Category archives: Fashion Designer

  • Wearable Art: 3 Reasons Why Knative Clothing Is The Knitwear Brand To Know

  • 10 years ago
  • Los Angeles-based Knative Clothing, helmed by Ariel Goodman-Weston produces "fully fashioned knitwear" that's not only environmentally conscious, but is also waste conscious. Fashion-making typically begets a lot of waste---from discarded textiles to water use. Finding a brand that truly tries to incorporate "no-waste" techniques is definitely something worth calling attention to. It's also important to distinguish these fashion labels from fast-fashion brands like H&M that attempt to present themselves as eco-conscious in a dishonest practice referred to as greenwashing. Brands like Knative Clothing create handmade, durable products. And because of its small size, it doesn't seem to require the same amount of resources as a larger label would need---thereby labels like Knative create less harmful emissions. Ariel Goodman-Weston Here are three reasons why you need Knative knitwear in your possession this Fall into Winter.  Fully Fashioned Knit Technique  Ariel Goodman-Weston uses a fascinating form of "fabric sculpting" in order to make her fabulous knitwear. The designer uses "pre-shaped pieces of fabric" in order to limit waste. Typically, a designer cuts shapes from gigantic reams of fabric, which result in many unused pieces getting tossed aside. Knative's strategy of using pre-shaped pieces makes it easier to sculpt the textiles into fun, fashion-forward tops and scarves.   Ariel Goodman-Weston/PHOTOGRAPHED BY THOMAS SLACK No Waste Go[...]

  • Wearable Art: LaQuan Smith, Titan of Edgy Fashion

  • 10 years ago
  • Womenswear designer LaQuan Smith is a juggernaut in the fashion world. He's making a name for himself, displaying a daring looks that reflect a "refined approach to classic tailoring" He can even make tweed look cool! "I found these awesome, incredible, sick tweeds from Italy and I wanted to experiment with them," he tells Fashionista. Find out what three most important things you need to know about LaQuan Smith right now. His Fabulous Designs Are Inspired By Bold Women (And Powerhouse Celebs) From Kim Kardashian wearing a yellow ochre sweater dress, or Rihanna wearing a long, mesh frock, LaQuan Smith's designs are in your daily news feed whether you like it or not. "I think that’s the world we live in today — everything is truly driven by celebrities, social media, the 'popular' girls of the world, and the influence they have on the world, especially women and young girls," Smith tells Refinery 29. "And, despite what anyone might think about these celebrities, or about the Kardashians, they are truly influential in our society right now." He continues: "Whatever they do and wear, their fan base is genuinely interested." Smith adds "and I think that, at least for the LaQuan Smith brand and clientele, that they buy things from us because it feels authentic to them — it doesn’t feel forced, or like I’m trying to fit in. They buy it because they genuinely like it."   He Battled Cancer At 17, All While Embarking On A Fashion Career The Queens-n[...]

  • Wearable Art: 3 Reasons Why Balmain Is Killing It At Paris Fashion Week

  • 10 years ago
  • On October 1, Olivier Rousteing's exotically ritzy looks for Balmain were on full display as the fashion house presented clothes for Spring 2016 Paris Fashion Week. Set at Paris’s Hotel Intercontinental, the star-studded event drew notables like Diplo, Jada Pinkett Smith, and of course members of the Kardashian clan. And while we shouldn't care about whether or not Kris Jenner and her brood were in attendance, it's important to pay attention to the 29-year-old designer. Since taking over Christophe Decarnin's creative director position at Balmain in 2011, Rousteing has been killing it in the fashion world. Let's look at three reasons why Balmain is a huge force that is changing fashion history forever. Reason #1: Camel Olivier Rousteing displayed a wide array of colors, however it was "camel" that proved to be the biggest standout. Supermodel Caroline Ribeiro kicked off the October 1 showcase, wearing a caramel-colored suede jacket and matching cigarette pants. Reason # 2: Cut-Outs, Lattice, Ruffles and Sheers The overall style of the season's collection featured cinched waists, oversized belts, and "statement-making" necklaces. Rousteing has fashioned designs that effectively meld strong looks with soft ones. This is evident in the "body-baring" lattice skirts and tops, as well as romantic ruffles. Reason #3: High-Waisted Briefs Yas! Any reason to wear large, comfortable underclothes is perfectly fine with me. The daring style helps to transform[...]

