A little back story behind the big idea that is Moesel
A conversation with Moesel founder and owner, Jacqueline Moesel. By Andrea Genevieve of Andrea Genevieve Creative
Q: Tell us about the first collection. How did Moesel come to be?
JM: My very good friend from Peru and I started the project together with an interest in creating products that would highlight the artistry and craftmanship in Peru. At the beginning of this project back in 2013, I had just had a baby and was constantly thinking of children’s clothing designs. For me, it seemed like options were limited. I loved the idea of designing clothes for kiddos that would highlight the high-quality work and hand detailing I had seen come out of Lima, while providing more work for these skilled artisans.
Q: Where did you come up with the name Moesel?
JM: Moesel is a family name with a fashion history. It is my great grandmother’s last name, my maternal grandmother’s maiden name, and my middle name. My great grandmother made clothing for my grandmother during the Depression era and then later my grandmother went on to receive a degree in Fashion Design in the late 1930’s. Following school, my grandmother designed and made many of my mother’s clothes, which were often very fashionable statement pieces for the time.
For me, the name Moesel symbolizes generations of skilled craft and utility combined with a love for fashion and style – all of which are elements I hope to uphold with this project.
Q: Where did you find inspiration for the colors and design for this first collection?
JM: The colors pull from both the culture and landscape found in coastal Peru and Lima – the traditional textiles, the markets, city cabs and buses, the ocean, and foliage.
Q: Do you have a background in fashion?
JM: I have loved fashion since I was very young. As a child, I spent hours upon hours drawing and designing clothes. I did not end up following that interest into my education, but instead I went into a professional career working in social services and with social programs. The common thread throughout my work has been an interest in improving the lives of others and the systems we live in through direct service and policy initiatives.
Moesel as a project is particularly exciting for me because it brings together so many parts of my life. I think of it as the perfect Venn diagram – intersecting my love of fashion and design with my desire to create improved structures and processes.
Q: What does the first collection look like?
JM: The first collection is a small batch production of five different sweaters in bright color for small kiddos. All sweaters are designed to highlight the hand detailing of the women’s collective. For this first batch we are offering sizes 2/3T and 4/5T.
Q: What is it like working with an artisan collective? Why is this an important part of your business model?
JM: Supporting the work of a small manufacturer of artisans and the women’s collective is a major driver behind this project. Martin Pacory comes from a long history of work with textiles, carrying on the traditions of three generations and the women’s collective, led by Margarita del Bordado, supports the work of women seamstresses in her Lima neighborhood.
In November of 2016, I was able to visit the makers and see the production process in action. I am so fortunate to work with and support these highly-skilled artisans. They are amazingly talented.
Q: Do you plan to add more pieces to Moesel in the future? If so, what are some of your ideas?
JM: I am currently working on another collection of sweaters for release in 2018, and at the request of my four-year-old, dresses and skirts. Stay tuned!