"Nothing feels the same,
every project is unique."

Reduce – reuse – recycle! This is a mission Nicole McLaughlin is trying to live to the fullest. We had the pleasure to welcome the New York-based designer at our PUMA headquarters this week. Nicole’s art is all about upcycling and sustainable fashion. Whether it is transforming an old PUMA basketball into a pump up glove or a T7 tracksuit made of PUMA sample backpacks: The unexpected translation of materials allows Nicole to uniquely highlight the sustainability message to a wider audience. Her 788.000 followers on instagram would probably agree. CATch Up had a speed interview with Nicole to get to know her a bit better. She also talks about her unique work and style, her perception around waste and sustainable design, planned PUMA projects and her significant focus on workshops to help people realize the possibilities of pre-existing items.

 

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15 QUESTIONS IN TWO MINUTES!
SPEED INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE MC LAUGHLIN

Asked about a specific moment when she realised she wanted to be a full-time artist, Nicole replies: “I realized there is so much stuff in the fashion industry that hasn´t really been claimed. There is a lot of potential and materials that is getting so easily discarded. I was having so much fun making things out of it. It was a realization that I could do this as a job. I can do this honestly forever and it is always different. Nothing feels the same, every project feels unique.” If you look at her instagram channel, you can really feel the fun she must have during the creation process. The fun really translates through her work. “Sustainability is a tough topic and it’s difficult for people to have hope when they think about it, especially within fashion. It is a huge contributor to waste. So, to show people that there is fun to be had and everyone can get involved. This is important to me.” Nicole makes this fun sustainable fashion accessible to a wider audience.

Where does she take her inspiration from? “I know it sounds so cheesy, but I get it from everything. I think it’s more about helping me to see the potential in everything. I can go for a walk in the city or in the forest and still be inspired by the materials and structures. I think it has helped me a lot to be more aware of my surroundings. It also helps you realise that you don’t need as much as you think, especially to create something. I think that’s cool and exciting. We tend to think that we need the perfect tools and machines to make fashion and art.“

 

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During her stay at the PUMA HQ, Nicole also paid our PUMA Archive a visit. When she tells us about it, her eyes shine: “I was freaking out. It was my favorite. I think it is important to understand where the products came from to build new innovation. There are a lot of really fun and inspirational things in the archive.” Nicole particularly liked all the PUMA water shoes and she wasn’t aware of PUMA’s history in ice skating “It was cool to see them and to learn more about PUMA’s heritage in that field.”

I her career going forward, Nicole would love to focus more on education. “I am looking at it as a personal exploration. I´d love to continue to excite people about upcycling and to show them how to get involved in it. My biggest dream would be to have a museum, where people could come and mess around, mostly kids. Where they can come and play and explore and learn more about upcycling in a fun way.”

Education and having fun is important for Nicole. She also wants to convey this in the workshops she gives. Workshops with PUMA designers are also planned. “I really hope that the designers can go crazy and feel that there are no limits. Maybe I can help to inspire future designs somehow.“