  • Wearable Art: Paper Mag Reveals 15 Young Newly-Graduated Designers To Watch

  • 11 years ago
  • This week, while we are trying to figure out how to somehow incorporate bodysuits into our late-Summer wardrobe, or how to convert a shirtdress into a layering piece, Paper Magazine has issued a fantastic round-up of 15 fashion stars-to-come that you need to know about right now . These designers are fresh out of design school, probably excited to hit the ground running this September when the official 2015 international Fashion Week season returns after Summer hiatus. Here's a sneak peak at FOUR of the designers featured in the round-up that are going to be household names by the time the 2016 Fashion Week season cycles in. You're welcome. 1) Jon Max Goh, Parsons The New School for Design Photo: Hiu Zhi Wei  Talented design, who also has a great singing voice, creates gender fluid ready-to-wear that doesn't conform to mainstream norms. “I’m interested in asking why and how we design the way we do—and answering these questions by designing in a way we don’t,” Goh tells Style.com. 2) Samantha MacDonald, Savannah College of Art and Design Photo: Samantha MacDonald This designer-to-watch will not be as easy to find on future high-fashion runway but she will certainly influence popular style as in-coming Assistant Fashion Designer at Macy's starting this Fall. 3) Elizabeth Hilfiger, Rhode Island School of Design Photo: Elizabeth Hilfiger Tommy's middle daughter might prove to be a chip off the old block, effortlessly creating preppy fast fashion like h[...]

  • Wearable Art: Everything You Need To Know About Men's Fashion Week

  • 11 years ago
  • Holy mandels, New York Fashion Week: Men’s edition premieres this week with designers like Thom Browne and Public School and Rag&Bone, Hickey Freeman presenting looks for Spring 2016! As you keep from sweating, waiting in anticipation for Women's fashion week to kick off September 10, check out some of the fresh, masculine looks hitting the runways this week! What's interesting about this week's Men's Fashion Week in New York, which kicked off on July 13, and closes July 16 with a showcase by John Varvatos is that the biannual event might just get the attention that's it's been so eager to receive for a very long time, on account of the uptick in menswear sales. Business of Fashion reports that, in the UK, "men have become so fashion-conscious that they are now outspending women on items like shoes." As Euromonitor International reports: "By 2019, menswear is expected to contribute close to US$40 billion in sales to the global apparel market." So here are three things you need to know about Men's Fashion Week: 1) If You Want To Know What's Hot, You Need To Follow @StevenKolb With respect to this year's fashion week, Steven Kolb, chief executive officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, or CFDA, the group that organizes New York’s fashion weeks, is the Grand Poobah of the week. He's everywhere you'd want to be, hobnobbing with celebs, and capturing excellent looks from the front row, and immediately posting images and Vines on his Twitter pa[...]

  • Wearable Art: This Is How You Reinvent A Fashion Career Into An Entertainment One

  • 11 years ago
  • No doubt about it, fashion and music have an almost symbiotic connection. Tastemakers like Gwen Stefani make it look so easy, right? However, with the hit-and-misses of musical fashion designers like Kayne West, finding a way to successfully meld the two together is not an easy feat. That's what makes former fashion accessories designer Krista Retto such a fascinating subject. She's flawlessly applied her talents in marketing and advertising into successful jewelry-making career, and then reinvented herself again (of course using all the skills she's mastered) to create a music company. She's the co-founder of the Big House Companies, comprised of a music publishing house (Big House Publishing) and a indie record label (BHi Music Group), that has found a way to harness all of her past experiences into one all-encompassing career. Ready to reinvent yourself? Krista gives some insight into how it's done. Read and learn after the jump. BhpNewYork.com Jacqueline Colette Prosper, yummicoco.com 1) Tell us how you got into jewelry making. I fell haphazardly into the world of jewelry. I went to Senegal, West Africa for music (out of pure love) and, while there, also discovered the beauty of gems and jewelry-making. When 9/11 hit, I stepped out of my corporate life and volunteered for months at the World Trade Center site, came home each night and made jewelry to steady myself. I had lost more than 30 people that I knew and I was more than rattled. Out of she[...]