Smashing Darling Blog

It is really lovely to just bump into a Darling unexpectedly! That is how I met Prizy Sebastian while I was strolling (strolling = shopping, right?) at The Market NYC one Saturday.  It was great to chat, and I bought her Black Ruffle Tank Dress that day, now a favorite dress hanging in my closet.  A few hours later I met up with a friend who had just apparently repeated my steps, she had bought the exact same dress maybe an hour before me – love it! Last week, out with the same friend, our favorite dress came up in convo again (my mom wasn’t a fan when I wore it, mom is rarely a fan of my wardrobe choices) and she told me how Prizy made a special trip to her office to deliver the dress which had needed a few adjustments in length. Nothing like a convo with a designer for customization and great customer service! Get to know Prizy a little bit better below.

Darlings: How did you first get involved in fashion design or the fashion world in general?

Prizy: I was always interested in fashion, since I was a little girl playing dress-up with my dolls, to middle school when I first started receiving fashion magazines. I was constantly sitting in my room sketching away. Fashion design wasn’t seriously considered as a career until college. I was studying to become an accountant, trying to keep with a major that provided a ‘secure’ job, but at the same time was always thinking about making dresses. Dreams have a way of taking over. I graduated in design, and moved to New York to work in the fashion industry. Years later, I found my high school journal from freshman year, and I’d written in there that I was going to be a designer.

Pin-Tuck Ballerina, $395

Darlings: We love all the beautiful detailing (pleats, pin-tucks) in your designs, where do you find your inspiration?

Prizy: Inspiration can come from so many things for me, especially the fabric, a color (red is my favorite), a painting, nature, sometimes even dreams. I’ve always been very inspired by Valentino overall because the clothes have always been elegant and feminine, and they enhance the natural beauty of women. I am also inspired by couture designers such as Madame Gres, and Balenciaga (the original).  Their use of detail defined their style, but it was never overwhelming.

Details such as pleating and pin-tucking are important, not just to give interest to the garment, but also to add definition to the body. Not being a big fan of trends, I love beautifully constructed clothing, with great fit, that will last and can be considered timeless.

Ruffle Halter Dress, $345

Darlings: What is the hardest obstacle you face as an independent designer? Where do you find the most support and resources?

Prizy: Funding is the hardest obstacle any independent designer faces. Unless you have an investor, it’s very hard to do mass production, keep wholesale prices down and keep your name out there. One has to become creative finding money, either through freelance work, small loans, etc.

Right now, a lot of my work is custom and small orders. It’s very tough, especially in this economic climate to keep being an independent designer. My family has been very supportive. Being in a creative environment, working around other designers definitely keeps me going.

Vintage Lace Silk Top, $95

Darlings: Do you have any events/projects that you are getting ready for in the near future?

Prizy: Up to now, much of my work has leaned toward formal and cocktail wear. My newest project is to create a mini collection of dresses that are elegant with great detail, and using natural fabrics. I’m trying to stick with classic colors, such as navy and black, but want them to be more wearable, to transition from day to night.

Bias Cut Silk Dress, $345

Darlings: What are the pros and cons of designing from your home?

Prizy: The biggest pro is that it’s home, and there’s a certain comfort and freedom in it. You can keep your own schedule, and save money on extra work space, as well commuting expenses, You also get tax deductions at the end of the year for anything that is part of your home that is also used as part of your business, including rent, utilities, etc.
The biggest con, unfortunately, is tied to the pro; it is home. You have to be very disciplined, something that I struggle with on a daily basis, to keep to a schedule, to accomplish things every day. It can also become incredibly isolating, you have to make a conscious effort to get out and socialize. Personally, I believe working from home is a perfect starting point for a business. It minimizes costs, allows you to make mistakes and learn, and really tests your determination and dedication your business. Ultimately, I would love an atelier space.

Pleated Rocker Bolero, $65

Darlings: Tell us about something you LOVE that you want others to know about.

Prizy: I just found a pumpkin chocolate chip bread by one of the vendors at the Union Square Farmers Market on Saturdays!  It is really moist, not overly sweet and has a very unusual flavor. Definitely worth trying if you love sweet breads like myself!

