Posts with tag indie designer interviews

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with the designer behind Bsgper4, a handmade jewelry line inspired by everything from petticoats and skeleton keys to the modern earth girl.

For our ongoing feature, Indy Designer Interviews, Eric Niccoli,
Creative Director/ Designer, Orthodox Clothing, talks about the subculture of being an indy brand and the importance of wire transfers.

Typically we see "orthodox" with a religious connection. Can you explain how you employ it? In its purest definition, orthodox means an, "adherence to an approved form of doctrine, philosophy, or ideology." Here, at Orthodox, we are creating a lifestyle brand with its own personality and identity. This doesn't imply a perpetual monotony. Fashion evolves and so will Orthodox, but it will do so while retaining our own, peculiar DNA.

There's like 5 billion men's wear lines out there, why should I buy yours? Because we are the bestest in the whole wide world... kidding. We have created a look and feel that is unique in the marketplace. People want to feel unique. In a world of faceless multiplicity, people want to feel like they have identity. Clothing is one of the easiest ways of expressing one's personality and identity. So here at Orthodox we offer the medium of clothing as a means of self expression. We provide forwardly fashionable garments with an intellectually masculine aesthetic. And what man out there doesn't want to be a fashion forward, intellectual man?

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Meet blugrn design, a line of clever, modern jewelry and accessories for girls and guys. Combining natural elements like fossilized shells and shark's teeth with sterling silver, this collection is truly unique.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Claudine Hellmuth, a nationally recognized collage artist, author and illustrator. She creates quirky, retro-inspired mixed media collages, including custom commissioned artworks.

Tell me a little about your work. I am an artist, author and illustrator. I create custom artworks for clients using their photos of themselves, their kids and their pets. I weave them into a collage artwork. I would say my look is whimsical with a retro twist. I have also written a couple books about my techniques and filmed 3 DVD workshops. And I create illustrations for various companies for greeting cards, calendars and advertisements etc.

How did you get started as an artist? I have been an artist all my life. I went to art college and graduated with my BFA in fine Art in 1997. After I graduated I knew I had to get some sort of day job and the internet was just really starting out then, so I learned HTML and got a job designing web sites. I did that to pay the bills meanwhile building my art career on the side in the evenings and on weekends. I got laid off from my web job in 2001 and have been working for myself ever since! I was actually so worn out from working both my day job and for my art that by the time I got laid off I was relieved!

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves?
beauty: bare minerals make up and my proactiv system!
fashion: a great pair of jeans!!

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Catherine Beringer, a jewelry designer and metalsmith who creates modern, organic jewelry using eco-friendly, recycled silver. You can find her work at her website, Solsida, which means sunny side in Swedish.

Tell me a little about your work. I make silver jewelry inspired by lazy summer days spent outside with the sun beaming down on your face. (It's a long winter here in Minnesota!). I totally crave sunshine and my jewelry reflects that. I enjoy using my jewelry saw to cut out silhouettes of birds and butterflies and other things from nature. I also love organic shapes, imperfect circles and rounded edges. I use argentium silver, a newer sterling silver alloy, that has some unique properties for metalsmithing, including the ability to use safer and fewer chemicals. It is also much slower to tarnish than traditional sterling and requires less polishing. Many of my necklaces hang from several strands of linen cord. I really like that linen is a sustainable plant fiber, and that it's lightweight, stronger than leather or cotton and comes in beautiful, subtle colors.

Who are your favorite designers? I've been coveting a BeckyOh intaglio purse for too long and I've promised myself one for Spring. I just have to make up my mind which one! I just redid my studio and I have a wall that is crying out for some of these dream-like Alena Hennessy prints. My favorite jewelry designer is Amy Tavern. I've admired her work for a long time. Her jewelry is simple and modern, but has an light and organic quality to it that makes it really special.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I have a pair of red, stacked-heel Clarks and some sweet, Camper high heels I adore. They appeal to my need to be girly and comfortable at the same time. I favor skirts over jeans, so I love heels to go with them. Some of my favorite casual skirts are from Envi, an eco-friendly, online clothing store that recently opened a brick and mortar in Boston. In my constant battle against dry skin, I recently invested in a whole bunch of Winks and Company shea butters. I love trying out all the different scents. I have a ton of them. I keep changing my mind which one I like the best but right now it's pink grapefruit and honey.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Brooke Fuller who runs an online boutique stocked full of great original handmade goods from other independent designers.

