by Mo on July 22, 2011
Independent fashion designer Gwen Beloti is working away on a fab collaborative project, Design The Dream, combining high fashion, philanthropy, and social action. Gwen has teamed up with fashion and lifestyle editor Eboyne Jackson to create a luxury dress you can feel good about buying. We are happy to announce the dress will be for sale exclusively on Smashing Darling this Fall… more details along the way. In the meantime if you are in the Brooklyn area don’t miss Gwen’s Sample Sale this Sunday and next! Details below…
Gwen Beloti Collection, Strapless Silk Dress
DTD-Design the Dream..Fashionable Collaboration for Philanthropic Efforts! Eboyné Jackson, fashion & lifestyle editor of D.O.Z., & womenswear designer Gwen Beloti come together to create a specialty dress to give consumers a taste of luxury while giving back. The proceeds will go directly to their prospective charitable organizations, Little Dresses for Africa and Adonai Partners.
/
In the meantime…..
DUMBO Sample Sale
Sunday July 24th and Sunday the 31st
2-6pm
Email: info@gwenbeloti.com for details.
by Mo on May 5, 2011
Darlings, support each other. Read on and get to know Natasha Samoylenko, designer of SAMOY LENKO. Take a look at how lovely her new collection is, dresses and skirts so perfect for you to flit and flutter in all summer. Natasha is part owner of TRUNK Brooklyn (along with Radka Design and others), a Dumbo boutique that showcases locally designed and manufactured art, clothing, jewelry and more. Visit and you will also find new collections from yet another Darling, Lauren Wimmer. Yes, we are giddy to see so many darlings all together! Save the date for their next event during Dumbo’s Photo Festival.
Nastasha Samoylenko, Portrait by Pushett Irby
Darlings: Being trained in package design how did you make the transition to designing clothing? Where or who did you turn to for help?
Samoy Lenko: The transition was pretty seamless. Clothing is sort of like package design, only you package the body. I like it because it is three-dimensional and it works with shape and form. I always try to work around the body. I want a woman to wear a piece of clothing and not the other way around it.
Daisy Dress, All Collection images by: Marc McAndrews
Darlings: Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Samoy Lenko: Inspiration is everywhere. When I have time to myself without any distractions I feel the most creative. Ironically it usually happens on a crowded train or walking down the street. I get lost in thought. I get inspired by virtually anything: a detail in a shoe or a coat collar. I love texture and color, bookbinding and architecture. New York is a great place for it.
Darlings: We love stories of designers coming together to support each other. It looks like that is what happened to form your Dumbo boutique & gallery space: TRUNK Brooklyn. Can you tell us about how you all found each other?
Samoy Lenko: There are 5 of us at Trunk. Three out of five knew each other for about 7 years. We all met at the Market on Mulberry Street. After our individual businesses took off we would meet occasionally to do sales and special events. The last venture was a weekend market in Dumbo, called CornerMRKT. We shared a space with a furniture store and when that store was closing that location, the three of us joined forces with 2 other designers.
Ginger Dress
Darlings: Tell us about TRUNK, what is the concept behind the idea for TRUNK? How long did it take to open TRUNK from the time the idea was formed?
Samoy Lenko: We opened TRUNK in October 2009. The concept and idea was percolating for a few years, but the actual realization of the store only took a few months. The collections at TRUNK feature unique women’s wear, jewelry, accessories, art and furniture, all locally designed and manufactured. Our store itself provides a backdrop for the products, making a bold statement that “style can be created and found locally.” Through our partnership at TRUNK we bridge many aesthetics and backgrounds, from Europe and rural America to New York City. TRUNK provides an exciting new platform for our varied designs, as well as for the work of invited designers and exhibitors.
Darlings: How much time do you spend working at TRUNK? How much time do you spend designing?
Samoy Lenko: The beauty of owning a business with four other partners is that you can spend minimum time working at the store and more time at the studio designing.
Darlings: How much help do you have from employees, friends and / or family members? And, what do they help you with?
Samoy Lenko: At TRUNK we all try to help each other. With my own collection I always keep learning from my colleagues and friends.
Aster Wrap Skirt
Darlings: If your studio walls could talk, what would they say?
Samoy Lenko: Depends on the time of day it is. I share my studio with two amazing jewelry designers, so there is a lot of bouncing ideas back and forth. Humor and collaboration is a huge part of the design process. Plus late night shorties never hurt (i.e. beer).
