Instagram Stories: @AmelieMancini
Meet a Brooklyn-based artist and designer whose eclectic aesthetic is as spirited as her well-styled Instagram feed.
On a sunny floor of a characteristically industrial building on the not-so-charming border of Ridgewood, Bushwick, and Maspeth, is the whimsically patterned world of French artist and designer, Amelie Mancini. Her eponymously named print-cut-and-sew studio is making a serious mark on Brooklyn’s crowded maker landscape. The designer’s signature motifs of fanciful ferns, spikey succulents and painterly palms seem to come to life on a graphically printed range of small batch leather and cloth accessories, all made in-house.
“I love the fact that printing allows me to make art that people can bring into their homes and use in everyday life,” gushes Mancini. Her playful aesthetic is a reflection of life’s little pleasures that she holds dear, inspired by overgrown botanicals, flea market finds, architectural curiosities and a full passport. Mancini’s enviable Instagram feed contains a delightful edit of shadowy workspaces, eclectic interiors, objets d’art, and designs-in-progress. She tells stories of beloved relatives with a shared collector’s spirit and documents the adventures of her feline accomplice, Ladybird. Keep reading to learn more about the artist’s handcrafted wares, varied sources of inspiration and her self-professed love affair with New York City.
New York State of Mind
I grew up in Lyon, France and as far back as I can remember I’ve had a sense of wanderlust. For most of my twenties I felt comfort in being unattached, free to travel, to pick up and go at any moment. New York has always seemed like a magical place to me, the stuff of rock-n-roll music and movies. One day on a whim, a friend and I booked tickets from Paris and as soon as we landed I knew I would eventually live there. I kept coming back to visit and one day, I never left. No matter who you are, you can feel at home in New York.
On Keeping It Local
Everything is handmade in our studio—from drawing to carving to printing to sewing—which gives us room to experiment with new designs and colors without the high minimums that a typical factory would require. There’s pride in doing everything ourselves, and I think our customers appreciate that. When I started in 2013 it was just me, designing the patterns, printing them, cutting fabric and sewing on my own. I love working with my hands and I actually get anxiety if I’m not making—whether it be cooking, knitting, carving spoons, arranging flowers or drawing.
A LIFE WELL-COLLECTED
My favorite things are pieces I inherited from my grandmother, who was herself a collector of small treasures—pretty rocks, an old copper pitcher, a fossil, arrowheads she framed. My apartment is filled with thrifted furniture and found treasures, mostly from eBay, Craigslist and antique stores. I collect oddities like beach finds, pine cones and bird bones, but I also curate artisan ceramics, artwork, plants and textiles. I keep buying blankets, rugs and weavings and I have nowhere to put them! Creating a cozy home surrounded by things I truly love is essential.
FOUND INSPIRATION
I look to artists like Matisse, Hockney, the Eameses and Sonia Delaunay to feel invigorated by their energy and constant creativity. It’s easy to fall in an artistic rut, but a visit at the Met or the Botanical Gardens always cures it. On my Instagram, you’ll find behind the scenes photos and product shots, but also personal moments from my everyday life. I like to be able to share stories of the amazing people I’m related to. I’m very lucky to have been born into a family of artists and makers, people who are not afraid to take risks, follow their dreams, and value each other and our shared family heritage.
