User:Danielafbh/sandbox

Nicole McLaughlin
Nicole McLaughlin (born June 18, 1993, age 28) is a New York based designer. Nicole McLauglin has always been good at two things, sports and side projects, with those two passions she has built a cult following for her reworked pieces. Nicole McLaughlin is known for up cycling and reworking everyday items or items one may see as trash and create something new, whether it is functional or meant to be art she gives old items a new purpose. Nicole has transformed old volleyballs into slippers, camera bags into bralettes, and crafted board shorts from packets of Haribo gummies. This unexpected translation of materials allows her to uniquely highlight the message of sustainability, a key element to her success in changing the perception around waste and sustainable design.

Website: https://nicolemclaughlin.com

Instagram: @nicolemclaughlin

Early Life
McLaughlin’s background is somewhat unconventional. Her parents are both artistic and always encouraged her to draw and create as a child, but art eventually took the back seat to her passion for sign language. “At around age 15, I started dating a guy who was deaf, but I knew no sign language so I had to learn it,” she says. “It was an interesting time in my life because I discovered it was a more artistic language and I chose where to go to school because of that." After school, McLaughlin went on to study speech pathology at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. She soon realized that her degree was more about neurology and phonetics than an exploration of the “more artistic language” and decided to pursue design. She entered East Stroudsburg University’s small program for general media studies. “That was probably the best decision I have made because, since it wasn’t an art school, I would use the time and the equipment that I had to do personal projects on the weekends and at night,” she explains.

Career
Nicole McLaughlin is a self taught designer, she had no previous education in fashion or industrial design. While studying general media studies at East Stroudsburg University she would use her free time to work on personal projects involving photography and graphic design to later hope to get an internship with Reebok. McLaughlin was unsure of her possibilities getting the internship since she was not in art school, however she got the internship and was then hired on at Reebok shortly before graduating. She started working at Reebok as a graphic designer but was able to learn more about the process behind apparel and footwear. This is where Nicole McLaughlin says she saw the apparel industry as "a whole new world." “I had to learn about footwear and apparel, construction and patterns, and then the marketing part of it. I stayed in University mode and spent lots of late nights learning.” She would cut up old materials or old samples that she would find laying around the office and would experiment with them. McLaughlin eventually quit her job at Reebok to pursue freelance and consulting work.

Projects & Collaborations
In 2020 McLaughlin collaborated with Crocs to create her very own Croc. She created the Campsite Classic Clog it is equipped with fully functional gear, such as an actual working light, a small pouch, a bundle of rope, a compass, along with a collar that has a bungee cinch and loops. The Croc sold out and is now being resold at a higher value. Technical outerwear company Arc'teryx named Nicole McLaughlin their first ever design ambassador, they are hoping she can help with sustainability in their company. Nicole is currently developing a non-profit organization that helps provide much-needed design resources to young people, connecting large companies – especially those with deadstock and overstock materials – to school and universities in need. She is working towards leading a regular series of workshops with a continued focus on sustainability, and eventually, a summer program concentrating on education and skill-based growth. The curriculum will teach you that design is more than just drawing and making, but an understanding of 'how' and 'why' and what we can do to change the future. The designer has an upcoming partnership with PUMA, not much has been said but the designer will be “creating unique pieces that highlight the potential of upcycling by using samples, deadstock and other PUMA materials.” Nicole McLaughlin has many collaborations in the works that have yet to be released.

Accomplishments

 * Collaboration with Crocs.
 * Arc'teryx's first ever design ambassador.
 * Created a non profit to connect young creatives and larger companies that can supply their headstock materials.
 * Partnership with PUMA.
 * Partnership with Russel Athletics.