Wanted Design Look Book Interview
Although WantedDesign Manhattan was cancelled this year, those of us selected to show at Look Book didn't want to forfeit the chance to get to know the other designers whose work would've been exhibiting beside ours so we have organized a series of round-robin interviews to spend some of our quarantine time together.
So I’m pleased to share the work of and my interview with Jessica Green of JG Switzer. Read on for some design inspiration, and check out the tagged brands below for more convos from 2020 Look Book'ers.
On a hot Friday night we got online with Jessica, the force behind a 7 ton needle felting machine that makes fabric from the wool of her heirloom sheep. JG Switzer makes wool blankets and pillows, and for Look Book they are showing an upholstery fabric that was developed collaboratively with Studio Ahead. We chatted over zoom, as one does these days, and asked what she can tell us about her work that we can’t see from the pictures. And that led us to the SHEEP! Jessica told us a bit about how there are so many different kinds of fleeces from so many kinds of sheep, but that there are so many domestic animals that end up endangered because industrial farming only values certain kinds of animals that are bred for purpose, while other interesting types fall out of favor. She told us about how one of her favorite sheep, the Shetlands, are on the equivalent of the endangered species list! Heirloom sheep are a passion of hers, she has an 8 acre farm in California and that is what lead to her rediscovery of an old material (wool!). We love old stuff in our studio too, so we felt very much in sync with Jessica’s mission & spirit.
One of the best things about a trade show and getting to know your entrepreneurial neighbors is digging up fun facts or surprising connections. Jessica did not disappoint:
• She is also an oil painter
• Her needle loom is named Luna
• It is one of only two of these needle looms of this size in the country (that she is aware of)
• The wool she buys would often be composted by farmers when there is no market to sell it
• She originally kept Luna in a coffee warehouse
• This is the third business she has started (clearly she is an experienced entrepreneur)
When our time was winding up, we told her about the farm camp our daughters go to in the summer, and that they love sheep (and goats, let’s be real) at least as much as she does….so we wrapped up with the promise of a virtual tour for kids & sheep…and that’s the way the best trade shows end, with the promise of more!!