Tell me a little about yourself and your shop. I am a busy woman! I run a shop at The Pear Project that focuses on artisan goods in everyday life along with a blog at thepearproject.blogspot.com under the same theme. At The Pear Project I carry handpicked goods from a variety of artists focusing on modern handmade items that can enhance everyday life. I have a love of sales, advertising and marketing that fits in well with running this shop.

I also am a trained photographer. I have a commercial portfolio, but most of my practical experience has been with portraits. I love Polaroids and spend a lot of time thinking of how I can transform my photography into more than prints on the wall. I have a popular series of sx-70 manipulations I did when that type of film was available along with a series of resin necklaces. I have also used my photography for inspiration in other mediums as well.

Felting is another passion of mine. I am currently working on a series of 4x4 wall pieces with theme of simplicity inspired by nature & a line of brightly colored felted bracelets that will include the actual bracelets along with a kit for those who would rather do it themselves. I enjoy dry needle felting and use it as a sculpting medium. The texture draws me in and I am always amazed at the finished product.

I also work with enamel, resin, paper & a few other mediums. Variety is the spice of life, and I don't think I will ever be able to specialize in just 1 thing!

Who are your favorite designers? This is an easy question because I carry many of my favorite designers in The Pear Project shop. To name a few off hand ... I adore the paper products from Papered Together. I can't even count the number of times I have given out the coasters we carry in the shop as an affordable, unique gift. They are just perfect! I also love to give salt shakers by Gamiworks too.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I love mineral make-up! It gives a great natural look while evening out my skin tone. I also have a bag and purse habit.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Peggy Li, who has been designing and selling handmade jewelry for nearly seven years. Her work has been featured in the movie Superbad and in tv shows like Grey's Anatomy and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer as well as in the pages of Lucky and Oprah magazines.

How did you get started as a designer? Like so many other small business owners, I got started by making jewelry for myself to wear. Coworkers and people in shops spotted my work and a business was born.

What inspires your work? I love fashion, so current trends are very inspirational. I also love
nature, so the natural materials I work with usually inform the design.

Who are your favorite designers? Right now I'm fascinated by new young Asian fashion designers like Peter Som and Philip Lim.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Tell me a little about your company. On December 5th, 2005 AnitaGrant.com was created, by the all round self-proclaimed cosmetic-label-reader-ingredient junkie-mixtress, Anita. At anitagrant.com we believe in cultural focus by purchasing directly from farming communities and/or partnerships with fair trade suppliers throughout the world, helping to maintain economic independence & cultural survival. Using a variety of plant-based ingredients from different countries around the globe; we are celebrating ecological & cultural diversity.

How did you get started running your business? It wasn't until I blistered my hands using a store bought bottle of so called "safe synthetics" that I decided not to purchase another off the shelf hair care product again. Since 2005, I've been making my own brand of natural and organic skin care and hair care. You shouldn't need a degree in bio-chemistry to understand the ingredient list of a hair care or skin care product label. It was a bit difficult at first to decipher all the Latin (INCI) nomenclature of the ingredients and separate the "bozwellox" from true benefits but I got there in the end. It's so liberating to be able to read the label of a product, understand the ingredients contained within and say "NATURALLY, I can do better."

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? If I were trapped on a desert island it better be one with a Coconut tree and fresh Coconuts hanging from it. I would cut it open and eat the fresh white meat, rub a bit of the Coconut water on my hands and moisturize my skin and curly Afro hair with it - loads of uses.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is is with Cristine, the jewelry designer behind Marie Cristine. She creates beautiful handcrafted bracelets, earrings, rings and necklaces using sterling silver, 14k gold and high quality gemstones.

