Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Clasper-Torch.
Micah, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Though I have been drawing, designing clothing, and making art since childhood, my path has taken many turns to get to where I am today. I studied fashion design at The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Politecnico in Milan Italy, and showed a couple collections in fashion shows during this time. Upon graduation, I worked at an art gallery and designed on the side, before taking a job as a hardware designer for Coach Handbags.
It was during this time that I became disenchanted with the fashion industry/corporate design world, and really questioned what I was pursuing. I saw the artistry and creativity of designers being whittled away in favor of technical sketches, overseas production, cost-cutting and profit margins. Without Instagram and other such platforms around at the time, it was hard to imagine how my passion for actually draping and sewing one-of-a-kind pieces could go anywhere or translate into a sustainable business, so I set it aside. I found a different type of creativity in the startup world, and in 2012 I founded an online wedding registry called CityBird with a friend of mine which we ran for 3 years, before we closed it down and I began working at IVY, where I am the Director of Brand Partnerships.
Now almost 10 years after graduating from FIT, I am re-entering the world of art and fashion, ready to tackle the challenge of creating unique clothing and textiles that are produced more like art. The process of returning to this passion has been both thrilling and humbling, but I absolutely love being on this journey!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Clothing is my art. Each piece I make is one of a kind, hand made by me in my Highland Park studio. I create as I am inspired to, by music, by collaborations with other artists, and by travel. I don’t reproduce replicas of any of my pieces. My specialization is in tailoring, so my passion is coats and blazers, but living in LA for the past two years has inspired me to begin creating some really beautiful dresses!
Fabric and textiles are often a starting point for inspiration, as are the patterns I see in architecture or nature. As I work, I am very inspired by music, so I am beginning to do more collaborations with musicians on clothing for photoshoots, live performances and music videos.
I believe that when something is created with joy and care, that energy is absorbed by the piece. The beauty is in the creating, and the finished product then becomes a reminder and representation of that creation process.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
Artists have always been influenced by political, social and environmental movements, and art has also been a powerful way of spreading such movements across the world. I don’t believe the role of artists ever really changes, but simply evolves to reflect the state of the world today – it’s political climate, current trends and challenges.
A big reason that I found my way back to art and fashion is that there has been a renewed interest in things that are unique, handmade, one of a kind – and new technology to help artists reach the right customer. The interest in “fast fashion” is waning, people care more about sustainability, knowing where their clothing is produced and under what working conditions, and are more aware of the environmental concerns that surround mass-production. An appreciation for craftsmanship, quality over quantity, slow fashion, and reducing waste are all current themes that are present in my work.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Currently the best place to stay updated with my work and support me is by following my Instagram (@micahclaspertorch), where I post new photoshoots, stories of my inspiration or in-progress work, and collaborations I do with other artists, musicians and photographers.
I am always excited to connect with other artists, to collaborate on editorial shoots, provide pieces to stylists, or partner in other creative ways!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.micahclasper-torch.com/
- Instagram: @micahclaspertorch
Image Credit:
Photo of the gold bolero jacket in Joshua Tree
Photographer: Davy Kesey model: Eva Ross makeup: Chloe Schlossman
All other photos of clothing on model:
Photographer: Alexandra Gibbs model: Talie Massoli makeup: Cassie Crespo
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