For Summer '26 I was inspired by travel, tourists and locals. Growing up in Jackson I have always been interested in what it would be like to come here on vacation. Through tik tok I have gotten to see tourists versions of their vacation here. It is so interesting to me.
As an artist in a destination place I think of what I make as souvenirs of a place and time. I upcycled pieces to create this collection that I found here or they were souvenirs I got along my travels. I love to shop on vacation, I love when my things have a story of the shopping adventure I went on to find them. This is what I want to create with my collections and in my studio. I want to be apart of someone's shopping adventure. That is why its a little hard to find me, there is a little bit of an obstacle course. That is why everything is one-of-a-kind, you know no one else will ever have what you get from me. That is the ultimate luxury. Also you will have fun finding it whether you found me out in my tent at Teton Village where I have been popping up all summer or in the studio or online through my adventures in social media. But once you have that piece that is when the real fun begins!! I have been brought stories from all over of funny things that have happened to people in their Bow Jackets and clothes.
I upcycle things slowly over time, some of these pieces I started in summer '23 and the longer they stay with me the more I upcycle them. Some things I made more recently exploring things i'm into in the moment, the other joy of upcycling you can design what you are into momentarily. I am always inspired by fun and joy, I love having fun! Vacation is such a good way to step outside of day to day life and have fun. I have so much fun when I am sewing my dream pieces. I will literally start laughing all by myself in my studio when I am making something really silly. Clothes are very much meant to be fun.
I build my collections on the rack through design and merchandising. In my corporate design days I only worked for direct to consumer brands and this taught me a lot about merchandising. I love designing things as a set, its pieces that all go together in a wardrobe set for a time and place. This set I imagined a Cowgirl Mermaid was off on her vacation to Jackson Hole. She is very influential. She was going to document the trip on her social medias. She wanted to make sure no one else had looks like hers to stand out in person and online. She wanted to be comfortable but also meet the moment. She wanted to nod to the old west but wasn't interested in cowgirl cosplay. She loves natural materials and leathers. She appreciates small details. She wanted to be ready for anything. She had plans but was open to surprises. She needed several suitcases to be able to make sure she had all her looks. She was ready for her summer vacation in Jackson Hole!
To capture this collection I was so lucky to get the offer from Grace Peck to shoot on film. I recently inherited this epic mannequin that reminded me of the mannequins from the garment district in nyc in my fashion school days. I wanted her to be the star! Grace had the idea to head out to the Gros Ventres, we stuck to the classic road that locals and tourists love to drive and look for animals and views. We both talked about our connections and individual histories on that road. Its interesting to live in one place for so long that you live many different lives in a small radius. She is such a talented photographer this was a dream shoot. Seeing the mannequin on film outside brought my life size barbie dreams to life. This has been such an inspiring collection to bring to life.
If you are interested in trying on any of the pieces while you are in Jackson please reach out to come to the studio for an appointment, it will be a shopping adventure!!!
xo Courtney
Photos by Grace Peck learn more about her work here