We love to think as Kaytee Papusza, independent designer behind Papusza Couture, as our very own Darling Alice! Kaytee just recently was asked to embrace that very persona in a photo shoot featuring Papusza-wear for Above the Fray magazine (check it out here).  Kaytee was one of the very first designers (awwwhhh) to open a boutique here on Smashing Darling coming up on almost three years ago, wow! We love to hear what she is up to, and since we haven’t interviewed her since 2007 -time flies when you are having fun- we thought we would take a moment and get all the knitty gritty on this fantastical photo shoot. Enjoy!

Darlings: How did this shoot come to be? Where did it take place and how did you pull it all together?
Kaytee: Mikey Pozarik, the fantastic photographer who did the shoot, contacted me about the project and doing a feature in Above the Fray. I was immediately really excited about the project because I love Lewis Carroll’s Alice as well as Through the Looking Glass.  I had wanted to do a shoot involving the story for years, it was easy to be inspired!

The shoot took place in the East Village in early October. The whole team was awesome: gorgeous, amazing photography, really fantastic, creative hair and makeup, and very good models. I have to give a huge shout out to the models since the day of the shoot it was freezing. The girls were all in dresses, corsets, and bodices without sleeves. Even though you can’t tell based on how fantastic they all look in the photos, there was shivering, and even some talk about numb fingers at a couple of points. They toughed it out though, and did a really great job getting into character. So kudos to the whole team!

I built a lot of the props for the shoot, which was super fun. I enjoyed bringing special touches from the original story into the set. The birdcage was one I found out by the dumpsters near my loft. I took it home, cleaned it, bent it up with wire pliers, painted it, and then covered it in ribbons and feathers. The eyeballs where the final touch. I liked the idea of making a birdcage with a face. I also made a “DRINK ME” bottle, and a huge heart shopped clock. I liked bringing in these elements of time, size and surrealism from the original story.

Darlings: LOVE those tights and all the accessories, give us the scoop on those!
Kaytee: YES! Lot’s of great contributors in regards to accessories. The blue feather millinery was from millinery designer Tessa Morehouse (www.VelvetAntlerNYC.com). The crochet collar was from miss Siri (www.SiriusLux.com) and the big feather earrings came from Roxy and Nicki at Mayapple designs (a duo based out of Arkansas and Seattle). I am really lucky all these fantastic ladies were kind enough to loan their pieces for the shoot. The looks would not be complete without them!

The tights and gloves were hand-dyed by me. I have been working on hand-dyed legwear for awhile, and have a lot of it to accompany my Oceania Etherea collection. The gloves are a new thing I am doing for winter. Some of them have little buttons and embellishments, some are fingerless and some have fun fringe. With both tights and gloves the primary intention is to focus on the dye and how it stains the fabric. I like creating wave like patterns with the dye, and leaving some of the pieces looking slightly discolored, as if they are antique items that have been sun spotted, and dimmed over time. These will soon be for sale on Smashing Darling. I am calling them Papusza Limbs.

For this shoot, fantastic stylist and accessories designer Rachel Singer helped me pull all the final looks together.

Darlings:Do you have an alter ego? If so what advice does it give you? OR What does it tell you to do that you haven’t done yet?
Kaytee: My alter ego is my mother voice, the one which nurtures me, and reminds me it is important to take care of myself. In being an individual who is highly driven by my creativity it is easy for me to get carried away in the chaos of my thoughts, and daily life. Living in New York I feel I encounter chaos everytime I walk onto the street. It is easy to forget the calm. In order to create in a way that is healthy and functional it is very important for me balance out the chaos with the calm.

The advice I get from this alter ego is to take time to relax. To drink tea and smell flowers. To make curried vegetables, and read a good book. To take a hot bath, and look at the shapes the clouds make in the sky. To leave the city every once and awhile and let the beauty of nature renew my spirit. It also tells me that when I decide to leave New York I need to use the resources of nature to create beautiful things for Papusza-ful girls to wear. The ideas behind these creations have been culminating in my brain for awhile now. I look forward to sharing them with the world once I have made them.

Darlings: If your studio walls could talk what would they say?
Kaytee: “SHE’S INSANE!!!!” Haha! Seriously, there probably would be some talk like that, if the walls could speak. When I get into my creative head space it really takes over, and I do things that might not make sense to people looking in from the outside. I am known to talk to my garments when I am making them. I usually give personas to the pieces I make. Swan dive dress. Neapolitan cupcake gown. Seagull wing bustle.

