Manchester PR Blog » Designer

One on One Interview with Layla Joy

nadiablog — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:01:13 +0000

Designer Layla Joy has unveiled her first shoe collection and the launch of her company. Her line is “Fashion meets Comfort”, edginess and elegance that are also very wearable. Once I was introduced to LaylaJoy designs, I immediately gravitated to her aesthetic and I had to interview her!

Your background in fashion sounds amazing. As a world traveler which countries are you most influenced by?

I’d have to narrow it down to cities, and for me it’s New York, Paris, London and Hong Kong. I love traveling to these larger cities and observing how people of different cultures interpret the fashion trends.

The fashion sense tends to be far more eclectic and people tailor fashion to suit their needs. They’ll bridge fashion trends with their cultural and personal interests to make a fashion statement uniquely their own.

Who can resist a line that is “Fashion meets Comfort”, how would you describe your average customer?

I’m making shoes for a woman who is not necessarily 20 years old. She’s a confident – fashionable woman, a woman who is true to her own fashion sense. She’s a woman (like me) who’s constantly on the go.

A LAYLAJOY woman can afford to spend more – but would prefer to spend it wisely (Quality vs. Quantity). Most importantly, she a woman who enjoys fashion and Can’t Live Without Her Heels!

Which piece from your holiday collection is your favorite?

Ooh so hard to say…. I Love them ALL!

I love your outlook on fashion, who are your fashion icons?

I absolutely love the fashion sense of – Carine Roitfeld, Desiree Rogers, Giovanna Battaglia. In terms of other designers I adore Donna Karen, Michael Kors and Rick Owens; they dress women the best!

With the holiday season just around the corner, what are your number one tips for transforming your day time look to an after work holiday party? Which shoe from your holiday collection fits this look the best?

I love the idea of pairing the Carmen High shaft boots with a shimmering jewel hued dress, worn beneath a well tailored blazer. Comfort equals confidence, and confidence is always key.

For more information visit:www.laylajoy.com

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One on One Interview with Eliza Starbuck

nadiablog — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 12:45:40 +0000

How to make a dress that’s universally wearable yet individually specific, that’s both sustainable and fashionable? This question is at the heart of fashion designer Eliza Starbuck’s new clothing line, Bright Young Things.

When did you begin your design career?

In 2002 after graduating from Parson’s School of Design I began working in the industry. Before school I was an artist and an avid vintage collector.

Your clothing is described as modern, chic and multi-functional. How important is it to you to make clothing this way?

I aim to design clothes that are both modern and classic. Modern to me means it would fit in any woman’s wardrobe post 1920, since fashion hasn’t really changed all that much since then. Classic means that it’s an item that has endured the tests of time and have been staple items in wardrobes for nearly a century now. It’s important to me that the clothes are timeless and not date-able. From there I try to innovate through design engineering to make them multi-functional. Chic and style are what the wearer brings to the clothes, not the designer. I design clothes to be neutral and extremely versatile in their styling capabilities, so that it’s the woman wearing them that flavors them with her own style. The multifunctional aspect of each garment speaks to that, encouraging the wearer to play and explore their own style and creativity, and ultimately makes these designs more useful in a wardrobe. This is important because I aim to design what I call Investment pieces, items that you buy with the intention of getting the most out of the garment. A garment that can be worn or styled in over 365 ways is a garment that offers bang for the buck.

What are three staple pieces in your closet? The LBD(little black dress), a Classic Trouser, and a Long Skirt.

Would you say that Louise Brooks, Katherine Hepburn, Lauren Hutton and Lou Doillon are your inspirations? Name one thing you admire about each woman. These women are classic muses, style icons that are ageless and timeless. Designers, stylists, and women will always look to them for inspiration, not because of their clothes, but because of their spirit. Confident, original, jaunty, beautiful, comical, composed, and wreckless all at the same time these women embody what it means to be a Bright Young Thing. They all have shining eyes and know what they’re about.

To learn more about Eliza Starbuck and her designs please visit the links below.

Please feel free to contact me at nadiamurdock@manchesterpublicrelations.com.

