Today we’d like to introduce you to Mira Blackman
Hi Mira, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember. I learned from my mother when I was a little girl. I’ve always loved making things with my hands.
After a trip to Senegal, I made my then-boyfriend a jacket out of some vintage West African fabrics. A friend said she wanted one, so I made her one. Then I kept making them, and they kept selling.
That’s essentially how the business started: with some vintage textiles and a used sewing machine in my living room. The business has changed a lot since then. After the birth of my first child and during the pandemic, I launched my wholesale line, which really took off and is now carried in boutiques all over. I’m trying to maintain that sweet spot of growing the business while continuing to experiment and stay creative.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every road has its bumps. I can be quite stubborn and determined to find my own way of doing things. Sometimes this approach yields magical results, but often it leads to a more difficult and longer journey.
One of the biggest struggles was probably pricing. When I was growing up and starting the business, I was on food stamps. Money was scarce, and talking about it made me anxious. It took a lot of reflection before I could price my work in a way that respected my time and expenses without feeling overwhelmed.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a textiles artist. I think I’m primarily known for my one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, but I’m becoming more well-known for my hand-dyed lifestyle pieces as well.
I believe what sets my work apart is probably my love for irregular, organic, and the humanness of craft. In a world obsessed with uniformity, sterility, and mass production, my pieces feel unique and full of life.
How do you think about luck?
I’d say I’ve been very lucky in life and business. I’ve had a lot of unexpected magical twists and turns & I’m very fortunate to be making art for a living.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mirablackman.com, www.play13moons.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/mirablackman, www.instagram.com/play13moons
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirablackman
Image Credits
Michelle Sharp, Tara Bodin, Natasha Zoe Garrett, Mira Blackman
