COLLEEN CLINES 10 TX

ANCHAL

Based in Louisville, KY

What are some of the most productive and rewarding aspects of your practice or business?

I have the pleasure of witnessing the direct power art and design can play in changing a woman’s life. Anchal’s artisans have transformed into empowered and confident women as a result of the design process. I treasure every moment I spend with Anchal’s artisans and am inspired by their dedication and passion to change their families futures. Seeing the artisans purchase homes, send their daughters to school, become the family breadwinner and confidently stand up to abuse is absolutely the best part of our work together. They are my sisters.

Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.

Coming from a background in Landscape Architecture, I am still constantly inspired by the urban environment. When I am feeling stuck or uninspired, I walk the trails of local parks or neighboring streets and consciously look for things I normally overlook. This practice also translates into my time in India when I am working alongside Anchal’s artisans. Together we challenge ourselves to look at our surroundings through a different lens. This can be anything from the siding on a building to flowering trees to the earth that we walk on. The results are captured in photographs and become the inspiration for our textile-based products.

Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?

After the success of our capsule collection with the Guggenheim Museum Store last Fall, we have greatly expanded our line of outwear and jackets. I am looking forward to sharing more apparel at RISD Craft this year!

Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?

Anchal’s quilts were recently featured in the windows of every Madewell store across the country in tangent with the launch of their Fair Trade Certified denim line.

To see more of Colleen’s work, visit www.anchalproject.org