By Cio Wilde
I recently interviewed two very impressive
Rocio Wilde: Hello Khanh, it’s nice to meet with you, thank you for your time, it’s good to see you again. I know you are a busy fashion designer. I have had a couple of opportunities to see your lovely designs, including your line at The Pin Show last spring. I admire your attention to detail, on average how many hours would you say you spend on each dress?
Khanh: Consistently, a simple dress can take about 10-15 hours, where a complex design requiring handwork can take up to 50 hours. On average, I spend about 20-25 hours per dress.
Rocio: That takes dedication! I can see your attention to detail, and I can tell that you put a lot of work into your designs. Which part of the design process do you enjoy most?
Khanh: I love the creative process, particularly the design and research process.
Rocio: I see, why is that?
Khanh: Because it’s the process of discovering new ideas.
Rocio: Yes, and you are so creative. With so many ideas, what style of fashion have you chosen to focus on and create?
Khanh: We design and produce women’s Ready-To-Wear, which includes a contemporary line and a limited edition Black Velvet line.
Rocio: Your pieces are original and have a natural quality and texture. I have wondered…what is your source of inspiration?
Khanh: My inspiration is mainly through nature and art.
Rocio: I can see that, do you have a favorite fabric you enjoy working with?
Khanh: We love silk crepe and luxury lace. Silk crepe has a subtle thickness, yet hugs the body beautifully when worn. Lace is our all time favorite material to work with because it’s so delicate, mysterious, luxurious and elegant all in one. When the two of these mix together, they create a beautiful harmonious blend in the design.
Rocio: I agree they are lovely together. I can see you care about your quality of work and have a passion for what you do. What specific qualities do you feel you bring to Dallas Fashion and what qualities do you hope to bring to the field of fashion design as a whole?
Khanh: We’d love to bring the art of dressing effortlessly to Dallas
ARTSY AND EDGY: INTERVIEW WITH FASHION DESIGNER
Amber Elizabeth Donnell
By Cio Wilde
Rocio Wilde: In your earlier years, what experiences impacted your interest in fashion design and who or what inspired you?
Amber Elizabeth: My style is ever-evolving…As a child, my interest was not medicine or science, but in music and art …it impacted my choices in fashion, and it still does. I definitely love color and the lack there of. I find joy in creating with my hands. I was painting and creating before I knew of names like Karl Lagerfeld and Alexander McQueen. My first muse was a trendy, fashion-sense girl in high school…while most other girls wanted to copy her look, I simply wanted to design her next look!
Rocio Wilde: What is your style of fashion and who is your target market?
Amber Elizabeth: My fashion style is full of love, fun and strength for the real woman at heart, who seeks to wear the right piece for the occasion. My target market are strong and confident women ranging from 25-35 years, who also appreciate wearing a one of a kind, unique, high quality dress or outfit, over everyday finds such as manufactured items. As women, we know the embarrassment of arriving to an event dressed to the nines, only to find another woman wearing the exact same dress…
Rocio Wilde: What do you like most about design and what is “a day in the life of a fashion designer” really like?
Amber Elizabeth: design work is a constant push, but the most satisfying part is seeing my ideas become reality, like the choir girl singing that high pitched note, thinking, “I did it”! As for my daily life, there is no time to sleep in…I wake at sunrise to hunt down the perfect fabric, but not before making sure my pattern is perfect too. Nothing ever ends up looking the way you think it will. It’s not all parties and thrills that come after all the dirty work. If I have a project, I won’t leave my studio except to work…I shut off my phone and my life until there is no more work to do.
Rocio Wilde: What impact do you hope to leave in the world of fashion, and what would you say to an aspiring designer? :
Amber Elizabeth: I hope to impact design in a few ways…one is for the industry to have a better conscience…design production, in many cases, can be a wasteful and harmful process…one that may be easily overlooked. I also want to bring art to a better focus and how it applies to fashion. To an aspiring designer I would say to start simple…nothing happens over night, so don’t give up! Also, if you really want something, it’s a sacrifice… it’s never easy…you and the people in your life have to know this…knowing this in advance will be a great help in having successful relationships.
Rocio Wilde: What is NEXT for amber Elizabeth
Amber Elizabeth: What am I working on now and where am I headed...
Shh...what I’m working on is a secret. Really, (laughs) and where I’m headed I can only dream! (Smiles)
Shh...what I’m working on is a secret. Really, (laughs) and where I’m headed I can only dream! (Smiles)
By Cio Wilde
After seeing the popular Treesje handbags up close at Neiman Marcus, I wanted to get a closer look at the two California-based designers and mom’s behind the celebrity strutted handbags. Sheila Nazarian and Laura Darrah are the dynamic dou behind Treesje, a handbag line that’s sparked great interest in many fashion-conscious celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Eva Longoria, Lindsay Lohan and Courtney Cox. Much like the designers themselves, I found Treesje handbags to be a stylish mix of trendy and luxe; a simple way to add luxe to your fashion look. It’s something important to fashionable women on the go. Here is an up close interview with the ladies.
Cio: Sheila, as a former buyer, what traits in fashion do you think appeal most to trendy women and why?
Sheila: I feel fashionable women always want strong statement pieces that are either edgy or feminine which will show their unique styles.
Cio: I see. Laura, tell me who your target customer is? What kind of woman wears Treesje?
Laura: A Treesje customer is a fashionable woman who loves to add a little edge & luxe to her personal style.
Cio: Sheila, of all the area’s of fashion, why did you choose to work in handbags?
Sheila: I was lucky enough to have an instant bond with Laura, who was already in the handbag business, and she was so inspiring and motivating, that the handbags really chose me. It was an organic process we both loved.
Cio: Laura, at what moment did you know you wanted to work with Sheila?
Laura: From the minute we met! Sheila shared the same drive and tenacity as me to start a fashion company. We spent hours brainstorming and practically finished our business plan on the plane ride home from the wedding!
Cio: Wow! That is a nice process when it happens. Sheila, how do you remember it?
Sheila: We were sitting on a bus leaving Missouri
Cio: That’s an exciting story ladies. It sounds like you both had a positive meeting of the minds. Laura, from day to day, what area of the business do you enjoy most?
Laura: Designing! It's truly the only time we get to forget about the stress of the daily operations and have a creative release. Sheila and I collaborated so well together. When we design that it is incredibly fun and thrilling.
Cio: It sounds like you both collaborate well together. Laura, does your personality influence the style of Treesje?
Laura: Absolutely! I am a true California
Cio: I can see that. Laura, where do you see Treesje in three years?
Laura: In 3 years, I see Treesje extending its line to include a line of luxe belts and small leather goods.
That sounds great, as a busy mom myself; I appreciate how a stylish handbag, belt and pair of shoes can quickly add luxe to an outfit. I wish you the best! Thank you Laura and Sheila, I’m excited to visit your
