We Are Islanders: Tidal Collection 2013

As you all probably know by now, I love almost all things black and white. A couple months ago I received a pressbook and lookbook from We Are Islanders and was blow away not just by the amazing textures at play in the collection, but the time, history, and pure artistic love put into the Tidal collection. In addition the three that make up this design collaboration are focused on making the industry better (hey, sustainability and working conditions in the fashion industry was a huge topic in 2013).

From salmon leather to tide dyed fabric off the Dublin coast, I fell in love with this collection. Check out the images below and read the interview I was lucky enough to get. If you're in Europe, you might be able to find some of these pieces in person but I'll have to wait until We Are Islanders crosses the pond...

---

INTERVIEW WITH WE ARE ISLANDERS

---

When I think of the stereotypical American view of Ireland I think of cable knit sweaters, wellies, and lots of green rolling hills... but your collection has a totally different feel. It seems much more modern and stark. How did the collective decide on this aesthetic? I love it!
Thanks Christina! The aesthetic has been a long time coming and is a combination of a re-dress's research into unique Irish and other sustainable materials and a keenness to reinvent that idea of a contemporary Irish label. It's hugely inspired by the sea (as you'll have guessed by the name!) and the maritime history of Ireland which is overlooked sometimes. There is huge cultural diversity in the country and as Islanders we've been fortunate to welcome pretty much every cultural influence to our shores. This influence of different cultures has been a massive part of revisiting what it means to be Irish and an Islander.


Wow, there is so much behind your inspiration... We Are Islanders is a collective. How did the three of you come to meet? What is the design process you go through? Was there a certain thought process or mood during the design stage?
We are all committed to making the industry better and met through running events to promote that ethos in Ireland. The design process is always start with materials, then shape and cut. The mood stems mainly from installations or visual art project I'm working on as you can see with the Tidal collection.


You dyed a piece using the high tide of the Dublin Coast Line... Are the rest of your pieces made in Ireland too? (Check out the video here).
Yep!




Having designed and sewn a few things, I always feel an emotional connection to a certain piece. Do each of you have a favorite or story about a certain piece? 
I think for all us the Tide dyed pieces are the most emotive. We spent hours digging holes and constructing chambers on the Dublin coastline. The work was hard and all done by hand... you don't get much closer than that.


Haha, of course not. The film of the process was completely inspirational. The Tidal collection brings a contemporary twist to Irish fabrics. Can you describe some of these materials for those that are not familiar? 
The Irish fabric are wool and linen both historic Irish fabrics. The linen is finished using a beating process which gives us that amazing finish.


I love linen. It can be so simple and luxurious. There is a lot of black in this collection... I wish I could feel some of the pieces! For example, what does salmon leather skin feel like and how did you stumble across that type of material?
Textural contrast has been a huge part of this collection so combing salmon leather and linen and wool was an exciting process. The salmon leather feels softer than leather and has more stretch.







I am absolutely obsessed with the Tweed Wool Throw Coat. It looks like a piece that I could effortlessly wear again and again. Do you have any plans of stocking in retail stores in the US? I'd really like to give the piece a whirl. :)
In January we'll be trading in Paris so we hope to see some American buyers there!


I hope to see pieces in the US as soon as possible. I need to know what salmon leather feels like. What's next for the collective? Any exciting things we should know about for S/S 2014?
For spring summer we'll be dying using other tides and working with new Irish producers to push the concept of an Irish fashion brand further.


Other tides... I can't wait to see what's next!

Follow me on Facebook!

Shawl Dawls + Interview

About a month ago I took a weekend trip down to Temecula, CA (one of southern California's wine regions for those who are not familiar). I've spent a considerable amount of time there since I have family in the area so I know about the amazing farmers market they have on Saturday. One particular Saturday after the famers market I ventured into a local boutique and happened upon some convertible shawls. While I had seen similar pieces around before and even made something similar back in college, I had never seen ones exactly like these. So naturally, I tried on a few (in black). I was lucky enough to have walked in on the day Roshena, one of the designers behind Shawl Dawls, was coming in for what turned into a mini trunk show! I quickly fell in love with some of the slinkier fabric with fringe beading and a longer piece. The whole collection was so cool and versatile I had to get an interview with the girls behind Shawl Dawls.

Read on for the interview and tips for launching your career in fashion from Shawl Dawls! Oh, and just in case you were wondering I gored myself on a full two pounds of farmers market Medjool dates that day. I'd say sinful, but let's be real, it was necessary.

---

Interview with Shawl Dawls: Julie + Roshena

---

Shawl Dawls are incredible versatile and really bridge across all age groups. What was the original inspiration behind the design? Did you look to focus on one sort of look/age group, etc, and how did it emerge?

We were inspired to create a line around shawls after shopping for shawls one day and realizing that they are such a practical and at the same time fashionable piece that every woman should own. We figured that something that was both practical and fashionable would be a winning product, so we decided to create our version of the shawl with a modern twist.

We started with our basic Fleece Shawl, which we did not really design for any particular age group. But we saw that it appealed to women of all ages, especially when we created them in a wide variety of prints and colors, in addition to the fact that they could be styled so many different ways. The line then expanded from there as we played with different fabrications, trims, and details applied to the our basic shawl pattern. With a wide variety of shawl styles and all the different wardrobe options that can be achieved with each style, we further broadened our customer base and now appeal to tweens (they love the Finge Cut Shawl) and grannys alike.

