Interview with Carolyn from Mudslinger

You may have noticed that we have kind of a thing for Mudslinger.  It was only last week that we were tipped off to their new line and store, and we couldn’t wait to share them with you.  So we spoke with Carolyn, the creator of the Mudslinger line, about Boys Fashion Month and she was awesome enough to contribute a giveaway and this interview.  So read up and enjoy a peek into the mind behind this awesome line!

There is some debate behind slim fitting vs. loose in boys clothing these days, what inspired you to go the slim route?

I love both cuts for boy’s wear. I have a loose fitting corduroy pant this fall that is verging on baggy, but my track pant and my denim are slim. I guess for the denim the slim fit just had more of an urban feel, which I prefer for denim. For the track pant, I wanted something that looked fantastic, but was as cozy as a pair of warm pajama pants, and my toddler sons seem to be happiest when they are wrapped, almost swaddled in their active wear– hence the super slim, legging-like cut. Also, while I realize that my collection is predominately a boy’s wear collection, I wanted it to be a little more unisex — I have seen a bunch of little girls look absolutely adorable in our line– and I felt the slim was a nice balance.

Was there any particular inspiration behind the coveralls in your FW10 collection?

I have always thought mechanics coveralls were the ideal clothing for boys. You have a one piece garment that is roomy enough to layer underneath if you need to, but can have sharp details that keep it from looking sloppy. I guess there is a little subversiveness in my coveralls because I really don’t like trying to dress little kids like adults, but I have always thought that coveralls make adults look like rolly polly kids.

What got you started working in children’s clothing design?

Nearly all my life I have designed and made clothes in some form or another, but my 2 sons sealed the deal for me and making children’s/boy’s clothing.

What sources of inspiration do you continually find yourself going back to, what are some new ones that have influenced your most recent collection?

I love the old world style of dressing children wherein children are not subject as much to the usual adult rules of gender dressing, but instead there are lots of child-specific clothing styles, like rompers and jon boys for example. I keep going back to classic pieces that I can tweak into more modern, sporty, and less fussy. I love beach trips and the sea and am always inspired by things nautical and stormy days. For my new collection, I think I was most inspired by my son’s imagination and his love of color. If I asked him to draw a sailor, he would paint him wearing a purple and green suit. And seriously, his favorite adjective is cozy. Thats sort of how I operate too.

Tell us a bit about your drive and purpose, your vision for your designs.

I just want to make beautiful, colorful clothes for kids that they feel cozy wearing. My 2 sons/my family are my drive and purpose. I want to have a family business.

What makes you tick as a designer, what direction do you find yourself returning to time and time again?

As a designer I sort of work in reverse. It’s like first I envision an ideal campaign shoot at the end and then I take it backwards until I reach the small picture of what I really want to create and start form there. It is kind of crazy, but I think it results in a collection that is cohesive but that maybe would have been a little more boring had I just started all together. This is my first *formal* season, so I can’t say I keep going back to things with Mudslinger, just yet– we’ll see what happens.

What current trends are you keeping track of? Any that you just can’t stand?

I like that more and more designers are making clothing that inspires children to play and be comfortable, instead of dress them up like little men and women. My absolute favorite right now is anything and everything by Wovenplay. They really create entire play worlds with their beautiful designs. I know this is a little passé but I seriously can’t stand skulls and other morbid/adult things on children’s clothing.

How do you feel that current trend affects your design?

I try not to let them. I feel like I have pretty classic tendencies, just like to give them a twist.

What do you feel makes your work unique?

I don’t really feel limited by a certain style or set of rules. I feel like Mudslinger clothes were designed very much in tandem with the moods and needs of my 2 sensitive, creative kids and I think it shows in my work.

What’s your favorite piece from your current line? Any all time favorite(s)?

Toss up between the coveralls and the skinny track pant. Visually, it is the coveralls, but my sons never want to take the track pants off because they love them so much, and I feel like they get a vote too.

Do you have a photo of your workspace you could share with our readers? It’s always interesting to see where the magic happens!

Yikes. I am in between spaces right now, so I just have a very crowded nook in my Brooklyn home.