You never know when your unique palette of skills may one day serendipitously combine to steer your career in the right direction.

This is what happened for Canadian Designer Michelle Pang of Misheo, a brand specializing in luxurious scarves and nature-themed art prints. She had never expected to pursue art as a career until she had to think about post-secondary education. Her friends and family encouraged her to pursue her art studies, and she decided to study illustration and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree soon after. Michelle shares that although the field is challenging at times, the ability to do something you love for a career makes it worth it.

Prior to starting Misheo, Michelle had a small business selling felted scarves. Each piece was handmade and it was a very hands-on process, so after a few years she had the idea to combine her illustration skills with her love of making scarves, and thus Misheo was born. Now, her illustrations are worn as a colorful fashion accessory and make a statement by promoting nature’s beauty.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Michelle to learn more about her design process and inspiration, and how her experience and learnings have helped optimize her business over the past few years.

M: Michelle Pang, Owner, Misheo

Your creations depict rare wildlife, local fauna and flora, and at-risk species.  What triggered your passion and interest in showcasing these scenes in your work?

M: I think just the state of how the world is at the moment. There are so many animals being threatened by issues such as habitat loss, pollution, and illegal trade. I’ve had a lifelong passion for animals, and I love discovering new plants, so it was clear that I should include them in my art.

Take us through the design process of your works. Was there trial and error before you arrived at this optimized process?

M: Yes, it took many years of experimenting with different mediums before I came up with a process that really made sense to me.  Before Misheo, I used to work with traditional acrylic and oil paints.  Now, I mainly work with pencil, digital, and sometimes watercolor.  Part of the reason that I came up with this process is because I feel that it is more ecofriendly.  Coloring on the computer also allows me to make multiple color options without ruining my initial drawing!

How and why did you select the type of silk you use for your handcrafted illustrations?

M: Currently, I mainly use two types of silk for my work, silk twill and silk chiffon. Silk twill is wonderful because of its tight weave and natural sheen, which shows detail and color brilliantly. Silk chiffon is more see through, so I enjoy using this fabric for larger scarves as the style is more wearable on a daily basis.

It has been a few years since you established the brand in 2016, what are some lessons you have learned along the way in terms of building your own brand?

M: I think it’s important to be authentic when building a brand and make sure that your core values align with what you are really doing. When you have a passion for creating, it will really show in your work. People can see right through you if you are just making something up!

What do you hope to accomplish with the Misheo brand in the long term? What would be a dream project for you?

M: I hope to reach a wider audience by having our products in stores across the world, including boutiques, museum shops, and select department stores. I would also love to be able to partner with various charities to promote and support wildlife conservation.

We want to thank Michelle for sharing her story and her design process with us so we could find out more about up and coming talent in the City of Vancouver. Though her brand started in 2016, many businesses often take a few years to really start getting their footing, optimizing the right processes and ‘rhythms’ for their business. We look forward to witnessing Misheo’s next steps in the art and design field as the brand grows to reach a global audience.

Photos courtesy of Misheo