Michelle Murphy
BARBARIANHEART
My career as a fashion and textile designer started in the early 90’s with Murphy Artisan ties. I had just graduated from college, and was working with my father crafting hand painted canvas products for craft shows in the Pacific Northwest. Our art caught the eye of the vice president of Mallory and Church, a large menswear company based in Seattle, WA. He asked if we would be interested in designing a unique collection of hand painted silk neckties for their private label division. We happily accepted the challenge and our line was soon picked up by department stores and menwear shops nationwide.
We had a design studio in rural Okanogan County, where we hired local artists to paint silk by the yard, in addition to a small retail store at The Wallingford Center in Seattle. I was living in New York, where I managed the production side of the business, and co-designed half of the annual collection. As the business continued to grow, we began showing our neckwear collection to small boutique and gift shop buyers, at The American Craft Council Show and The Rosen Buyers Market. By the year 2000, we had over 250 of our own wholesale accounts across the nation, and participated in multiple juried craft shows. In 2010 my father passed away, and as a new mother, I was unable to maintain the tie business on my own.
I began taking classes at the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY, where I finally learned how to sew and continued to develop my understanding of industrial patternmaking. This enabled me to be able to fulfill my dream of producing a small collection of hand painted silk dresses and accessories under the name Barbarianheart.
I then moved to Baltimore, MD where I continued my education with courses in European Tailoring, Pattern Making and Couture Techniques, under the direction of Ella Pritsker, at The Maryland Center of Fashion Design. Here, I enjoyed several years of stability and creative growth making custom gowns, silk accessories, teaching classes, and presenting my work in fashion shows and at country clubs throughout the northeast.
My studio is now located in Olympia, WA where I continue to make custom clothing and accessories for my beloved clients and have set up shop in the local farmers market! New beginnings! Follow me on social media at Barbarianheart.love to see my current work.
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We thought it would be a neat idea to showcase the work of artists and businesses who are using Dharma products, so we've been asking customers to send in photos and info so we can share it with you. If you use our products and would like to be included.