The walls would also probably be able to quote you a world of Bjork lyrics. They might call me a mad scientist for the hours of spattering dye over garments, burning hems, and hand stitching taxidermy like a lunatic. They would have lot’s of stories to tell about the depths of the night, I am nocturnally creative, and feel that I bond the most with my work at the silent hours of dawn, after working on a piece for 12 hours straight. These walls would have some stories…

Darlings: Are there any misconceptions about what you do that you want to clarify?
Kaytee: People are often freaked out by the use of animal products in my work. I love fur, taxidermy, bones and leather. I find it odd that people are so creeped out by this. I have even had people confront me with animal rights issues in regards to my use of certain materials. I guess it makes sense that some people would respond this way though, being that I have no disclaimer anywhere stating where I get these materials, or why I use them.

To clarify, all the fur I use is reclaimed. I find it when I am thrifting, from vintage garments. I cut it up work it into my pieces, because I love the texture. I think this is okay, because nothing is being killed for my benefit. In regards to the bird parts or bones I use, they are things I find already dead in nature. I collect their remaining parts, treat and clean them. I like using these elements of nature because they are very special to me. I find the use of birds especially to be very spiritual, and I love all the details in their wings and little bones.

In a lot of regards I think of what I do as being very green. I am taking things from nature which are already decomposing, and using them to create something beautiful. From an anthropological point of view people in tribal communities have been doing this for thousands and thousands of years. It is their way of celebrating the earth and giving back. I view my work the same way.

Darlings: What is your absolute favorite moment(s) in your studio … the thing that you won’t let yourself do until some of the drudgery is done, the thing that is the prize at the end of it all?

Kaytee: After putting hours into a piece and working all night I like to sit back and absorb. It feels really good to loose myself in the moment of creating, to lose all sense of time and reality, and become one with what I am making. Sometimes I go into this zone for twelve hours straight. When I come out of it I like being able to sit back, relax, have a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and admire my work. I know that might sound narcissistic, but it is like feeding off the fruits of my labor. The ability to create with my hands is what drives me.

Ultimately, this is what makes putting shows on worthwhile too. That moment, after having spent hundreds and hundreds of hours culminating and constructing a collection, when I am able to sit back, and watch it walk down the runway, see the faces of the people that absorb it… that is what I live for. I like watching my art come to life. It is like having children and watching them grow up and go out into the world. My couture pieces are my babies. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I love this video. My great grandmother came from Italy to the U.S. and made her living as  a seamstress in Hartford, CT, in a high-end ladies boutique. Ever since I met TrishDarling I have always loved to sit in her design studio and gaze at all the lovely fabric, excited to see what lovely garment she would whip up. I like to imagine that I met Trish, so I could experience, and be reminded of, what life was like in the studio my great-gram, Ernestina, went to everyday. Lots of hard work, full of inspiration, and full of community. I hope this video inspires you to go meet a local designer; maybe he or she can design you a piece that is completely unique and completely an original, just – for – you. cheers ~ MoDarling

http://www.vimeo.com/1213401

Feeling like a little Fall getaway? Grab some tickets here for Philadelphia Fashion Week 2009 coming right up October 8th-10th. This three-day celebration of fashion, food and drink, and arts and culture is a great way to get to know what Philly is all about. A sneak peek at some of the designers involved are below, including Darling Brooklyn Royalty. Many thanks to Charlie Smith, Production Director, for taking a few moments to answer some Darling questions about the vision of  this event in it’s first year.

Darlings: This is the first year Philadelphia presents a Fashion Week, how did it come to be?
Charlie Smith: Michael Anderer, Kristie Bergey and I began working on Philadelphia Fashion Week one year ago. We saw a wonderful opportunity to provide a forum to bring fashion and art to Philadelphia in a capacity that it has never been seen. Additionally, we saw a chance to give back to our own community by supporting the retail, supporting the fashion, supporting the schools and the green initiative of the City of Philadelphia.

GAR-DE

Darlings: Support for local designers and Fashion Week festivities are popping up all over, and each seems unique to it’s own community. How does Philadelphia Fashion Week represent the unique characteristics of your community?
CS: As I said, we have built our event around Philadelphia. We never wanted to just import another city’s fashion week and we knew that if we did it would never succeed. We constructed Philadelphia Fashion Week around the city that it will represent. We recognized that we wanted to showcase fashion that is relevant to Philadelphia, therefore we are showing designers who are either from Philadelphia or who are sold in a Philadelphia boutique. From the get-go we knew that we wanted to support our schools as they are the future of fashion. Furthermore we recognize and support Mayor Nutter’s ambition of making Philadelphia the greenest city by 2015 and decided to show our support by doing our part.

