Meet Claire Wright | Owner, Trailblazer, and Master Upholstress

We had the good fortune of connecting with Claire Wright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Claire, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is very hard as a business owner and often times I have been forced to make changes because of the demands of one or the other. For example, when I started my business ten years ago I would often work 14 hour days in the shop and even sleep on the floor some nights because I was too tired to drive home. I didn’t mind and as I was single and without children I could do this. Now, I am married and have a 2-year-old child so my personal life demands more of me. As much as I would love to spend 14 hours in the shop because that’s how much I love what I do, if I were to choose that my family life would suffer. I think choosing to prioritize other things besides my business has helped me expand in many ways that I didn’t know possible because the space for that expansion just wasn’t there before. I really try to stay open to what life as a whole is asking of me and I find that my clients and my family both respect me more when I am taking time to honor both.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
F*ke it ’till you make it. Confidence is key. Tool up and get the right tool for the job. Money comes and goes: sometimes you have a little sometimes you have a lot. Don’t freak out when the bank account is skinny, have faith, throw a prayer in the air, and keep going.

Cosecha Textiles was built on sheer desire to make things and to do better for our planet. I never set out with a specific plan, I have always done my best to remain open to what comes my way. I had to try on a lot of different roles to see where I really wanted to land. Ten years in and I feel like I can finally say I am a master of the craft that called to me most, upholstery.

I am a creative at heart and I didn’t realize how much administrative work comes along with owning and operating a business so that has been a huge learning curve for me. There are many resources out there to support small businesses and it’s important to find support and community.

I got to where I am today with a lot of hard work, perseverance, and help from others. Cosecha Textiles is very unique in the upholstery industry because not only do we do excellent work, we are woman-owned and operated, we offer design consultations and services with the knowledge and background of the whole industry, and we always make sustainability a priority whether it’s sourcing more sustainable materials or helping you find the perfect couch for your home through second-hand resources. We also offer free DIY nights to mend your own clothes or create your own designs as well as more in-depth classes to learn to sew and even reupholster your own furniture! We are more than just an upholstery shop, we are a place for creativity and community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the Roaring Fork River Valley, often known as the Aspen Valley… We are a string of many small towns and there is so much to do depending on the time of year that someone were to visit! In the spring we would go rafting, in the summer mountain biking and hiking, in the fall more of that plus leaf peeping, and of course ski ski ski all winter long. There are incredible restaurants like the Pullman in Glenwood Springs or Nepal Restaurant in Thunder River by the gas station. I love the hot springs in Glenwood, Mountain Fair in Carbondale, the General Store in Redstone, catching a show at TACAW in Willits, grabbing a coffee at Craft in Basalt and checking out the latest art installation at the Art Base, swimming laps at the outdoor heated saltwater pool at Snowmass Rec, attending many of the wonderful offerings at the Aspen Chapel or shaking my booty to some music at Belly Up in Aspen and walking around to people watch because woah, the boots with the fur.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person that comes to mind is Addie Miller of Tush and Bush. She and I shared our little postage stamp studio in the early days and she taught me so much, encouraged me, and pushed me in all the ways. My mama, too, of course who saw that I really loved my craft and bought me my first real sewing machine. Shout out to Kelly Noble who joined me in my journey early on as my first ever employee and helped my business (and me) to grow. To that one CPA that told me I was failing and that I should shut my business down which lit a fire under me to show him that he was so wrong. Mostly, though, I want to shout out to EVERY SINGLE CLIENT who has ever taken a chance on me and given me the great privilege to be my own boss.

Website: https://www.cosechatextiles.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosechadeclaire

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosechatextiles/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosechatextiles

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cosecha-textiles-carbondale

Image Credits
Olive and West Photography
Will Sardinsky Photography