Hi! Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview. Let’s start off with a pretty simple question: Where’d you first get the ideas for the items in your line?
I’ve made clothing my whole life, including everything from everyday wearable pieces, to a robot costume with working lights, to a hand-sewn silk chiffon wedding dress. The wedding dress had been my biggest undertaking to date, and when it was finished I decided the next obvious step was to just go for it and create a full line. I aim to create wearable basics with an updated twist, and contrast them with some more modern and dramatic pieces.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned running your company + brand?
Time management between running the different aspects of the business has been my most important (and most difficult) lesson. I’ve always been more content to just lock myself away in a room and create clothing, but becoming a business owner has caused me to need to wear many more hats. I’ve learned to juggle working on orders and developing new designs with promotion, bookkeeping, photography, editing, and pretty much everything else it takes to run a one woman show. Sometimes I’m able to squeeze in a little food and sleep.
Can you describe your design process? How do you choose materials + get started?
This first collection I made is all black, simply because I feel that it allows more freedom to play around with texture and shape while still keeping the look sleek and wearable. Therefore texture, (both physical and visual), is my driving force while selecting fabrics. Once I have my materials, I look at key silhouettes that I want to address, and the rest of the details just fall into place from there.
I aim to create wearable basics with an updated twist, and contrast them with some more modern and dramatic pieces.
There’s a sustainable + green trend in fashion these days. What do you think about that? Political correctness, PR stunts, or is there something to it…?
All of the above. I believe the green movement started with all the right intentions, and that there are fashion companies out there who truly run a green operation. However, I also think that as time passed it evolved into something that everyone felt the need to be a part of just because a demand for green had been created. This led to some companies “going green” just for the sake of hopping on the bandwagon, and at times they may not have tackled the problem from all necessary angles, or may just be uninformed about what “green” truly means.
Though I do not use all organic/green fabrics, most of them are reclaimed. I would love to someday incorporate more aspects of being green into my company, but I would be hesitant to claim “green” as a whole unless it was a 100% true statement. Until then, I can say that I do my part to at least be conscientious and eliminate wastefulness in as many aspects of my business as I find feasible.
Who are some of your inspirations + other favorite designers…?
I gain inspiration from my bloodline, which consists of a grandmother and great-grandmother who were both costume designers and business owners. I’m also inspired by my favorite fashion designers, which include Ann Demeulemeester, Balenciaga, Rick Owens, Alexander Wang, Alexander McQueen, Theyskens’ Theory, and Libertine.
I’ve always enjoyed the “famous” Proust Questionnaire. So I pulled a few of my favorites for you to answer
What is your current state of mind?
Motivated.
What is your favorite occupation?
The person in charge of naming Pantone colors.
What is your most treasured possession?
The broken remnants of my great-grandmother Lois Vining’s wardrobe mirror from when she owned her own dress shop. I now use some of the pieces to make jewelry, but will always hold on to a part of it for myself.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Shoes.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Finally launching my line.
What is your motto?
“It’s a new era in fashion – there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”
— Alexander McQueen
Where would you like to live?
Somewhere on the beach. But a colder beach, because I hate hot weather.
What is the quality you most admire in a man?
Humor, loyalty (sorry, had to pick two).
What is the quality you most admire in a woman?
Independence.
If you could choose an object to come back as, what would it be?
Shoes, of course. Oh, the places I’ll go…
“It’s a new era in fashion – there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together.”
— Alexander McQueen
Who has been the greatest influence on you?
My family and friends, because they have influenced me with the drive to keep moving forward.
Alright, nearly done. 2012 has just started. What are your plans for your brand this year?
My resolution was to use more color. We’ll see how that goes.
Last, we love to hear about music. So, do you have a favorite soundtrack + album to work to…?
I’m kind of an 80′s whore. Depeche Mode really gets me going.
