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For Maresa (Reece) Cogger, fashion is exciting, indulgent, inspiring, theatrical, exotic and daring! She loves the frivolity of it all, especially how the art form fills her with the childish exuberance associated with “dress-up time”. Fashion can be wildly unpractical and she loves to bring these impractical ideas into everyday life! Her boutique and clothing line on Smashing Darling is named Tib Nelson Designs. The name was formed by combining both the names of her grandmothers who continue to inspire her. So read on and join her as she talks about her journey! If you are in the San Diego area, contact her to find out when and where her next trunk show will be.

Reece and Sara @ Magpie a San Diego Boutique for a winter trunk show.

SD: How did you get into fashion?
MC: Sometimes I feel like I just stumbled into this line of work! Growing up, I was always excited about fashion and would often cut up and tweak my clothes here and there so that I had something unique and a little edgy to wear. My mom and sister were always kicking themselves and wondering “Why didn’t I think of that!” I started taking design and construction of garments seriously during my last year as a visual arts student at The University of Washington. I took one surface design class from the fabulous Michael Cepress and I was hooked for life!

SD: When did you start your own line of clothing ?
MC: My first clothing line was a joint effort with a fellow designer and friend, Laura Crimp. We started Red Llama Designs (RLD) in 2005, just prior to opening our own sassy boutique in the Capitol Hill area of Seattle called The Sweatshop. We focused on reconstructing vintage pieces and creating items that were totally handmade and one of a kind. The doors of The Sweatshop closed in 2007 but no worries, we are still best mates! My own line, Tib Nelson Designs, was created in the summer of 2007 and has much of the same vibe as RLD. SD: When did you start your own line of clothing ?

SD: Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs?
MC: I get inspiration from everything around me. Having a background in sculpture makes me think about the pieces I create as individual works of art, only they are functional! How great to have a piece of art that you can show off around town! I am particularly inspired my old photographs of my grandmothers in the 1940’s. I would LOVE to walk around on a daily basis looking so chic and put together!

SD: How would you describe your customer?
MC: My customer started off as just ME! I would walk around in pieces I made and people always loved what I was wearing. Although my current customer has a great range of age and basic style, they usually fall in love with a piece because it is something a bit different and made by my own two hands. Most of the women that wear my clothes are looking for a little something to spice up their jeans and t-shirt lives….and I am excited to be there to help out! When it comes down to it, I wouldn’t create anything that I wouldn’t wear or don’t like. Makes sense to me and I am sticking with it!

SD: How do you market yourself and your label?
MC: When I owned The Sweatshop, in Seattle it was so easy to market my label because I lived and worked in the same neighborhood. I would see girls walking down Broadway in my designs and they spoke for themselves. Since I have relocated to San Diego it is more difficult because I haven’t established that fan/customer base yet. Most of the awareness for TND happens on the internet through Smashing Darling and MySpace. Thank the fashion gods for the world wide web!

SD: What are your wishes for your company in the future?
MC: I would love for TND to grow and become more accessible for women around the country. The only real issue I take with this wish is that it is important to me that every garment that is for sale is made by my own two hands and is one of a kind. When I figure out how to make a huge splash in the fashion world without loosing sight of my basic principles you will know.

SD: What does your average day entail?
MC: I don’t have an average day…but I am working on getting into more of a routine. I tend to design and construct at really random hours of the day and night. I Usually wake late in the morning and depending on how I feel that particular day I will either focus my energy on working on logistical and business type things, or design and construction. Regardless, my day involves lots of coffee and problem solving.

SD: Describe your personal style?
MC: I have always been a fairly eclectic dresser. I love layering and layering as well as pairing feminine pieces with something a bit harder like a leather jacket, something camo or mens wear. As a child my mom always allowed me to dress myself. In pre-school that meant wearing three or four skirts all at the same time because I could and I thought it would be fun! It’s been about two decades since then, but I still try and dress myself with that same sort of attitude.

SD: Who are your fashion icons (past or present)? Do you think they influenced your personal style?
MC: I love the trademark styles of Audrey Hepburn, Alexander McQueen, Judy Jetson, David Bowie and my Grandmothers! They certainly influence me and I think my personal style as well as TND is a subconscious blend of them all.

SD: Do you have any current fashion obsessions?
MC: I am constantly obsessed with shoes and I don’t see that changing anytime in the near future. I do have a side obsession with brooches though. My Aunt’s mother in law had an incredible collection of bracelets and brooches that I was able to pick through and I was drooling. Could you pass up a brass horse pin with glowing red stones for eyes? Not me!

SD: Is there anyone in the Smashing Darling Community you have a question or comment for?
MC: No questions really..I am just happy to be a part of such a great community!

Reese in her design, she calls it ‘Fancy Cake’

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