What skills do you need to be a fashion designer?
Well, I guess that depends on what exactly you're doing. If you love all aspects of fashion design and you really want to be successful, I would hope that you know how to sew, draft patterns, drape, sketch. The one thing that has always been curious to me is the number of designers who don't even wear their own clothing. What's even more curious to me is the ones who think it's weird to wear their own clothing--which is most of the people I went to school with, for example. But I guess everyone has their own motives for what they're doing. I know I have convinced some friends of mine that are designers that they should wear their own clothing and I think it's helped them. I know it's helped me tremendously.
What do you do during the day?
Right now, during the days, I'm designing a clothing line (no it's not all turquoise) for a store in Tribeca called Gigantic Brand. It's a small company that also owns a film production studio, indie record label and an art gallery.
I'm doing menswear, women's and the most exciting part: children's! The children's line is still in the beginning stages and should be out by spring of '06.
They have their own pattern maker and seamstresses, so everything, for now, is happening in the studio, which is located right next to the store.
When I'm done with this for the day, I go to my studio and work on Safe and any other projects I have. Right now, I'm trying to get my collection together for fall and planning a show for September Fashion
Week.
What inspires your designs?
Other people--their needs and desires. Most of all, my own personal experiences. I'm a really emotional person so all the daily frustrating emotional things that I go through pretty much go straight into my work, which is sort of how the whole Safe (Safe Clothes) thing came about. Clothing that will keep you safe from emotions, hurt, all that stuff. I like to find the humor in things, or find a way to join the sad things with the beautiful, in some strange way. I mean there is clothing that does physically protect, which I would say is what inspires the aesthetic of my work...the real protective clothing, for astronauts, firefighters, doctors, super heroes, anything you can think of. So of course along with this I'm also inspired by the elements: rain, wind, sun, nature and color of course.
If you could do anything else, what would it be?
Oh man! That's hard! I've always had a secret desire to be a rock star (not so secret anymore I guess). I have no musical talent whatsoever, so of course I admire those who do. I'm also jealous of all the traveling, being in a different city every night and meeting so many new people all the time.
What advice do you have for a young woman who wants to be a fashion designer?
Start making your own clothes! Or at least start sewing.
You have to start learning on your own, that's how you're going to develop something that's all yours and unlike anyone else's. If you want to have your own clothing line the best thing to do is start wearing your clothes and having your friends wear your clothes. At the beginning, you have to promote yourself because most likely no one else is going to do it.
Whether you're in school or not, you do need to get the basic skills down, which, will help you tremendously along the way. Sketching, pattern making, draping, sewing. Even if you end up doing only one of these things or you're only good at one them, it's really important to understand all aspects of design in order to make quality garments.
Check out Rebecca's work on these sites:
www.rebeccaturbow.com
www.giganticbrand.com
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