I'm so curious to hear how you drafted your first design! Was it on paper, on a form, or did the idea just come randomly or organically?  

Well we knew we wanted to work with the shawl concept so we started from there and drafted our first design while playing with the cover-up idea on a body form. Once the basic pattern was developed, we then played with it to discover all the ways it could be styled. And as our business has grown, our customers, or "Dawls" as we like to call them, have contributed their own ideas which we are always so delighted to add to our list of styling options.

How did the two of you (Julie/Roshena) meet and what sparked the idea to create a line together?  

We were coworkers at a corporate apparel manufacturing company and clicked instantly due to our similar entrepreneurial mindsets. Prior to meeting, we each attended fashion school with the intention and dream of having our own fashion lines. After getting to know each other, we knew we one day wanted to pool our talents together to start a fashion business so we were always bouncing ideas off of each other. Finally, one of our ideas (a line of convertible shawls) took off. It was far from a fashion business that each of us would ever have imagined!

There are so many new and emerging designers out there. What is one piece of advice you would give to those looking to enter the field?  

Focus on constantly developing your business and people skills if your goal is to make a living doing fashion. Designers are gifted with creativity, but they must realize that savvy business skills are just as important and are vital to the survival and success of a fashion company. There are many free and inexpensive business resources and seminars out there to help you out, such as the SBDC.  Get connected, network whenever you can, and always be in learning mode. And don't go at it alone - find a mentor to guide you and help you avoid costly and amateur mistakes.

That’s great advice!I know your production is based in LA, was there a reason you were looking to keep the design/production local? With books like "Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion" and the growing media focus on the 'slow fashion movement' I think what you're doing is wonderful!  

It just makes the most sense for us to manufacture in LA - the city offers everything we need to produce our products at the right prices so why would we go anywhere else? We love that we can keep a close eye on production and quality, maintain personal relationships and communicate easily with our vendors, and manufacture our products quickly.

In just a few months you have gone from concept to being stocked nationwide, amazing! Where are you looking to take the brand? Do either of you plan on creating a namesake collection?

Our line is now sold in 18 states nationwide, going for 50. Then we want to really focus on taking it worldwide, especially after learning that there is a lot of potential with exporting and much opportunity within the global market. Overall, we work hard to build a solid brand and increase customer loyalty. Namesake collection - Roshena has done it with her previous couture line; Julie has no plans to branch off.

A huge thanks to those at Shawl Dawls for this interview! It is a seriously interesting peak into the fashion world.


Like me on Facebook!

Parade FW 2013 + Interview

Parade launched Spring/Summer 2013 so this really is a sneak peak at what is to come. I really like the sophistication of the designs, and of course, the styling for the lookbook. Being the New York transplant I am, I am liking the moodiness of the FW collection which is an interesting contrast to the LA vibe of the Spring/Summer collection. I had the pleasure to interview Neely Shearer the designer behind the line. Digging into the inspiration and mastermind behind the collection makes you want it even more. I can't wait to see what this brand grows into!

---

INTERVIEW WITH NEELY SHEARER

---

You are designing in LA and your SS collection seems very west coast to me (being an east coaster). Are you originally from the west coast?
I grew up near the beach and went to university here in southern California. I did some exchange programs in London and Honolulu and then moved to Japan when I was 20. I spent about eight years living there and traveling throughout Asia and Africa before returning to LA.

Wow that’s incredible. I’m having serious travel envy. Was launching your own line something that you knew you always wanted to do or did you stumble upon it? What were you doing before you got to where you are today?
Yes, I think so... I had been collecting scraps of fabric and remaking vintage clothes for myself since elementary high school. I was always very interested in fashion magazines when I was little. I did go to school for journalism/advertising and worked in that field through school and then started my own magazine in Japan. Then one day I made the decision to change things up and start my first brand, Issho, when I was still in Japan... I moved back to LA and opened the boutique Xin.

Seriously inspiring… What are some of the sources of inspiration behind your FW 13 collection? I love the moodiness of the lookbook and dark florals!
Thank you! I always go for prints that I love...that I have a lot of confidence in, like "YES!!" It is really a first impression thing. The prints may not be for everyone but I don't think anything is "for everyone" is it? I always go for shapes that flatter and aren't too obviously 'sexy' but that do show more of a subtle sexiness... I mean ladylike, girl-next-door but with a rock n’ roll heart. I dress by my mood and I think my pieces allow women do that. You can wear the same dress to your grandma's brunch or to your boyfriend's band rehearsal.

I love that! I always gravitate towards versatile pieces. You can get so much mileage out of a good piece. When you start to design how do you gather your thoughts and ideas? Do you keep a journal, an inspiration board, a pintrest, etc?
No not really. Hmm, I just do it! It’s in my head... and lots of scraps of small papers!

Haha, sounds about right. Who has been most influential in you launching your career as a designer?
My business partner, family, friends and the confidence in myself… knowing how much I love to do it. It makes me happy.

Happiness, that’s definitely key! Where would you like to see your brand go in the next few years?
Growing organically, I’m following that.








Like me on Facebook!