Tell me a little about your work. I've always enjoyed creating. I've done everything from concrete garden art to papier-mâché. There is something very satisfying about taking an idea and working it through to the end product, sometimes with amazing results and sometimes not-so-much, but the process is always gratifying. I turned to making jewelry a few years ago and it's been an obsession ever since. Most of my work consists of sterling or fine silver and stone. Many of the stones I cut and polish myself. I love been able to take a pile of raw materials and turn it into something fabulous!

What inspires your work? Life! Everything! I don't find inspiration in any one place, it's just something that hits me. Sometimes if I'm feeling "blank" I just sit at my desk and start touching various materials and things just start to fall into place. I don't try to force creativity, just let it happen.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? I finally tried mineral makeup, I like it, and mascara is a must have. Oh and did I mention great jewelry, definitely a must-have!

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews. Today's interview is with the designer behind Oh So Retro, a line of fun handmade handbags, wallets and accessories.

Tell me a little about your work. I'm Adrienne, a seamstress turned designer hailing from Winnipeg, Canada. As my chosen business name implies, I am a fan of all things vintage and retro from furniture to dishes to textiles and books. I collect a little bit of everything and am always on the look out for vintage stock to incorporate into my designs. I do all of my sewing on a vintage Singer sewing machine from the 1950s which can prove challenging at times but things were made to keep back then. I try to incorporate that mentality in my own designs, to create something that is visually pleasing yet still functional enough to use everyday.

How did you get started running your own business? I started Oh So Retro back in 2004 as a vintage clothing boutique. I had been sewing my own clothing for years before that and took that knowledge into my reselling business by altering vintage clothing and doing custom sewing jobs. I began making matching bags out of the salvaged fabric from floor length gowns and much-too-small tweed skirts and soon enough the bags started outselling the clothing! I knew I was on to something good, and worked on creating my own line of bags and accessories. I was selling well from my own website and did some local consignment but things really took off for me once I started selling on Etsy.com. I'm really happy to have found my home on there.

Who are your favorite designers? The Vintage Zoo does some amazing things with her own brand of vintage + handmade clothing. Nice Face makes the cutest tunics I have ever seen. SRB Designs by Miss Bohl designs the most gorgeous clothing. I want everything.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? It`s hard to be fashionable in the winter, but I try! Right now I`m loving skinny jeans and tunics paired up with bolero sweaters for a little extra warmth. I love flat shoes and I have an amazing pair of mary jane flats from Stops And Starts. I've been using a lot of extra large shoulder bags and still wear my over sized Jackie O sun glasses. I`m very simple when it comes to make up, just a touch of mascara and lip gloss. I use a great lip gloss from The Plaid Mushroom. Thanks to her I've not had chapped lips once this winter!

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Tell me a little about your company. My name is Genie, the owner of DistinQue Co. I constantly look for up-to-date designs and study them, but most importantly, I create my own design from them. I like to use all materials: silver, gold, pearl, copper, brass, leather, silk, etc. As you can see from the name of the company, my motto is "Distinctive + uniQue". It's been only 8 months since the grand opening, but DistinQue is receiving lots of buzz.

What inspires your work? Nature. It's simple. Everything comes from the nature for me: leaves, flowers, trees, sky, ocean, sand, shells, wind, etc. I love their unique colors and forms that cannot be found anywhere else. Anything in the nature, even a little tiny thing, is unique. There's no two of a kind. I also love abstract figures. You can see that in my jewelry.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? A necklace and earrings you can wear anytime and anywhere. A black suit. AND, lipgloss!

The following is part of an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Tell me a little about yourself and your company. I'm Wendy, the owner, operator, designer, model, seamstress, copy editor, accountant, ad rep, pin pusher, house keeper, material sourcing researcher, etc. of Moop. Moop is a small company (myself and my husband) devoted to well designed and fabricated handmade bags. We're working really hard to grow Moop into something that will last a long long time. I feel like I'm in a unique position to take advantage of the attention and energy surrounding Moop to keep this going with a focus on sustainability (80% of every bag comes from up-cycled materials left over from major manufacturers and fabric wholesalers) and fair labor (as we grow we're committed to keeping things here in house, not outsourcing to fabricators).

