WELL / AWARE Show 013: Rituals to Support the Creative Process with Caitlin Mociun

Caitlin Mociun — I’m not sure she can be defined anything other than a visionary. I’m prone to say she’s a jewelry designer because she came into my life as a jewelry designer, but she’s much more than that. She’s an entrepreneur, clothing designer, seeker, earth-lover, practitioner and curator. I found her, thank goodness, after doing tons of research on engagement rings a couple summers ago and have been intrigued by her work since.

Her unconventional stone cluster rings and gemstone pairings are at the forefront of design — there’s nothing else like them. She might be most known for her diamonds, but her store is stocked with home goods that are just as unique: knives with turquoise handles, bags from Brooklyn-based brand Baggu, handwoven baskets, wall hangings and of course, cases of jewelry that host a mix of her namesake range and antique finds from around the world. Her selection of goods is aesthetically incredible, part desert-whimsy and part artisan. Most things she carries works of art unto themselves.

She started with a successful clothing line that no longer exists because she’s become disenchanted by the fast-paced lifestyle that comes with designing season after season, and ends with a lot of waste. After a few successful runs with jewelry, which she loves because it minimizes waste and supports the local community, she listened to her gut (!) and started to build the empire that’s shaking up conventional design and making lots of forward thinking, eco-minded folk very, very happy.

When I started following @mociun on Instagram, I became more intrigued by her creative process. Everything she does is so different from the indie jewelry landscape and has proven to be quite successful even with higher price points. She travels four months out of the year and has created a home that’s a sanctuary, not an office space like many entrepreneurs I know (ahem, including yours truly). Also, the bio on her website reads, “At a young age she developed an intense fear of coyotes and spent large amounts of time pretending to be an appaloosa.” How could I not invite her on the show?

This episode is for anyone who wants to tune in to the voice within. Caitlin credits her success as designer and shop owner to her ability to go with her gut — and stresses that even if something is, in her words, a complete failure — it still serves a purpose in your journey. It’s also ideal for anyone looking for ideas to invigorate his or her own creativity. Business owners, listen up! There’s tons of valuable insights for you in this conversation.

Among other things, we discuss:

* social media strategy and Instagram growth

* rituals and routines that support the creative process

* how she got to feeling comfortable in her own skin

* how her eccentric background contributed to the “dissatisfaction” that drove her to design

* how healers have helped her break through personal growth plateaus

* the importance of travel and time away from work

* why she’s shutting down her newly-launched wedding dress line

* the role of “complete failure” in major success

Show Caitlin some love if her episode is resonating — her social channels are listed below. Happy listening!

SHOW NOTES:

Mociun online boutiq...