Communal Creativity with Pyne & Smith Clothiers

Do you consider creativity and artistry an individual effort, a way of expressing your particular vision or message? Or, do you think of creativity and artistry as something that is passed back and forth between people to be imitated, added to, subtracted from, reimagined, then tossed back into the world?

I think it might be a bit of both. Or, maybe, both fully and at once-a robust expression of both self and the panoply of creatives from which we each emerge and eventually return.

In my particular season of life, I tend to think of creative expression as a corporate practice. By corporate I mean relating to a unified group of individuals, not a legal classification of business. I use the word in the same way a church might use it when referring to “corporate worship”; an act done in tandem, reaching toward a common good by offering our particular efforts to form a separate entity called Us. 

I personally experience this kind of corporate creativity in pattern design work. I come up with a design. That design is likely influenced or inspired by other work I’ve seen. I work to give it nuance and character, perfect it, and offer it to the world. Folks take my design and modify or adjust, often sharing it back to the world as both a stand alone piece of art, and as a riff on my original work. It is recursive, it is communal. It is a thrill.

I also experience corporate creativity in the way I am influenced by the complimentary work of other creatives and makers. I make a sweater design, and I just know it will pair perfectly with another creative’s dress design. I’ve long been an admirer of Joanna of Pyne & Smith Clothiers dresses, having purchased two in past seasons. When she began teasing her fall and winter 2020 line, it seemed too perfect a pairing for my newest sweater design to pass up. A barter was offered and agreed upon, and corporate creativity was achieved-creative work for creative work, vision for vision, a collaboration of slow, handmade garments that seemed to just fit. 

In a recent Instagram deep dive, I went back through Pyne and Smith Clothiers feed to get a sense of how Joanna began her journey of creative entrepreneurship. Seeing some of her early posts, setting up shop at local markets, dresses hanging from the edge of a fold up shade in the Southern California sunshine (we actually live quite near one another!), I was so inspired by her passion and commitment, as well as her willingness to take risks to offer her wares to the world. Her dresses came from a desire to honor women’s bodies, the way we show up in and for the world and the way we all really want to feel-at ease and capable, special and honored.

Crafting a garment requires an immense amount of labor and skill. Just as I spend many hours and days working from scratch to create a crochet garment from design concept, to sample, to edited pattern, so Joanna spends her time creating new silhouettes, designing new linen color ways, and collaborating with the sewists with whom she works to hand make the dresses she offers. Honoring that effort and craftsmanship is such a privilege! I have learned to make space for honoring that in myself, as I have learned to invest in the craftsmanship of others.

I was able to send Joanna one of my handmade Herbaceous Cardigans in trade for the Model No. 14 in Toast. It’s difficult to do this color justice, it is so rich and warm! It feels like an heirloom when you wear it, like it will transcend trend. I love the longer sleeve length for fall, and I can’t resist the full length dresses Pyne & Smith has on offer. Paired with my alpaca version of the Herbaceous Cardigan, it is the perfect combination for all things autumn-hot tea, costume making, and pumpkin pancakes, I see you!

I was also able to purchase the Model No. 17 in Black and White Check. I have been waiting and hoping for literally years for Joanna to offer a black and white check linen one day, so there was absolutely no way I was going to miss out on the chance to buy one now! The boat neck and slim cut of this full length Model No. 17 is by far my favorite Pyne & Smith model I’ve owned. It feels so incredibly flattering on! I know I will wear this dress for many, many years to come, through all seasons. It is light enough for summer, but with its longer length and neutral pattern can easily be layered for cooler weather. It’s my new favorite.

If I’m being honest, I actually wanted approximately three additional pieces from the Fall/Winter 2020 release, but I resolved on these two for several reasons, including budget, evaluation of my needs, and general ascetic self control ;)! I’d love the Model No. 19 in British Racing Green (can you even BELIEVE I didn’t pick the green?! I rarely go a day without wearing green…), the beautiful new blouse design, Blouse No. 15 in Cloud White, and the Skirt No. 11 in Thistle Check in shades of warm purple, all look equally as lovely. My personal penchant for heritage style executed in a modern ways is served well by all of Pyne & Smith’s designs. 

This post is not sponsored, nor were the dresses featured here gifts-they were purchased or traded for by me. I wanted to take the time to highlight the work of Joanna and her team because I think they are worthwhile and adding real value to a world that desperately needs the light of shared creativity. I feel extremely blessed and privileged to have had the opportunity to do so, and I sincerely hope that you give her collection your consideration! Perhaps one of her pieces will pair well with something you have created! Perhaps something she offers will inspire you in your own creative endeavors! Or, perhaps one of her dresses will see you through a season during which the joy of shared creativity seems far off. 

I’d love to know your own thoughts on creativity and artistry-do you consider it something more individual, or something that is shared? Have you ever felt inspired by another’s art to create something of your own? Hop into the comments-lets have a chat!

xo Nicole