From the Home Office to your closet…

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Have you ever wondered where your clothes come from? Thought about what they looked like, from initial sketch to finished product? For Rachel Powell, one of our in-house designers for FP Movement, that’s just part of her job.

Free People: So, tell us a little about your role and day-to-day routine. And how long have you been with FP?

Rachel: I’ve been here for five years! I’ve been in Movement since I started, in the “to-and-from” section, so I design everything that isn’t performance bras and leggings. When it comes to designing, what I love about Free People is that we do our own mocks that I’m able to sew myself. I love getting pieces from vintage clothing stores to start from and then sewing them at home or in the office to combine different ideas or elements and bring them to life in new, fresh ways. On the backend, I communicate with factories and give them all the details they need, like the trims, buttons, snaps, zippers, and all of that.

FP: From where do you get your design inspiration?

R: I pull inspiration from anything. One of these mocks started out as a dirty vintage jersey that I turned into a dress. If I see someone on the street, I try to ask them where they got their clothes. I like to use social media or Pinterest to organize my ideas, but I also love thrift shopping too. That’s where I get a lot of samples to start from in terms of mocking or ideation.

FP: So you do a lot of thinking and designing outside of your work schedule?

R: Definitely. I always think about what tiny details could look like in a design, and then the idea goes from there.

FP: Do you have a background in design? Did you go to school for it?

R: So I used to watch “That’s So Raven” — it was my favorite show, and [Raven] sewed. My grandma knew how to sew, so she taught me how to sew and bought me a sewing machine. Then I saw “Mean Girls” and wanted one of the outfits, a zip-up and a mini skirt. So I sketched it out with my grandma and that’s how I started. I went to camps in the summers to perfect it and went to a pre-college program. I eventually ended up at Cornell University’s fashion program.

FP: How did you find yourself at Free People?

R: When I came for my in-person interview and met the team, it sealed the deal. I love the office and campus; it was such a change from New York for me. I love the office dogs and this place is very unique; it’s visually very stimulating with the colors and samples everywhere.

FP: Tell us a little bit about your personal style. What are your inspirations?

R: I used to be an outfit planner, but then I’d wake up with a different mood in the morning so I usually just wear whatever I’m feeling that day. I’m a big Rihanna girl because she can mix and match so many different styles. I like to mix hard and soft, and oversized with other shapes.

FP: What’s a wardrobe staple you can’t live without?

R: Oh my god, these jeans. The Citizens of Humanity Horseshoe Jeans, I would buy them in every color! These are the perfect jeans for literally everything, I’ll never stop wearing them.

FP: What about your favorite FP Movement piece?

R: I’ve been loving the Sprint To The Finish Hoodie, it’s also my design! I’ve been living in that at home, I need another color soon.

FP: What’s the one FP Movement piece you’re most proud of?

R: The one I showed before, the one that was inspired by the vintage jersey. It was the First Position Dress. I turned it into a dress; we don’t usually do dresses for Movement, so that was a fun way to adopt that silhouette. It speaks to the Movement customer with the sporty element, but with the Free People hand-touched identifier — that was a big win for me.

From sketch to store, your favorite FP Movement pieces are designed in-house by our talented team — shop Rachel's creations below!