090: A New View of Arts and Crafts through the Lens of CCI

Catalyst is a Creative Industries podcast, from Chapman University. Each episode features Chapman students who have completed a Podcasting course through the Center for Creative and Cultural Industries at the university. Students who had no podcasting experience or technical ability in the genre before taking the course were able to contribute all the segments to Catalyst this season with the goal being that they will take this ‘hands-on’ experience and carry it over to the launching of their very own series. Each episode of Season 11 will feature one to two different interviews conducted by CCI students, exploring different aspects of the Creative and Cultural Industries.

This week we start Catalyst with an interview by Keri Wendt who speaks with Taylor Ross, co-founder of Bati Goods. Bati Goods, which was established in 2017, specializes in leather goods. Ross shares the fascinating story behind building a company in the heart of Paraguay, including the impetus behind the creation of Bati Goods, which sells hand-made leather-wrapped goods sourced directly from Paraguay. A portion of the profits from Bati Goods goes back to the students at The Macchi School in Tobati, a school that offers a top-notch college preparatory education, as a way to give back to the local community. Wendt and Ross discuss the culture differences between Paraguay and LA, and some of what goes into running an artisan business in a foreign country, giving the listener valuable insights and unique perspectives on this his small-business start-up and how it stands out from the rest.

The second interview this week is conducted Ella Flanders, who sat down to talk with senior Fiber Arts major/experimental fashion design minor at the Maryland Institute College of Art, Maia Malakoff. They discuss how Malakoff explores the use of unconventional materials pushing the boundaries of conventional clothing collections, and touch on the difficulties of collaboration in an environment that praises individual creativity. Despite these challenges, Maia expresses how rewarding the experience of skill-sharing with her peers is and acquiring new techniques through collaborative efforts. The pair also cover how Malakoff draws inspiration from her background in dance which allows her to draw connection between movement and garments, seeking to convey how clothing can seamlessly interact with the human body. They conclude the interview by pondering Maia’s plans for the future and her career aspirations in the fashion industry.