handbag

Every designer has a story to tell. In our interviews we ask this question, ‘When or How Did You Start Your Own Line?’, quite often. I went back through our blog archives to read the answers from different designers and thought it would be a fun one to share. It is amazing how the answers are all different but they have a common thread.

-How old were you when you started getting involved in fashion design or the fashion world in general??
Anna: I got into fashion when I was 10 and started watching music videos. Instantly I was infatuated with the over-stylized music video attire…keep in mind this was back when female singers/rappers actually wore clothing in music videos. I started developing my own fashion path and decided to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago – this education pushed me to my creative and critical limits to make me the designer I am today.

Trish: When did you start your own line of clothing?
Erika: I started sewing when I was pregnant in 2002 and I knew I want to make clothes to sell, not wear, so I went to boutiques and asked if they want to carry my line and it all went from there. I started Erika Hendrix in July 2005.

Trish: When did you start your own line of clothing?
Zsuzsa: As I said, Jessica and I both graduated from Vivienne Westwood’s fashion course at Berlin’s University of Fine Arts and Designs. While attending the course, we immediately formed a strong friendship and creative partnership that has lead to establishing our own designer line, ZSEGA. However, after finishing the course, we ventured into two different directions: Jessica moved to London and worked for Vivienne Westwood, while I stayed in Berlin and joined In July, a high-end accessories label. In late 2006, we decided it was time for us to do what we’ve been dreaming of, and this is where fashion model Regina Ujhazi and attorney-at-law Barbara Reardon came into the picture. We joined forces and started the label ZSEGA in January 2007.

Trish: When did you start your own line of jewelry?
Catalina: It was winter of 2004, I started designing small pieces with wire and semi-precious stones, then I ventured and went to a couple stores and they loved my pieces. They encouraged me, I left my job and started a full time business pursue.

Darlings: How old were you when you started getting involved in fashion design or the fashion world in general?
Bob: My mother taught me how to sew on my grandmother’s old Singer from the time I was 4, but it was only at the age of 12 that I began seriously designing for myself. After creating my first custom outfit, there was no going back.

Darlings: When did you start your own line of clothing?
Stacie May: Some would say I started when was 9 or 10 when I actually learned how to use a real sewing machine and starting turning old jeans and hand-me-down clothing into new pieces. Officially, though, I launched my first full collection the year I graduated college in 1995. I’ve mostly been designing for fun and a way to express myself as well as doing costume design until the past year when I decided to launch my own business.

Trish: When did you start your own line?
Shana: Officially, it started in the Fall of o5 but I was always making bags prior to that. it began as a hobby but I started getting requests from friends and friends of friends and it just grew into SML Bags.

Trish: How did you get into the business of fashion?
Arielle: Fashion is something I always have been passionate about. When I graduated college I thought I would find a great job and eventually pursue starting my company. After working for someone else for my first two years out of college I realized that I would never be happy unless I was designing my own line. I freelanced for a while and then when the time was right I took the leap and in early 2007 started my own line, Elleira Couture.

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