creative unearthing podcast with emma freeman

Lauren Oland of Mezame Designs is a sustainable textile artist and zero waste weaver based in Austin, Texas. 

Lauren is passionate about sustainability and runs a zero waste studio where she uses only remnant fibers and fibers made or grown by small farms and artists. She creates wearable, functional weavings including bandana cowls, jean jackets with her weaving put into the back, shawls, tops, coasters, patches and mending kits. 

In this interview, we talk about:

-Her background studying apparel design and being a freelance teaching artist

-How she discovered weaving and developed her style that was influenced by learning the Japanese style of free form weaving called Saori

-How she approaches color in her work

-How her weaving connects to her deep musical background that runs in her family. She played piano for 12 years and find that weaving is like playing the piano. 

-The ways weaving and creating help her heal and process emotions and connect to a deeper place within herself and to the world

-How the pandemic and a move from the Twin Cities of Minnesota to Austin, Texas have impacted her art practice and business. 

-She shares that she is part of the LGBTQ community and how being raised in a strict religious home and not being fully accepted for who she was within the religion made her seek out more open spiritual expressions in her life and her art. 

Lauren is passionate about sustainability and runs a zero waste studio where she uses only remnant fibers and fibers made or grown by small farms and artists. She creates wearable, functional weavings including bandana cowls, jean jackets with her weaving put into the back, shawls, tops, coasters, patches and mending kits. 

You can find Lauren on Instagram at www.instagram.com/mezamedesigns.

Her Etsy shop is www.etsy.com/shop/mezamedesigns. 

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