No two projects are the same . “ We don ’ t like to repeat ,” Olarte says . “ We want every client to have their own distinctive look .” But one similarity is that most components feature a continuous piece of line . “ We don ’ t cut rope . You can see where the piece started and where it ends ,” he adds . “ There is something Zen about a piece that ’ s made from just one piece of rope .”
SHAPED BY THE SURF INDUSTRY Olarte was introduced to his craft as a child when his mom asked him to macrame plant hangers . “ I ’ m a good son , you know , so I learned how to make them ,” he chuckles . He made more and started selling at craft fairs , but macrame as an art form — a career — wouldn ’ t come until years later .
Growing up in Wilmington , a suburban neighborhood in Los Angeles , Olarte also lived in Lahaina , Maui , and a few other places before settling in Laguna Beach in the 1970s . He ’ d frequently visited since high school to surf and attend Sawdust Arts Festival , finding that the town ’ s “ allaround vibe was really beautiful ,” he says .
In the early 1980s , he and a partner curated coveted mid century vintage pieces for Locals Only , a boutique clothing store carrying items like quality 1940s gabardine Hawaiian shirts . When it closed more than two decades later , Olarte found a career as a successful prop stylist for surf-industry brands like Stüssy , Quiksilver and Gotcha . His connections serendipitously nudged him toward his future calling .
“ Don ’ t you know how to do macrame ?” The question came during a Roxy photo shoot from an art director who wanted a bohemian backdrop woven with driftwood and seashells .
“ I made it 12 feet by 7 feet — big ,” Olarte emphasizes . “ I was like , ‘ Oh , my gosh , here it is . … Here ’ s my new chapter .’ ”
Modern surf-inspired brands — including Laguna-based Roark , and Outerknown , co-founded by legendary surfer Kelly Slater and renowned designer John Moore — are now among the highprofile clients commissioning Olarte ’ s elaborate work to enhance their retail spaces across the globe .
Artist Jim Olarte ’ s macrame artwork can be sized for a living room , a retail shop or even a photo shoot set for surfinspired brands .
While rope is typically used , even material like strands of kelp can be turned into interesting macrame pieces .
COURTESY OF JIM OLARTE AND COOPER ROOT
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