Today we’d like to introduce you to Mo Green.
Hi Mo, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
– I always liked making and going to art class since I was little. I remember using all the “how to draw books” and trying to fill up sketchbooks. I think the earliest indicators I would be doing what I do now, graphic design and fashion, were making bullet journal planners and sewing with my grandma. I realize now with every new layout I was learning how to use grids and design publications. Sewing from patterns provided a strong foundation in industry quality garment construction using a home sewing machine. In high school I was mainly drawing. I started sewing again after the pandemic began. My first design I sewed was a little orange lunchbox I still use today. I only applied to a few schools, one of which was Maryland Institute College of Art. I submitted mostly drawings, with a few photos, a wearable soft sculpture and some paper mache in my portfolio. I remember crying when I got accepted. I wasn’t very confident in myself or my work at the time. I started out as an illustration major but switched to graphic design. Best decision ever. I love graphic design so much. It’s so intuitive to me. As for fashion, that has been my minor at school but much of my pattern drafting skills are self taught. I was a designer in the 29th Annual Benefit Fashion Show, Flourish. I debuted my collection Rodeo, a collection inspired by the often forgotten and untold perseverance of Black cowboys in the United States. I took a break from work last year when I studied abroad in Japan studying saori weaving and Japanese language. This current school year I directed the 31st Annual Benefit Fashion Show, was a designer in Multi Media Event 2025: Melodrama, and created the brand RIVERROAD for my graphic design thesis. The main deliverable for my thesis was Catalog of Constructed Kinship a photobook that synthesizes my graphic design and fashion practices. It explores the tenderness and tension in family found and born. It’s available for sale now via instagram direct message.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
– I would say it’s been a pretty smooth road. I think continuing to make what I want to and taking classes in what I’m interested in has helped me develop my taste, voice and confidence. The work keeps feeling more genuine and authentic to me.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
– I do brand, publication and fashion design. I specialize in color scheme sensibilities, typeface design, and custom garment making. I am definitely more known for my work in fashion. Other students are surprised when I tell them I am a graphic design major, since most of my larger public facing work is in fashion. I am most proud of my current project RIVERROAD. It’s a combination of everything I love to do, choreography, branding, fashion design. I grew up doing ballet for 10 years so it was really rewarding choreographing a performance for my 10 models wearing the clothes I made. What sets me apart from others is my empathy. I use found material when I can to care for the world and give those items a new life. I genuinely care about and respect my friends, models, and collaborators. I think this comes across in my work.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
– I see fashion going towards more slow fashion, small batch, independent designer, one of one. I think TikTok and Instagram have really democratized becoming a relevant designer able to make a living. You don’t need that much of a following to be able to support yourself making made to order, custom garments. I am glad to be part of this community. Graphic design is so much harder to predict. I think it’s going to keep diverging between corporate and more studio based practices. A lot of the people around me see design as art and put that kind of craftsmanship and care into their projects. But I think with the corporate class continuing to devalue artists and insert AI into everything it will be harder to get a job or for businesses to see the worth in hiring someone. What is good though, is us continuing to design for each other and reaching out to each for zines, flyers, merch, small projects.
Pricing:
- Catalog of Constructed Kinship- $45
- Tote bags- $45
- Garments- custom, made to order, inquire for prices
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mogreen.xyz/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momostudioo?igsh=YWcyNHFpc2VmZng%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: Check out Mo Green’s profile on LinkedIn
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@momostudioo?si=f3lo0B9pwCMkXbys
