Want to Work With Wildlife?
Illustrator Adriane Duckworth
Get ready to meet the most awesome illustrator — Adriane Duckworth. Adriane is the co-owner of The Wild (not to be confused with WILD magazine!). The Wild is a family-run company in Hamilton that designs and hand prints kids’ apparel. Adriane’s designs are filled with quirky animals (many of which are Canadian, like the moose, otter and fox)! Read on to find out what inspired Adriane to draw these wild and wonderful creatures!
What kinds of pieces do you design?
AD: My collection focuses mostly on animals, and I print my illustrations onto baby onesies, kids’ T-shirts and kids’ baseball tees. I also sew soft toys.
I know your designs are inspired by wildlife. Why wildlife? When did you start drawing animals?
AD: I have always loved animals so much, but when my kids were tiny and I was beginning to purchase baby clothing, everything that I found with animals on them was overly cutesy and I wanted to show animals in a more modern way. I also think it’s so important to teach children from day one how important animals are and why we should always treat them with empathy and protect them.
What does the natural world mean to you?
AD: The natural world, including the animals and nature that we are a part of, is truly the most important thing to take care of and cherish. We are such a small part of it ourselves, and we have so much power to take care of things and protect the world around us. And we must do so. As a child, I spent most of my time outside exploring, looking for butterflies and swimming in the lake up north with my Grandma. As a mom, I make it a huge priority to show my children the beauty of the world around us. In this age of video games and social media and so much screen time, I want my kids to see the pure beauty of what’s right outside our front door.
Have you ever created any fashion pieces of animals that are endangered?
AD: A few years back, I added a Rhinoceros to my collection, and yes, I do adore it very much. The thought that we haven’t been able to protect every animal on this Earth breaks my heart.
Not only do you show your love for animals by incorporating them into your designs, but you also have shown a love for the natural world by creating eco-friendly fashion. How are your pieces eco-friendly?
AD: When I print my garments, I use only water-based ecofriendly inks. These are great because they require no solvents or harmful chemicals in the cleanup process. When I ship my items, I use compostable tissue paper as opposed to plastic sleeves, and our parcels are shipped in recycled and recyclable mailers. Also, I would like to mention that our apparel is produced ethically in socially compliant WRAP-certified (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) factories that are sweatshop-free and childlabour-free. This is also very important to us.
What should kids study if they want to become eco-conscious fashion designers and illustrators like you?
AD: My advice would be to draw! I encourage my kids to draw all the time. I think having an artistic outlet is so important. The artistic element is the most important, and everything else can be learned later. I figured out screen-printing without any training, and everything else just fell into place! Studying business and marketing is also important — it’s what I went to school for.