1. Tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What's your educational background? What are your general professional and non-professional interests?
I grew up in Thibodaux, Louisiana - very far south, near New Orleans.
2. What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is ever-changing, from what I wear to what I make - it will never get old. Fashion is when you wake up and decide what to wear, what you decide to buy, and what you decide to create.
3. How would you define your city's fashion?
I live in New York City - Brooklyn actually. Brooklyn is great because the fashion is whatever you want it to be. There are so many different areas, different cultures, mixed cultures, hipsters, wanna-be hipsters, artists of all kinds, etc. People watching here is inspirational no matter where you are and I love that.
4. When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
I'm not sure. I think if you follow your heart, eventually will end up doing what you are destined to me doing. My mom and grandmother taught me all about sewing and I loved it. I was also a very math oriented, brainy kid - and I never really saw fashion or art as something I could do as a career, just a hobby. It wasn't exactly encouraged at my prep school. When my mom finally accepted that I didn't want to be an engineer, she turned me onto fashion merchandising as a major, balancing math, business, and fashion. Mom's always seem to know...This was my practical way of majoring in fashion. I'm finally realizing the potential to actually make a living with my designing. After moving to New York, I am so inspired and encouraged- It's a city of dreamers and artists and I love that.
5. What do you love most about designing and creating your own items?
As much as I love finishing a piece, the process is the best part; figuring it out, changing my mind, conquering a challenge, realizing what a piece is going to be. All of the items I sell are transformations from recycled goods, so it makes the journey even more special.
6. What are some of your favorite materials to work with and create with?
I love recycling things - old crazy vintage dresses with good details- I love transforming them into relevant, current pieces. I love when I can turn someone onto vintage who might never have considered it. The transforming started when my grandmother would give old pieces to me. I'm sentimental, and wanted to preserve things, but still be current.
7. How did you get your start in fashion designing and what have you learned over the course of being a designer?
It started when my mom taught me to sew and the power of creating my own things. The greatest thing I've learned is to not over-think when I create and to trust my instincts.
8. If you could sum up your look and aesthetic in three words, what would they be and why?
Sweet, eclectic, refreshing
9. What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?
I think my greatest accomplishment is selling something to a happy customer - it's such a complement when someone wants to buy a piece - that feeling never gets old- and will never get old.
10. Where can readers buy your items?
Right now on my Etsy sight: http://www.bondergirl.etsy.com/
I also have some pieces at a great little shop in Scranton, PA called Greenbeing: http://www.shopgreenbeing.com/
11. How long have you worked as a designer?
In some shape or form - I've been designing since I could sew- age 6. I've worked in fashion since college, and I've been selling pieces for the past 2 years. I work a day job in product development for an Apparel company, and I sew/design my own pieces when I'm not sleeping or working...
Erin has been so gracious to pass along a 25% savings to my fashionable followers for orders placed on her Etsy webstore using the promo code 'MODEGIRL' which will expire on April 30, 2011. Happy shopping!
I grew up in Thibodaux, Louisiana - very far south, near New Orleans.
2. What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is ever-changing, from what I wear to what I make - it will never get old. Fashion is when you wake up and decide what to wear, what you decide to buy, and what you decide to create.
3. How would you define your city's fashion?
I live in New York City - Brooklyn actually. Brooklyn is great because the fashion is whatever you want it to be. There are so many different areas, different cultures, mixed cultures, hipsters, wanna-be hipsters, artists of all kinds, etc. People watching here is inspirational no matter where you are and I love that.
4. When did you realize you wanted to become a fashion designer?
I'm not sure. I think if you follow your heart, eventually will end up doing what you are destined to me doing. My mom and grandmother taught me all about sewing and I loved it. I was also a very math oriented, brainy kid - and I never really saw fashion or art as something I could do as a career, just a hobby. It wasn't exactly encouraged at my prep school. When my mom finally accepted that I didn't want to be an engineer, she turned me onto fashion merchandising as a major, balancing math, business, and fashion. Mom's always seem to know...This was my practical way of majoring in fashion. I'm finally realizing the potential to actually make a living with my designing. After moving to New York, I am so inspired and encouraged- It's a city of dreamers and artists and I love that.
5. What do you love most about designing and creating your own items?
As much as I love finishing a piece, the process is the best part; figuring it out, changing my mind, conquering a challenge, realizing what a piece is going to be. All of the items I sell are transformations from recycled goods, so it makes the journey even more special.
6. What are some of your favorite materials to work with and create with?
I love recycling things - old crazy vintage dresses with good details- I love transforming them into relevant, current pieces. I love when I can turn someone onto vintage who might never have considered it. The transforming started when my grandmother would give old pieces to me. I'm sentimental, and wanted to preserve things, but still be current.
7. How did you get your start in fashion designing and what have you learned over the course of being a designer?
It started when my mom taught me to sew and the power of creating my own things. The greatest thing I've learned is to not over-think when I create and to trust my instincts.
8. If you could sum up your look and aesthetic in three words, what would they be and why?
Sweet, eclectic, refreshing
9. What are some of your accomplishments as a designer?
I think my greatest accomplishment is selling something to a happy customer - it's such a complement when someone wants to buy a piece - that feeling never gets old- and will never get old.
10. Where can readers buy your items?
Right now on my Etsy sight: http://www.bondergirl.etsy.com/
I also have some pieces at a great little shop in Scranton, PA called Greenbeing: http://www.shopgreenbeing.com/
11. How long have you worked as a designer?
In some shape or form - I've been designing since I could sew- age 6. I've worked in fashion since college, and I've been selling pieces for the past 2 years. I work a day job in product development for an Apparel company, and I sew/design my own pieces when I'm not sleeping or working...
Erin has been so gracious to pass along a 25% savings to my fashionable followers for orders placed on her Etsy webstore using the promo code 'MODEGIRL' which will expire on April 30, 2011. Happy shopping!
Thanks for taking out your time to do this interview Erin!
Fashionably yours - Shellena
thanks ! :)
ReplyDeletegreat post!
xx
herphotograph.blogspot.com