CREATIVE TALENT: Harbour Master

I am really excited for 3 reasons today! 

1. I am continuing on with the Creative Talent interviews...after a rather long break. 
   
2. I get to show off some of the talent from my home town, Perth!  
3. I feel that this particular creative is an incredibly unique and inspiring individual!

We caught up with Claire from Habour Master whilst home on holidays. It was a real treat, walking amongst the old boats and listening to her story. Her unique style and outlook on fashion is definitely a source of inspiration for me. I particularly love these wise words of hers...... 

'Experiment, make a mess, don't be put off by the fear of doing it wrong because really, who's to say what's right?' 

 - Claire from Harbour Master - 

Photo by Michael Dooney                                         Photo of Claire Mueller

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Perth, Western Australia. I recently moved back here after a 5 year stint in Melbourne, and am pretty stoked with the west coast.

WHAT IS YOUR ART/CRAFT & WHERE CAN WE FIND IT?

There are a few aspects to my 'craft', such as it is - one is my personal style, which I document on my blog www.the-harbour-master.com. I mainly do this because it helps me look at my ever-changing attitudes towards fashion more objectively (and I've definitely caught myself out on more than one occasion, preaching on thing but doing another)!

I'm a visual merchandiser by trade, currently designing window displays for a high end boutique called Elle - if you're in Perth you can see my installations if you drive down Stirling Highway.

Though I studied fashion design I'm really not in a clothes making phase, it's all about accessories at the moment! I make earrings under the label CapnMueller which I currently just sell through Etsy, you can see them at www.capnmueller.com.

WHAT ARE THE POSITIVES ABOUT BUYING HANDMADE ITEMS?

I might expand on this slightly and say that I think there are positives in anything that has been consciously designed and manufactured, addressing the values of innovation, quality, longevity, environmental and ethical impact. Handmade items do, more often than not, address all of these values - from a fashion perspective we need to understand that if we don't nurture the immense skill required to make something beautiful by hand we will lose the soul of the industry.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

More & more I'm finding inspiration in actions and attitudes rather than physical things - how someone wears something because they are expected to, or despite having a wardrobe full of clothes only wearing the same 3 items - partially because it helps me assess my own style, partially because WHY people dress has always interested me as much as HOW people dress. Saying that, I love art galleries, museums, shipyards, fashion magazines, people watching in hipster cafes and the sea.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO CREATE?

A problem that needs solving, a desire to document & reflect, an ongoing urge to dress in a way that feels 'right' for any particular time. Sometimes I just like to be an enfants terribles and wear things to annoy people with no imagination. Sometimes I literally have a guttural need to make something with my hands.

WHAT ENCOURAGING WORDS/ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN SPARKING THEIR CREATIVITY?

Read - research - learn. Be aware of what other people have done and are doing so you can expand, not repeat. Experiment, make a mess, don't be put off by the fear of doing it wrong because really, who's to say what's right?


Below is an image of Claire's squid earrings. Make sure that you check out Claire's website & shop!

Claire's shop: Capnmueller

Website: The Harbour Master