going to an office. Its great to use my creative energies towards my own projects and creative pursuits. Working for myself was a huge step for me as I am a bit risk adverse but it has defiantly been worth the leap.

Working for myself is a little different than I imagined it would be and I feel like after 2 years at it I am finally in a bit of a grove with it. We have a studio in the first floor of our home so work is very integrated with my life. I love working most days, although even when the work is for yourself sometimes work is just hard work. Im not good at creating a balance between work and life because I am happy with the two being intertwined and overlapped. My work is my life in a lot of ways.

I have always been drawn to creative work of any sort and started sewing when I was 7 years old. I would hand sew my barbies tiny felt outfits and I would make bracelets and purses that my mom would sell to people at her job. Drawing, making, sewing and creating have always been something I needed to do. I love sharing my creative efforts with others and doing work that aligns with my values.

Mollie, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi! My name is Mollie Decker I am 32 years old and I have been running Object Apparel with my partner/husband Mike Sklenka since 2015. I design, pattern, cut, dye, and sew while my partner does graphic design and screen printing. We create organic clothing that is printed with our original designs. The clothing is genderless and meant to be fun and comfortable. I want to make the pair of underwear or shirt that you reach for first after doing laundry. We never set out to create and run a small clothing company full time. We just started making a few items as a side project and it progressed very slowly from there. Mike wanted to get into screen printing and I said if you want to print shirts than I want to sew them from scratch so that we can imprint our art full bleed and set ourselves apart from all the people just printing stock shirts. Being sustainable was a given so we sought out organic cottons and dyed our own fabrics so that we could have lots of colors from one roll. We have a wide variety of items now, but we still make a few of our original designs and have the same ethos of creating fun and functional clothing.

Im most proud of the return customers we get. It makes me so happy to see people returning to buy more because of how our clothing makes them feel and works into their life. Its beyond motivating to hear that someone is enjoying something I made for them. I will never get over that.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Shop small, shop local. When you support small businesses they notice and your supporting someones dream. Shopping is voting and you should shop in a way that aligns with your values. You can also support artists and creatives by lifting them up, going to see their work in person, sharing their work with a friend.

I am very grateful for the community of creative we have in Detroit and the friends we have made. Its great to be apart of a supportive and non-competative network of like minded people. I am always getting and giving advice and support to and from others and its so important when you don’t have traditional co-workers anymore.

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

The most rewarding part is getting to run my businesses in a way that I believe to be right. Prioritizing using quality and eco-friendly materials. Having time (although never as much as I want) to explore ways to reuse material that would typically be textile waste. Creating items that I want to wear and sharing them with like minded people. The goal being to add value to peoples lives through my work.

Its also very rewarding to have full creative control of a project from start to finish. To start with a blank slate of fabric and turn it into something that was previously only in my head. Its very rewarding to create with my hands and make practical and useful things that become apart of other peoples lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: objectapparel.com
• Instagram: object_apparel
• Facebook: 0bject apparel
• Linkedin: Mollie Decker
• Twitter: N/A
• Other: tiktok objectapparel – although I don’t post much on it.

Image Credits
Gabriella Csapo @gabriellastephanie (for the clothing photos)