Allium Fold Over Skirt
Darlings: What does your average day entail? …and what is your favorite part?
Samoy Lenko: I try to get to the studio by 9 am (after I send my son off to school). Some days I spend more on production and some days I spend more on designing new styles. My favorite part of the day is when designs become reality, when I see the transition of how a drawing becomes a product, or when an accident becomes a unique attribute to a piece of clothing.
Darlings: To this point what is the most important lesson you have learned that helps you maintain your business and collection?
Samoy Lenko: Always believe in yourself. Put your ego aside and always keep learning.
Dahlia Top
by Mo on October 8, 2010
Ohh lovely internet that allows us to dash across the country virtually and explore the gorgeous creations of independent designers on the left coast. Thank you, thank you! Since we can’t be out at Portland Fashion Week happening now, and all through the weekend we thought we could share some delicious fashion that caught our eyes. Truly this is only skimming the surface, all the designers involved are listed here for your discovering pleasure. Catch some recaps of the events at Portland Monthly and Portland Fashion Weekly. If you are in Portland, lucky you — check out the list of boutiques offering a discount while the fashion festivities are underway. Collaboration is a beautiful thing.
Souchi
Dawn Sharp
Suzabelle
Laura Allcorn
by Mo on June 15, 2010
We know you have a few…don’t fib. The bridesmaid dress. That dress you were forced to wear, maybe recently when your dear friend’s good taste when down the bridal drain…or from (enter family members name here) wedding 5, 10, maybe even 15 years ago. What about leftover prom dresses? Maybe we still have a few of those too. We all push them to the back of the closet and try to forget ever leaving the house in them. But why? Take them out, shake off the dust…they can be reborn! Be inspired by Angie Arner and Liz Nelson, the darlings of Minneapolis-based CounterCouture Designs. Their collaborative and sustainable model strikes a chord with us, and we are happy to wave their tagline flag…Fashion Must Evolve.
Angie Arner and Liz Nelson
Darlings: Tell us the story behind the idea for CounterCouture and how you started upcycling wedding & bridesmaid dresses?
CounterCouture: I was about to move and my sister was helping me decide what to do with my three bridesmaid dresses. We started brainstorming and I realized there was virtually no market for this yet, besides basic alterations and donations. So I just jumped into it, I determined the basic objectives for our brand and those objectives have grown a great deal within a year. I wanted to work with local designers, help expose the notion of ethical fashion, slow fashion, upcycling, and sustainable design to a Midwest audience, collaborate with other groups to inspire innovation, and help support nonprofits while doing it.
Darlings: How does it work, does a person bring in their dress to be re-styled for themselves or do you take wedding dress donations that you restyle and sell?
CounterCouture: Both. We began with redesigning donations (there was not a shortage of inventory let me tell you) and then just recently announced a Custom Couture service that allows people to keep their sentimental garments, but transform them to different degrees. We’ll continue to do both and will be producing more cohesive collections for retail by this fall.
Darlings: Where can people send their dresses to if they want to make a donation?
CounterCouture: We are still working on getting a studio space, so if the donations are being made locally (within Mpls/St.Paul) then we can pick the dress(es) up from you. We also try and keep in touch with the donor, showing them what their dress turned into. We’ll gladly take donations from out of state too, just contact us. Since there is an abundance of dresses out there, I’ve tried to be a little more picky about what I accept because the quality of the fabric and cleanliness of the gown is very important to the design process.
Darlings: Who does the sewing and re-designing of the dresses? Does a designer have to be in MN area to participate?
CounterCouture: I have a design panel that does the design sketches and construction. For example, one designer chooses which piece they want to redesign and we work together to form the creative direction that fits the CounterCouture aesthetic. After those beginning stages, they pass it off to the sewing assistants who make it constructionally sound. It is a very collaborative process. There are times when all the designers work together to make specialty pieces for events as well. At this time the designers are all in the Metro area to maintain that close collaborative environment, but we are currently exploring working with others in the Midwest to grow our network of talent.
Darlings: How important is collaborating with other creative individuals or companies to your business model.
CounterCouture: Integral. The fashion scene here is still growing so in order for the whole movement to be successful we have focus on building up our partnerships while consecutively growing ourselves. It’s all about win-win. Plus you have to be open to partnering with groups within other industries, because in the sustainable fashion realm, there is no real solid business model for success yet…so we have the freedom to shake it up a bit more.