Marina Makaron Moscow

Darlings: Do you think the independent fashion industry is growing in Philly? Do you see public awareness of the industry growing?
CS: Philadelphia already has a rich history in fashion. From production to retail we are a city of firsts. It is my hope that Philadelphia Fashion Week will highlight the business that is already here in Philadelphia and will inspire new business by piquing the interest among buyers, designers and the consumer. Already we are seeing designers move their lines and production to our city from elsewhere because Philadelphia is an affordable city to have a business with a big city lifestyle.

S. LOVE

Darlings: There is so much to think about when planning a fashion show, what is the most important thing you have learned that you can share with us.
CS: Communication. Well, communication, trust, scheduling, to-do lists… the list goes on. This has been a tremendous learning experience. Philadelphia Fashion Week is already the largest professional fashion event ever in Philadelphia and we are in our first year. We would never have been able to pull off such a production if we did not communicate with each other, trust that we can all take care of our responsibilities, and, above all, love what we were doing in the process.

Commonwealth Proper

Darlings: We love that student work will also come down the runway at PFW. Tell us about that and the Student Design Award.
CS: Macy’s is one of the most involved sponsors of Philadelphia Fashion Week. With the myMacy’s initiative that its corporate office is starting to individualize the store to the neighborhoods that they are in, Macy’s saw a wonderful opportunity to support this Philadelphia Fashion Week from the ground up. Three schools, (Moore College of Art & Design, Art Institute of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia University) have collected the best works of their students to send down the runway. With a maximum number of outfits of 35 looks, each schools will be judged on creativity, production of show, execution, marketability and overall cohesiveness of the show. The winning schools will have the opportunity to stage an encore runway show in Macy’s Center City store and to display their work in a Macy’s store window.

Brooklyn Royalty

Darlings: Is Philadelphia Fashion Week only for local designers? How can a fashion designer get invited to show as part of your event?
CS: Philadelphia Fashion Week is not only for local designers, we have local, national and international designers showing in this year’s event. Our only stipulation is that the designer must either be from Philadelphia, or be carried in a Philadelphia boutique to show in Philadelphia Fashion Week. We have made the process of getting involved very easy, just visit our website at www.philadelphiafashionweek.org and contact us from there.

In ten days Fashion’s Night Out will kick off the usual NYC Fashion Week spectacular. If you had to choose between New York and Iceland, where would you go?  Well, in a mere two days Iceland kicks off something a bit more unique – way up north, in the land of lava and ice. To help you sort out the differences between the two events we asked Andrew Lockhart, Director of Iceland Fashion Week, to help us out.  See what he has to say below, along with some images of a few of the designers showing in Iceland including Darling Krelwear and Darling PapuszaCouture. Not to worry, more from Iceland Fashion Week coming soon!

Darlings: When and how did Iceland Fashion Week begin?
Andrew: Iceland Fashion Week began in 1999 as the Midnight Sun Fashion Festival. Held during the summer months under Iceland’s famous Midnight Sun, Founder Kolla Aðalsteinsdóttir began the event as a way for her to showcase the talent of local Icelandic designers and also used it as a platform for her former agency, Icelandic Models. She soon realized that the festival could become a forum for up and coming designers from around the globe. By 2002 we had designers coming from as far away as Japan, Canada and the U.S.A. to participate in the shows and it has continued to grow since then. In 2006, we took a few years off after the passing of her father and son within a week of each other. Ironically, on the day that she called me earlier this year to say she was ready to jump back into the fold, I had to notify her that my mother had passed just one day before. Nevertheless, we moved on and here we are.

Rodel LA, Brasil

Darlings: Why independent/emerging fashion?
Andrew: By choosing to feature primarily independent and emerging designers, we tap into a huge market of fashion design that is rarely exposed. There are literally hundreds, if not thousands of designers around the globe, whose collections we never see, whose names we never hear of.  Some of them are not interested in showing in any of the major fashion weeks around the globe, while others of them simply cannot afford to produce shows because of the costs that go along with having a show in, for example, London, Paris or New York. Why should a fashion week only be accessible to those that can afford to produce a million dollar spectacle? If we can inspire a young designer who is about to give up because he or she feels like they will never be able to afford a fashion show, then we are happy to do so. I also think that emerging and independent designers are more willing to take risks, to stretch the envelope, to think outside of the box, and we encourage them to do so.