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Elene Cassis Designs

nadiablog — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:21:11 +0000

Cheryl Burke in Elene Cassis

Elene Fashions, Inc., was established June 11, 2009, and is owned by Elene Cassis. Elene’s commitment to the quality and integrity of her line is unsurpassed. Her utter devotion to creating pieces that will inspire self-confidence and celebrate the graceful lines and curves of the female form truly set her apart from her contemporaries.

Olivia Newsday in Elene Cassis

Designs are created with the finest fabrics, hand-selected to enhance a woman’s natural beauty. To her, fashion is more than the garments themselves; it is the feelings that the garments evoke. It is all about empowering women through her creations to project the inner-spirit that makes each woman an individual. Happy. Sexy. Sensual. Successful.

To learn more about Elene Cassis please visit Elene Cassis.com

Shannon-Playboy-Twins in Elene Cassis

One on One Interview with Bob Martin

nadiablog — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 12:49:22 +0000

Bob Martin is the master mind behind How to Fashion Design DVD series. I interviewed Bob to learn more about his passion for fashion and what led him to his career as a fashion designer.

What are the pros and cons to designing for film and theater vs. working with high-end designers?

Designing for film and theatre is different in many ways than designing for the fashion industry. To compare the two seems slightly unfair. In the fashion industry you are designing for the buying public, which often dictates what you can actually design. While many designers try to “push the limits” of their designs they are often constrained by the notion, will it sell and turn a profit? In film you don’t have this concern. That being said you are faced with other variables. Like designing something the dancer or actor can move and perform well in, you may also need to consider what will show up on camera or under certain specific scene lighting, or if the piece you are designing accurately depicts the time period and or setting the scene takes place in.

You see they each have their own challenges and can be frustrating at times. I do however enjoy doing film and theatre much more that mainstream fashion, because often times the design process is more of collaboration with other talented people. You often work with highly skilled craftsman whether it’s a metal smith, carpenter, costumer, milliner, artist or even special effects technician. You just don’t get those opportunities often in a freelance job.

How would you compare your DVD series to taking an actual class?

My “How To Fashion Design with Bob Martin” DVD lessons are classes… I teach exactly what is taught in universities. I add what I have learned and approach it in an easy to understand way. I believe that there is no substitute for sitting beside a professor who not only possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge, but equally desires to teach, and has mastered the skill of teaching. That being said this is not often available for most people, especially when it comes to Fashion Design, unless you attend University, or have an internship where someone is open to taking the time with you, to show you the ropes of the industry. I however bring this to my DVD’s, they are thorough, well taught, and not rushed. They explain things in a clear concise way.

People who want to learn Fashion design are more often than not, visual people, and they learn best by seeing. That gives my DVD’s an advantage over other educational sources such as books. Whether you take actual classes or learn through “How To Fashion Design” lessons, it does not eradicate the fact that learning design takes a lot of “out of class” developing. When the class ends or the DVD is put back in its case, a student must be proactive about learning and practicing…Fashion Design

In your bio you said, “I enjoy helping to awake the Designer in others.” Who or what would you say awakened the designer in you?

Though I have had an interest and love for art and design for a long time, it wasn’t until I had my first actual “Design Class” in University that I really felt something was awakened inside me. I will never forget it. The class was Called “Basic Principles of Design” and was taught by a Professor named Basil Kardasis. Our project the whole term was to communicate 5 words “Sour, Grotesque, Whisper, Tepid, and Mirage “through images. We created 2 sketchbooks full of ideas, thoughts, images, designs that depicted these words.

What are your plans for “How to Fashion Design” in 2010?

My plans for “How To Fashion Design with Bob Martin” this year, are to release the additional lessons of the series, and perhaps another Lesson on patternmaking.

I currently distribute to large retail chains like Barnes & Noble and Target, but would also like to reach independent retail chains and specialty stores as well.

I get emails everyday asking for more DVD products. People tell me they love the rarely taught information I provide, as well as the easy to follow instruction and expertise I bring to these lessons.

KKC™ is currently distributing individual lessons from our 3 DVD box set.
You will also be seeing our “How To Fashion Design with Bob Martin” DVD displays in retail locations this year.
How To Fashion Design has new partnerships to announce, which you can learn more about by following our blog at www.howtofashiondesign.com or opt in to receive our newsletter.