How did you get started as a designer? I started this business before I knew it would even be a business. I was a teenage single mom looking for a way to make clothes for my kid that didn't look like every other kid on the block, so I bought a sewing machine and taught myself to make things. 10 years later, armed with two degrees (a BFA and an MFA), a husband, a lovely 10 year old girl, a cat named Mouse and a really big sewing machine, I started Moop with one pretty alright bag. That bag has since become a really great bag..refined, honed, modern, understated and really well made.

Who are your favorite designers? I love Built by Wendy (there's no relation). Last season she had this cotton ripstop shift dress that I was completely in love with. I finally decided to order one, only to find they were sold out in my size and every size close to it. I've been thinking of it ever since. So, maybe in a weird way, that dress influenced some bags. I work a lot with ripstop. I love the subtlety of the grid.

The following is part of an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews. Today's interview is with amazingly talented jewelry designer Brooke Medlin.

Tell me a little about yourself and your work. I'm Brooke, a metalsmith and jewelry designer based in Dayton, Ohio. I make my jewelry (and other things, like cyanotypes and pinback buttons) in a big, brightly painted studio space that was once a room in an old warehouse. I started out making jewelry in 2000, and things just grew from there, and now I teach metalsmithing classes and workshops out of my studio, which is wonderful. It's great watching people finally have that 'aha!' moment when working with metal. I can almost see the ideas turning round in their head as they master each new step. So wonderful. But as much as I like teaching, I still love to just hunker down in the studio for hours, sawing, filing, soldering, making. I have lately gotten away from using beads in combination with my metalwork, which used to be a staple of most of my work, and am working in mostly metal only now. I love it. I'm finding myself making equal amounts of earthy, organic jewelry and bright, sparkling, modern work. Both are really satisfying.

Who are your favorite designers? This is HARD. I bookmark items and sites dozens of times a day. Right now I'm in love with Patrice of Alcove Press for her 'I Want To Barack Your World' notecards - well-made and timely. Moop makes the most amazing bags, and I don't even carry bags! She's turned me into a convert. The fabrics, the colors! Love them. And I've been enamored with the work of Chloe Le Pichon ever since I bought a tea bowl from her last year. I love that thing. I use it almost exclusively.

What are your top fashion & beauty must-haves? Right now, since winter lasts approximately 8 months in Ohio, long, light turtlenecks that I can layer with brightly colored vests or short sleeved shirts for warmth and color, skinny jeans, and the Frye boots I've had for 6 years and are just now perfectly broken in. I don't wear much makeup, but discovered ingero and her Roxie line of tinted lip balms, which have saved my sad little chapped lips this winter, and made me look, dare I say, smoldering. I bought the bright yet somehow subdued (likely because of the slightly translucent, velvety finish) Pomegranate shade - fantastic. I dab some Gold Toof mineral eyeshadow from Coffin Color in the inner corners of my eyelids, put on my hand-crocheted tam from tiffy tuffington (in either blue or black - I bought both) and am ready to go. In the studio I've always got hand cream from DressGreen nearby - since I use chemicals on my pieces when soldering and applying patina, I wash my hands a lot, and moisturizing them is a must.

I'm a big fan of all of the amazing independent designers out there. In an effort to get inside the mind of the indie designer and find out just what makes all of these creative types tick, I present to you an ongoing segment I call Indie Designer Interviews.

Today's interview is with Megan, who creates a line of handmade, natural bath and body goods with a rockstar edge. Her company is called Disquieting Designs, and her philosophy is that if you can't pronounce the ingredient, then it shouldn't be on your body. All of her natural body products are certified cruelty-free by PETA, and Megan is also a proud member of the Pittsburgh Craft Mafia.

How did you get started running your own business? I actually started out in jewelry. (Turns out I wasn't too good at it.) I just didn't have a passion for it at all and I knew that I couldn't compete with the level of talent that's already out there...I turned to bath & body because of how much fun I could have playing with scents. It's become an obsession ever since!

Who are your favorite designers? I seriously love Cleo Dee's, My Favorite Mirror, Oh Melisa!, and Dying Breed Designs. I really appreciate people that are not doing something mainstream...they've taken an idea and turned it into something that suits their style, instead of trying to appease the market. And I think that's why they're successful.