Agape Mdumulla, UK

Darlings: Why Iceland?
Andrew: Iceland offers us a very unique opportunity that I do not think can be replicated anywhere else. Each year Kolla chooses an incredible location somewhere within the topography of her native country. She has an uncanny ability to use the nature of Iceland as a backdrop for the shows that leave all who attend inspired. Volcanoes, glaciers, the oldest parliament in the world, even an electric plant have all been incorporated into shows each year and this year will be no different. With a theme of Walk on Water, the catwalk will be made of thousands of bottles of water provided by Icelandic Glacial Water and set against a backdrop of the Reykjanesbær Harbor.

Also, Icelandic fashion design is some of the most creative that I have seen. A short walk down the main street in downtown Reykjavik will find you browsing through the wares of a very talented group of Icelandic designers. The Underground Iceland show this year will be on Friday, September 04, 2009, set in the Reykjavik harbor. It will feature a group of young Icelandic designers including Eva Huld, Sigrun Heida, Krown Design and Thorunn. (Click here to check out all the IFW 09 designers).

Anja Hynynen, Sweden

Darlings: What does IFW provide for emerging talent that differs from other shows around the world?
Andrew: Iceland Fashion Week offers designers the opportunity to show their work without having to worry about the costs of producing a fashion show. Designers can focus solely on creating their collections, leaving the production aspects of the show to a very talented team of Icelanders. We also offer these designers an opportunity to have their collections seen by representatives from major media outlets. This year we have folks from Full Frontal Fashion, Fashion Week Daily, Time Magazine, V Magazine, Vice TV, WeAr, the Darlings and others all coming to cover the shows.

Karelle Levy, USA

Darlings: How has the economic climate affected IFW?
Andrew: There have definitely been some changes with the current economic climate. We have scaled IFW back from a full week to four days this year. Also, in past years, with the help of our title sponsor, Iceland Air, we were able to cover the travel and accommodations of the designers, press and VIPs that attended IFW. This year we were unable to do so for everyone. In addition, we had to cut back on the number of designers invited. While previous years have seen as many as 39 designers, this year we will be featuring 17 designers from abroad and 9 Icelandic ones.

s=yz, South Korea

Darlings: Is the Icelandic community supportive and involved with IFW?
Andrew: As a whole, the Icelandic community has always been supportive of the project. Despite the global crisis and the current crisis in Iceland, there has been an outpouring of support from the Icelandic business community who are supporting Iceland Fashion Week however they can. Even the cities of Reykjavik and Reykjanesbær have lent a hand of support this year and we are thankful for this. This past weekend while out in Reykjavik, so many strangers that I met were very excited about the fact that I am here to assist with Iceland Fashion Week and they thanked me for coming here to be a part of it.
Of course, as with anything else, there are always naysayers. A very small contingent within the community feel that Iceland Fashion Week should be about Icelandic designers only. However, the door to Iceland Fashion Week is open to everyone, Icelandic or not. We choose to look past the differences that we all have between us and instead choose to focus on similarities that unify us. It is a global world that we live in and Iceland Fashion Week is no different.

PapuszaCouture, USA

Darlings: How can a fashion designer get invited to show on the runway in Iceland?
Andrew: Right now, interested designers can send an email to info@icelandfashionweek.is. They are welcome to include a C.V., some background information and a few images from past collections. The screening process runs through mid-March, when selected designers are invited to be a part of IFW. If they accept, a minimum fee ($500 U.S.) is required to reserve their place in the coming year’s show.

Darlings: Do you have plans to take what you do for emerging fashion talent with IFW, to other countries?
Andrew: At the moment, I do not. I like what we are doing here in Iceland and would like to continue building this into something that is recognized globally as the fashion week destination for emerging talent. In order for us to do this, we need to continue to focus all of our energy on IFW. However, we welcome designers from anywhere to contact us.