Darlings: Can you tell about some past projects you have collaborated on?
CounterCouture: Our last event, Alter/Nation was a quite large event in which we brought in about 10 partners to pull it off. Each one of them made the event exactly what we envisioned and we could not have had such a successful event without them. The goal was to encourage consumers to take an active part in the evolution of their wardrobes; Anthem Heart did live screen printing, local designers showcased upcycled pieces on the runway, Vintage City Classics showcased vintage and upcycled jewelry, and Yelp helped market the swapping extravaganza, just to name a few. I’ve Got Your Style and Taj Salon & Spa have also been with us many steps of the way. The list goes on, and will continue to do so.
Live Altering @ Alter Nation
Darlings: Are there any future events you like to tell our community about?
CounterCouture: CounterCouture is actually co-hosting a bicycle themed rock and fashion show with the band Melloroar on July 23rd. My design panel is designing 8 looks (four ready to wear paired with four couture). It’s all going down at the Red Stag, a LEED certified restaurant and bar who has sponsored an event for us before. There will be a bike valet, drinks, two bands, and CounterCouture fashion; all to applaud our city for being the number one bike city in the nation!
Darlings: What’s next for CounterCouture?
CounterCouture: The great thing about how we’ve grown in the last year is having the ability to pursue opportunities we didn’t necessarily plan for. We’re excited about providing custom design services for women, continuing production on the line, and further developing our sustainable production process. I’m especially looking forward to putting on more events and utilizing our staff’s public relations and marketing skills to be a beacon for those out there also trying to make a change within the wasteful apparel industry.
by Mo on February 26, 2010
Last Sunday I scooted over to ICO Gallery to catch the NOW Showcase Cocktail Reception, and I am so glad I did. In their own words, the collections together are an intoxicating assortment of independent and sustainable fashion. It was simply lovely to stroll around and meet some of the designers and see their upcoming collections, though my cohort and I really wished we could have bought a few of the samples right off the racks. NOW Showcase was born through a bunch of designers coming together, according to one: they have each others’ backs (love it), according to another: a showcase by designers for designers. Their collaborative spirit was palpable in the room that night. Darlings, are you connecting with local designers in your area? Maybe you can create a showcase of your very own…pop us an email if you would like a list of Darling designers near you.
The Pittsburgh gals of Kelly Lane
Love for Jai
Darling Roxi shows us a few of the many ways to rock your Angelrox
It’s a skirt, it’s a strapless dress…
p.s. I bought this dress that night and I love it!
I know TrishDarling would have stopped and ooooh-ed with me at these sparkly items, so this one’s for her.
by Mo on February 1, 2010
Post by Mo
It was wonderful to walk into a packed house last week at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery for a panel examining the current state of affairs in sustainable fashion: The Sustainability Equation: Ethics and Aesthetics in Contemporary Fashion. The discussion between Julie Gilhart (Senior VP Fashion Director at Barney’s) and designers Caroline Priebe (Uluru) and Mary Ping (Slow and Steady Wins the Race) was honest (is slow fashion really feasible in our world?) and full of mandates sure to fill a Darling with hope for the future. I almost fell off my seat when Gilhart suggested that everyone should “know who is designing your clothes, and where your clothes are coming from.” Fabulous, in Darling-land we couldn’t agree more! Gilhart encouraged designers to follow their own unique vision, as Barney’s shoppers are certainly hot to find items that are one-of-a-kind. She also stated good design and value to be the key focus if you want to try and get your collection on the racks there. According to Gilhart, sustainable fashion is not a trend, it’s a movement.
Both Priebe and Ping were also inspiring. Instead of filling up landfills with fast fashion clothing that falls apart after a season, invest in materials that last and can withstand the test of time. Probably my favorite quote of the night was Priebe discussing the team mentality of sustainable designers, this is not a secretive community. Instead of talking about collaboration between designers, she prefers cooperation: resources should be shared.
You have until February 20th to check out this exhibit, so if you are in New York take a few minutes and walk through. If NYC isn’t anywhere on your radar, you can buy a catalog (only $10) of the exhibit (click here for info) which comes with a free Smockshop pattern. Designers, don’t miss this great recap of the panel, including video, over at Ecouterre: Succeed in Eco-Fashion (And Get Sold in Barneys): 6 Tips From Pratt Panel.
![]( "DSC02384%2</p")
Felena Hansen (FOCUS) and Patricia Frischer (SDVAN)
