Skip to main content

Rumpl x Nicole McLaughlin: One-of-One

THE BASICS
 

Name:
Nicole McLaughlin

Residence:
New York

Occupation:
Designer
Nicole wearing one-of-one vest designed with Rumpl samples

We teamed up with artist, designer, and upcycler Nicole McLaughlin to create a one-of-one outfit made from samples, unsellable returns, and damaged Rumpl products, and we're giving this set away on Rumpl.com. In addition to partnering with Nicole, we’re donating $10,000 to WeGotNext, a nonprofit that promotes diversity in the outdoors.

We caught up with Nicole to learn more about her journey as an artist and what her ultimate goal is for creating these unique, one-of-one pieces.

Who is Nicole McLaughlin?

A cheesy popcorn lover. A wall climber. A nature observer. A designer focused on sustainability.

Your focus has been on taking existing materials to create something new. How have your technical skills as a designer developed over the past couple years?  

When I started on this journey, it was me and a hot glue gun. As time went on my skills improved. I have a lot of machinery at the studio nowadays, but my glue gun is still by my side.

How do the outdoors inspire your work? What are some of your favorite places to go in or around New York City?

Growing up exposed to the outdoors made me aware of sustainability from an early age. It’s a constant source of inspiration to me now. In New York, I love walking around, going to parks, and climbing at my outdoor gym. Everything about the city inspires me, even its trash.

Nicole McLaughlin designed Rumpl vest laying in glass by Rumpl blanket
Nicole McLaughlin designed Rumpl shorts hanging on rock climbing wall
Nicole wearing one-of-one vest designed with Rumpl samples

What designers, brands, or people inspire you?

I think anyone who’s making a conscious decision to do better and be better is pretty inspiring. I’m a big fan of outdoor brands and those who focus on making clothing/goods that last.

Now, to the product. What did you love most about creating this Rumpl piece? Where did you start?

The materials dictated a lot of my ideas. The stuff sacks are so iconic to Rumpl that I wanted to highlight them. Visually, they were reminiscent of floatation devices so I wanted to highlight that, but also keep it as functional as possible, retaining access to all the blankets. The shorts utilized all the excess material so there was no waste but also complimented the vest through color pattern and functionality with maximum storage.

In 2021, it seems like every brand has some focus on sustainability. Why is it critical that companies continue to double-down on their efforts?

We really need to address what sustainability is rather than what brands want it to be to suit their needs. We need to see circularity being properly implemented, we need to see less waste, and we need to change the way products are viewed and consumed. The responsibility seems to be all on consumers rather than these huge companies that are responsible for 90% of carbon emissions. Where’s the balance? We need to preserve and push forward and pressure these companies to change.

What can people do in their everyday purchasing decisions to think about long-term effects of that purchase?

It starts from, do I really need it versus want it? Consumer habits are difficult to change and navigate. People really approach buying from so many personal POVs. The day, the time, it all has an effect. But ultimately, we need to start by buying less.

We love that you’ve partnered with brands and designers to drive awareness to nonprofits. We’re raffling off this Rumpl piece with proceeds going to WeGotNext. Why is supporting nonprofits important to you? 

As someone who’s trying to start my own nonprofit, I understand how important funding is to its survival and growth. The fact that nonprofits aren’t supported year round or have partnerships with brands doesn’t make sense. Why isn’t this a part of normal brand policy? Feels like a no-brainer when you’re supporting something that benefits people from all walks of life and uplifts a community. 

"I think anyone who’s making a conscious decision to do better and be better is pretty inspiring."

Fabric flatlays with Nicole McLaughlin and Rumpl fabric tags laid on top
Nicole wearing one-of-one vest designed with Rumpl samples

Where is Nicole McLaughlin in 3-5 years?

Probably on the floor, surrounded by scraps, trying to find ways to upcycle something completely obscure into a functional piece, with a podcast blasting and my water bottle close by.

Sports or clubs in high school? What was your favorite?

I played Lacrosse, was a member of the Environmental Club and played in the school band. Band was my favorite. It required as much dedication as school and was very much a lifestyle choice. I did marching band, concert, and percussion ensemble.
 

What's your favorite thing to cook at home?

Fried Rice.

What's your favorite board game?

Connect Four.

What's something you're secretly super good at that no one knows about?

Go Karting. I only did it a couple of times, but apparently, I have a knack and am very speedy.

What's a new skill or hobby you want to get into?

Welding.

 

Learn more about Nicole's work here.

Follow her @nicolemclaughlin

Rumpl | Nicole McLaughlin Vest combo
Sold out


from Rumpl - Journal https://ift.tt/3Cbp4LN
https://ift.tt/3qo2uIU

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Adventure & Cozy Vol 2

A weekly blog by Rumpl dedicated to all things Adventure & Cozy! We include stories from around the world, epic photos, timely memes, buzzin’ playlists, and of course –– the cool things Rumpl customers share with us! This Week’s Newsletter What To Watch 🎥 What To Read 📚 Photo of the Week 📸 Where to Travel 🚁 What to Listen To 🎶 QUICK HITS 📰 Red Bull Heavy Metal was Duluth, Minnesota’s first Street Snowboarding competition since 2003 During the pandemic, a chick named Iniko became an ambassador for conservation from her redwood nest. Meet the Woman who helped set a speed record on a classic alpine ski route   LEARNING TO DROWN - THE NORTH FACE Learning to Drown follows the life and career of professional snowboarder Jess Kimura as she unapologetically shatters stereotypes with her own brand of unwavering determination and go-for-broke mentality. After the tragic death of Jess's partner at the height of her career, she spiraled in...

Meet RAD Artist: Aaron Kai

THE BASICS   Name: Aaron Kai Residence: Lose Angeles, California Occupation: Artist The Rumpl Artist Division (R.A.D.) is a collaborative program that showcases the work of accomplished and upcoming artists who use diverse mediums to inspire creativity in impassioned communities around the world.   LEARN MORE > Hailing from Hilo, Hawaii, artist, husband, and father, Aaron Kai brings his signature interpretation of the Hokusai Great Wave to The Original Puffy Blanket.   What’s your name, where are you from, and what do you do? My name is Aaron Kai. I’m an Artist from Hilo, Hawaii currently living in Los Angeles.   Tell us about how you got connected with Rumpl. I connected with Rumpl through a friend of mine who was looking for an opportunity to do a collab with an original artist. It was kinda cool having a connection with someone from Hawaii and working together on a project on the mainland like this.   Te...

Meet RAD Artist Brett Stenson

THE BASICS   Name: Brett Stenson Residence: Portland, OR Occupation: Illustrator & Graphic Designer Our latest RAD collaboration is with Brett Stenson, a Portland-based illustrator and graphic designer. Brett’s style as an artist is largely inspired by the outdoors, his enthusiasm for protecting wildlife and growing up in the Midwest. We caught up with Brett to talk about life, art and his recent collaboration with Rumpl: The Original Puffy Blanket - Fish Are Fly. Who you are and what do you do? My name is Brett Stenson! I am a multi-disciplinary artist, designer, letterer, and haphazardly-ambitious craftsperson who specializes in simplistic illustration, busted folky letters and sculptural figures inspired by the outdoors and our connection to the natural world. One would say, based on my massive and semi-regrettable stomach tattoo that I am indeed from the Midwest, however I lived everywhere from Hilo, Hawaii to Ayer, Massachusetts...