Darlings: Besides IFW…Is there something you love that you want to get the word out about and share with the community?
Andrew: In the spring we will be relaunching our annual photo project Pride of Janus, also set in Iceland. 12 photographers from 12 countries, set loose for a week in Iceland, a loose theme, a car and a camera. Six months later, we’ll show the world what they saw, with an exhibition. Just. You. Wait. And. See.

My craft is designing.
Anicca means “impermanence.”
In my eyes, Life is always in motion, which reminds me to follow my passion.
Remember to always follow your craft.

Darlings: How did you first get involved in fashion design or the fashion world in general?
Minna: I became involved in the fashion world when I was 19 years old. I switched my major from Advertising to Textiles and Apparel at UT Austin. I took it a step further by pursuing fashion in Paris and at Parsons School of Design in New York. After Paris, my entire perception of fashion changed. In Paris I was able to experience the world of couture and apprentice under some great designers.

Darlings: Tell us about your transition from bridal to eveningwear, and what direction your latest collection is headed.
Minna: Bridal remains, however additional pieces have been added for eveningwear. For my Fall collection, the eveningwear is made of silk charmeuse, taffeta, and duchess satin. Classic silhouettes with a modern edge.

Darlings: What is a day in the life of Minna K like?
Minna: I don’t even know how to describe it! Well, it’s busy, but great. Sometimes I’ll be sewing, making patterns, or working with sewers or pattern makers, or I’ll be sketching, sourcing fabrics, and finding inspiration. The top image shows the studio during a photo shoot of the dresses for Craft:by Anicca.

Darlings: What inspires your designs?
Minna: For this collection, movement vs. structure. My favorite designer is Vionnet, so my bridal collection predominately has fluid fabrics, some Grecian inspired.

Darlings: Are you getting ready for any upcoming events?
Minna: Yes, because of your invite to the Nolcha/PRCouture soiree, I met Tom McAlister from Brooklyn Fashion Festival, in turn he introduced me to Oriana, the market editor for Nolcha. I am doing the evening collective at Nolcha Fashion Week on Sept. 16th.

Darlings: What is the hardest obstacle you face as an independent designer? Where do you find the most support and resources?
Minna: Most difficult: Financing. Most support: New York. It’s just full of both support and resources.

San Francisco Fashion and Merchants Alliance

Darlings: How did you first get involved with fashion? More specifically, where does your passion come from to support emerging and independent fashion?

OG: In the late nineties I started a couture line called Firestarter2 and experienced the fashion bug as a budding fashion designer at The Orbit Shows (produced by 21CP). I met a lot of inspiring emerging designers with impeccable craftsmanship as well as a lot of entrepreneurial spirit; accolades are long overdue for them. These emerging artists need to be recognized by exposing their work both online and in public. In doing so, they can start to develop relationships with prospective buyers.

Darlings: You have so many fashion projects underway for the SF community, give us the breakdown!  When did you start planning these fashion events?

OG: I’m really excited about our first event aptly titled The Economics of Art and Design where a panel of local fashion industry insiders speak about their respected fashion repertoires. I’m also in the planning stage of Rock the Runway an annual fashion event benefiting SF Fashion and Merchants Alliance and its members. The Pajama Project is a program where unused clothing or leftover designs from various local designers will be donated to local shelters. Lastly, the huge undertaking of San Francisco Fashion Week is very exciting because the majority wanted to get involved.  We are solely relying on major sponsorships to make SFFW a reality. I feel strongly that these projects will produce valuable results for the public and the participants.

SFFAMA is the grand central of all these projects. SFFAMA is in the process of becoming a non-profit organization. Each member can build their own profile creatively and promote his/her business through SFFAMA. They have the opportunity to interact with other members or get involved with our ongoing projects. Most importantly they are open to share their knowledge and their expertise in fashion. Their involvement could also possibly translate to a operational position in the organization: board of director, group administrator, mentor, advisor, etc.

Darlings: Do you think the independent fashion industry is growing in San Francisco? Do you see public awareness of the industry growing?

OG: Yes, it is growing steadily. I make a point to attend fashion events as much as possible to really gauge this growing minority of the fashion sector. Independent fashion is represented mostly in online media, especially in blogging. It is another extension of the medium. Public awareness is definitely catching on because of the current state of the economy. The consuming public is looking for ways to spend their money in very practical means not only locally but across the board. The emphasis of sustainability is also present and I think the public is very keen on this concept.

Darlings: How can a designer get on the runway at one of your shows or get featured at one of your events?

