In the studio: fashion designers do exist in DC

November 18, 2014 in STYLE, IN THE STUDIO

Last weekend we had a local designer meetup at Bits of Thread, the studio where I work on etxe. There were about twelve of us women from all different backgrounds (think White House correspondent or Olympic Skier--no joke), each with a different business model and focus, some further along than others. I was really amazed to hear their stories about how they started, what they are working on now, their successes and their failures. The fact that there are committed and successful fashion designers in DC is incredibly inspiring. I didn't really know what I would find here, but I feel like I have struck gold. It's rare to find creative entrepreneurs that are truly down to earth, genuine and talented.

I was so immersed in the moment that evening that I took zero photos. But you can imagine--many bottles of wine, an assortment of cheese and crackers, gourmet popcorn and vegan muffins--we dished out the real real. No one cried, but I was so happy I could have. Who else would appreciate the specifics of fabric sourcing, dreary details of local manufacturing, complications of digitally printing or tales from my past life in startup e-commerce land?

I found my people!

I spent the rest of the weekend working on patterns and struggling with the serger (YouTube, you are my best friend). That meetup was enough fuel to get me through an awful bandeau experiment and some sleeve drafts --- and many, many more possibly frustrating experiences to come I'm sure. :)

Hope you had a great weekend and don't ever give up on seeking out those that inspire you!

Death Becomes Her: Mourning fashions at the Met

November 13, 2014 in INSPIRATION, STYLE

I haven't seen this exhibit yet, but it is on my list! It features fashions worn during bereavement rituals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you find yourself in New York this winter you should check it out...

If you can't make it to New York, there are some images on the Met website, in this Vanity Fair review, in this The Cut review, and in this V Magazine review. Or check out this book I finished recently about the history of dress.

Have you been already? What did you think?

Death Becomes Her will be on view until February 1st, 2015 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

First look: Flor Silvestre SS15 collection

November 02, 2014 in STYLE, IN THE STUDIO

We just finished up our spring/summer collection and even though it's time to make mulled wine and pull out the sweaters, we want to share our recent work with you. And because fashion is weird, that means spring.

Imagine, you're a 1930s movie star from Mexico that just crossed over to the Hollywood scene. You're a trail blazer, a bombshell, a force to be reckoned with. Yet you are also tied to the movie studios, and the stereotypes, and possibly the men.

But what if you wake up one day and you find yourself in an international city in 2014. You blend in. You can go where you want, be where you want and love who you want. You are truly independent. While only a lucky few can enjoy this, and even so we still have a long way go (sick of catcalls anyone?) the Flor Silvestre collection celebrates how far we've come.

As a Mexican-American woman living in DC I'm living proof that things have changed. My great-grandmas may not have been movies stars, but they were each most certainly a trail blazer, bombshell and force to be reckoned with.

Flor Silvestre means wildflower. It's a celebration of beauty and independence, style and adventure.

View our Flor Silvestre collection...

create: floral hair pins

October 27, 2014 in INSPIRATION, STYLE, IN THE STUDIO

For our first photoshoot we created floral hair pins to put in my sister's hair. We had a different hairstyles for each look and created various sizes and types of floral hair pins to make each one unique.

Materials: bobby pins giant bobby pins hair clips fabric confetti (we made this out of remnants of the fabric used in the Flor Silvestre collection) various dried flowers (we got ours on etsy) glue gun glue sticks (we used a lot of these -- definitely get an extra pack) cardstock or thick magazine paper

First, we cut some ovals out of the cardstock and glued them to the large bobby pins. Then we glued on fabric confetti and various dried flowers. We would also made little piles of the dried flowers and fabric confetti, put small amounts of glue on the hair combs and then just dipped them in the pile over and over again until we covered the whole edge. Be careful--the glue will be very hot so don't touch it. Would have helped if we had some kind of stick, like those small wooden ones used for nail care, to push down the pieces, but we managed without one.

We let them all dry overnight. And voilà, gorgeous one-of-a-kind floral hair pins!

I love how they turned out! They look amazing in the photos and definitely helped to create the atmosphere I wanted for our first photoshoot.

Let us know if you tried to make them. And don't forget to check out our Flor Silvestre lookbook!

floral hair pins - etxe - flor silvestre photoshoot

behind the scenes: design

October 26, 2014 in STYLE, IN THE STUDIO

I am still super new to all of this, but I thought I'd share some photos in creating the Flor Silvestre collection. There isn't really a right or wrong way to come up with designs...I kind of just go with it. I start with fabric or a moodboard...usually a combination of both. Hmm...it's kind of like a chicken or the egg situation for me, but here was my moodboard: flor silvestre moodboard ss15

Then I started sketches and went fabric shopping with Val. When I found the liberty of london print I knew it would be the key fabric for these garments. It's just so perfect. I used to hate sketching. I'm not naturally good at it so I really have to try. And be patient. I much prefer sculpting fabric/draping, but sketches are really helpful to see all things together and actually create a cohesive body of work. It's also just such a standard thing that you use to communicate your ideas. So, I force myself to do it and I'm slowly starting to like it (and kind of getting better).

flor silvestre sketches ss15

Then I worked on patterns--a combination of draping and drafting and copying existing garments (like, if I like the way a skirt is, a pocket detail, etc.). I prefer draping, but I'm trying to do more drafting and just learn more of the technical aspects of pattern making so I can get better at it. In my past jobs I would just give the patternmaker measurements and sketches...and often talk it out since I was always over there, but doing it on my own I have to just learn--trial and error. It took me much longer than I anticipated and in the process I changed direction and cut out some bodies.

Once I had some patterns I cut and sewed muslins, fitted them on my sister (I knew she would be my model) and then edited, adjusted, etc., etc. Once I felt I had the patterns where I wanted them I cut out the actual fabric. And sewed 'em up!

Val in final fitting

More fittings, more adjustments... eventually I finished the garments. I learned a ton during this process and am super excited to start on a fall/winter collection. I think practice makes perfect, so even though I'm still figuring a lot of things out, I know I'll eventually have a flow that works for me.

Still curious about fashion design? Check out how we planned our photoshoot...

create: jewelry cabinet

October 22, 2014 in INSPIRATION, STYLE, IN THE STUDIO

I've seen some gorgeous jewelry cabinets around, but I never found one I loved. When I first moved into my house in Shaw I stopped into Simon Vintage and found lots of unique pieces. I bought a shelf and this awesome drawer that they literally took out of a huge old pharmacist's cabinet. I had explained to them what I wanted to do--make a vertical jewelry cabinet. They said it would be perfect. jewelry cabinet find etxe Once I found the drawer, I took it home, cleaned it and spray-painted it. I picked this green because, well, the hardware store near my house doesn't have that great of a color selection. It's a bit too Easter, but it is growing on me. I then added some nails for necklaces, though I could probably add more. I asked the hardware store how to attach it to the wall and they gave me these hooks and anchor screws. I borrowed a stud finder and found the studs, then attached the anchor screws to the wall. I added some nails on the side for long necklaces. Before I knew it I had a brand new jewelry cabinet attached to my wall! jewelry cabinet paint etxe Before I had this piece I didn't wear much jewelry because I never took time to look through what would look best with my outfit. Now I can easily browse everything I own. (I also am less likely to lose jewelry because everything has a place). I've also added nail polish, trinkets, and matchbooks!