Ulla Johnson ~ Urban Gypsy

Bohemian Designs Inspired by Travel and Culture

Last month I went to NYC for a visit and got to visit with someone whose beautiful, bohemian, designs I  have been  admiring for a few years. Ulla Johnson‘s clothes evoke summer holidays in far away authentic places like Peru, Southern Italy, Greece, floaty gauzy dresses, tops and relaxed trousers that flatter the feminine. Ulla is a New York mama of three sprites, who gets her inspiration in those very far away places that her dresses belong. She is  traveling gypsy who wanders India and Peru in search of women artisans to create her textiles. Her studio was a dream come true for me. Vintage pieces that echoed her travels and bits of treasures on her shelves. 

For more bohemian styles and fashion, see The Local Rose.

1) Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Travel, vintage, books, watching women in the world. My husband works in contemporary art and I draw a lot of inspiration from painters such as Richard Diebenkorn and Lesley Vance, and the work of female artists such as Annie Albers and Louise Bourgeoise. I also love playing with flowers and use them a lot for color and print inspiration.

2) What drew you to India and Peru? The people, the craftsmanship?
Initially I was drawn to both places for their amazing raw materials such as cotton and alpaca but also the tradition of craft that is still very much alive in both these regions- the knitting and weaving and embroidery have all become key components in my collection.

3) What is your dream vacation?
Traveling anywhere beautiful and rich in material, historical, and culinary culture with my family where my husband and I can relax and the children can have fun. Also two weeks without my phone although that never happens.

4) Do you have a beauty secret?
Don’t overthink it.

5) What song or type of music describes your line?
So hard to say it changes every season! I have so many musical loves could never distill to one song or genre – early ska, 90’s hip hop, 40’s country music, Ethiopian jazz (to name a few) all of them inform my creative language.

6) What or where is your favorite meal?
Sunday night roast chicken at home.

7) Are you inspired by vintage? Do you have a muse or someone who represents your look?
Yes I love vintage but I am especially interested in traditional ethnic dress. My parents were archeologists and my mother collected everything from antique English lace frocks to Berber shawls to Serbian folk costumes and this cultural métissage is a dialogue I play with each season.

8) Are you a mermaid or forest fairy?
Both! I love the beach and the woods in equal measure but I also love the city and all it’s craziness.

9) Where can we find your lovely clothes
All Barney’s locations, Steven Alan, Shopbop and Revolve online, loads of small boutiques and specialty stores as well.

10) What book is on your nightstand?
New book of short stories by Lorrie Moore titled “Bark”. She is one of my all time favorites