OG: Mail a cd-rom of their work with their mission statement, and a resume that provides their background or history of their work but it is not required. As long as the line of work is very cohesive I will try to get them booked one way or the other. It also depends on which event they are submitting for, due to the event theme or aesthetics.

Darlings: There is so much to think about when planning a fashion show, what is the most important thing you have learned that you can share with us.

OG: A well choreographed show is always the goal. Execution to attain a continuous flow is crucial within a stage show, and music is also a key element that sets the mood. Bottom line is having a professional crew, from the make up artist to the hairstylist than can implement the designer’s vision. And of course, always enjoy the moment – have fun while doing it.

Today’s interview came to us via twitter about a week or so ago via the blogess, The Eco Diva (CherylPPnG). The messages might be short on twitter but there are lots of good tips and leads to follow.

Anyway, we loved the interview w/Melissa and wanted to share it with the rest of the community and share some link love with The Eco Diva and her blog Planet Pink & Green. Melissa’s boutique is Mountains of the moon. Make sure to take a peek. Below, I reposted my favorite question and answer from the interview.

By Elena Lipson on July 13th, 2009

the eco diva interview with eco fashionista melissa baswell

EcoDiva: What’s the best green advice you ever received, and who gave it to you?

MB: If your best friend lent you a really beautiful dress to wear to a special event, you would make sure to return the dress in the same (or better) condition as it was in when you borrowed it. In the same way, you’re borrowing the earth, and it is your responsibility to treat it with the same respect as you would that dress. That came from my mom, when I was a little girl, and I shared it with many a littering neighborhood friend over the years!

Makes you want to read the rest doesn’t it? Click Here.

You can follow Melissa on Twitter – MotM_EcoFashion

To find us on Twitter – smashingdarling

Original post by Celebutatnte Sisters

Rebel Without A Cause

Who said rock n’ roll was dead? Go shopping and chances are you’ll find some form-fitting clothing with fun and funky detailing that will have even the most devoted groupie jealous! Designer KahriAnne Kerr embraces her inner rock star goddess when designing her clothing line…Kahri by KahriAnne Kerr. And with a motto like Be Rebellious, you know this style maven’s designs are anything but boring. In fact, her looks have caught the eyes of stars like Paris Hilton and Aubrey O’Day.

Check out our interview with KahriAnne below. Also be sure to check out her Web site, Kahri.com, and her blog,BeRebellious.com to read up on her latest and greatest clothing collections. Now go on and be rebellious! And tell KahriAnne that the sisters sent you!

You used to be a gymnast and a cheerleader. So did the Celebutante Sisters.

Cool. I still love gymnastics, but it’s been 10 years since I quit, so I’m pretty bad now.

Where did your rocker-chic inspiration come from? We love it!

Well, it’s pretty random, my style, since I grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere Iowa. But I’ve always loved music, especially rock, so it comes from there.

How did you come up with the motto “Be Rebellious”?

I can’t remember when I thought of that, but I guess I’ve always been a bit of a rebel, much to my parents delight. Just kidding, my parents are super conservative. I think being rebellious relates to all aspects of life, not just fashion. I think just being yourself and doing whatever you want and wearing whatever you want, despite what anyone says is being rebellious. I say just grab your life by the balls and go for it and don’t be a conformist.

How have your designs evolved over the years?

As I’ve grown up and moved from small town Iowa to big ass NYC my style has definitely grown. I didn’t know much about fashion or the fashion industry when I was 19 and started my biz, but now almost 6 years after I moved to NYC, I know too much about it. The quality of my clothing construction and materials is definitely much much better than when I first started, which is reflected in the prices now. I used to sell my stuff for next to nothing, but once you go silk, you can’t go back to polyester. Oh, and I used to get my fabrics at Jo-Ann’s and Wal-Mart back in Iowa, so luckily there is a much better fabric selection in NY. My designs are more sophisticated and complex now. It takes a lot longer to make pieces now, but french seams are worth it.

Your Spring 2009 Collection is called Baby Love. Tell us about it. Where did the inspiration for the line come from?

I was listening to a lot of early-mid 60’s songs, especially girl groups like the Supremes and the Shangri-Las, when I was designing the collection. I was raised by 60’s kids so I listened to a lot of that when I was growing up, but only recently gotten into that again. I made screenprint designs of a 60’s motorcylce inspired by the Shangri-Las “Leader of the Pack”, that I printed on some of the linings in the collection. I also made a LOVE design printed on linings, inspired by the decade of love children.

Read more of this interview here.

Shop KahriAnne Kerr online here.

Oh New York, how we love you so…instead of writing an ode to The Big Apple, we just like to introduce you to all the great people we meet as we meander through the Darling world. We had the pleasure of both sponsoring a recent Girls in Tech event as well as meeting Erik Lautier of Edun, who then generously donated gift cards to our PRCouture/Nolcha soiree – thanks Erik! Indie designers, if you are on the hunt for an ethical t-shirt supplier, read on and get to know all about the company below.

Darlings: What is EDUN/EDUN LIVE and how to did the brand come to be?
EDUN: EDUN is a socially conscious clothing company launched in Spring 2005 by Ali Hewson and Bono. EDUN’s primary goals are to create beautiful clothes using ethical conditions and to help create long-term sustainable employment in the developing world, particularly sub-Saharan Africa.

EDUN is a for-profit business – founded on the premise of Trade FOR Aid as a means of building sustainable communities. The company works on a micro-level to help build the skill sets of the people involved in making clothing.  In addition, EDUN also continues to explore partnership opportunities at a macro-level to improve working conditions and build sustainable communities where it produces.

In 2007 EDUN launched the EDUN LIVE brand. The mission of EDUN LIVE is to help foster trade and increase long-term sustainable employment in Africa through high-volume sales of blank t-shirts. From the fields where the cotton is grown, to the spinning, knitting and finally the garment making, all EDUN LIVE products are 100% Made in Africa. As EDUN LIVE matures, it aims to grow its social commitment to these areas and local factory communities. With business from its customers, EDUN LIVE will continue to work with farmers and factories to improve conditions in areas of need.

Darlings: How is EDUN supporting sustainable socioeconomic development in Africa?
EDUN: Not only do EDUN and EDUN LIVE support its factories with business, the brands also support the local communities with social issues. For example, we funded the construction of a well at a local school in a community neighboring a factory. The well was built in June 2006, and children now no longer have to rely on rainwater collected in a barrel from the roof of their school. Additionally, via the ALAFA program, we educate the local factory workers on HIV/AIDS, as currently over 30% of the population is infected with the disease and have raised over $600k for the cause. The brands are also helping to raise funds to help train cotton farmers to transition from conventional (with pesticides) to organic farming via the Conservation Cotton Initiative in association with the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Darlings: What organizations are using EDUN LIVE T-shirts, and do you have any current projects running with partnering organizations?
EDUN: A broad spectrum of organizations — corporations, non-profits, schools, retailers, bands, etc. — have purchased our tees because of their high quality and the brand’s strong mission.
For example, the Signature Series t-shirt is sold in Hard Rock Cafe globally. These tees feature a design by Bono, and 15% of the gross proceeds of every tee sold go back to our Conservation Cotton Initiative fund. This fund (set up with the Wildlife Conservation Society) helps farmers learn organic cotton farming in Africa while preserving the natural landscape.  We also have an upcoming project with www.yoox.com. Supermodel Angela Lindvall has done an exclusive design on EDUN LIVE tees which will be sold on YOOX beginning June 30th, with all proceeds going back to Green Cross International.

Darlings: What is AFRICASH, and can any blogger get involved?
EDUN: AFRICASH is EDUN LIVE’s referral program; you can earn points towards free t-shirts for doing something as simple as sending a friend of yours our way.  There has always been a very strong and loyal community online supporting EDUN LIVE, and we wanted to recognize it and reward it.  Not only can any blogger get involved, you can even get involved by mentioning us in an email to a friend, posting about us on your Facebook status, or even Tweeting about us (@edunlive is our account!).  For more information, simply go to www.edun-live.com.

Darlings: Does EDUN hope to be a major supplier of sustainable piece goods for the fashion industry, or will all the sustainable fabric EDUN produces be kept in house?
EDUN: EDUN does not have plans to become a supplier to the industry.  We will continue to produce ethical fashion to the consumer via our retailer partners. It is our intention to have our own retail stores in the near future as well as extend the brand into other categories such as accessories, shoes and bags.  EDUN LIVE will continue to grow both its consumer and trade business by providing basic garments (such as tees and hoodies) made 100% in Africa.