2015 S/S Fashion Trends

Next spring it will be all about color, or not. The burst of colors mixed with interesting textures and simple lines. Or you can wear black and white outfits. WeConnectFashion made a Top 5 Fashion Trends for S/S 2015, from the latest fashion shows. We have minimal designs, feminine lines or tropical prints. All you have to do is play!

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Darabil – old school techniques for new fashion accessories

Darabil is all about milinary, fascinators and beautiful hats for women. The mission of Darabil is to maintain alive the old techniques these item were made of, using them to create contemporary objects.  The person behind this interesting craft is Amaia, a basque creator based in Barcelona. Amaia not only creates milinary items, but also, tries to expand the knowledge she learned in the form of workshops.

Her first experience was in her home-town, in Basque Country, where she start attending a tailor's studio to learn pattern making. Amaia also has a degree in Fine Art and spend a year in Norway, where she discovered a new material, felt.

„Wet felting, dry felting, nuno felting…you can use it anyway you like; it’s moldable, lightweight, beautiful and really warm material. Few years ago, I moved to Barcelona and meet three fabulous women from whom I’ve learned a lot; Nina, a great millinery artist, Pilar, best textile artists ever and Anna really sensitive jeweler” – Amaia says.
 

„I’ve always been curious about how things are built. This curiosity of mine has brought me to visit different countries and meet great people on the journey. In the Basque Country, where I’m from, I’ve learned to appraise craftsman and manual processes. In Norway I discovered the felt, then I moved to China where I found out a new aesthetics concept and I finally arrived to Barcelona where I’ve learned everything I know about millinery and metal work” - Amaia.

How did you come up with your brand name?
 
The name Darabil comes from the Basque verb "to use".
When something stops using, it disappears, it dies and my project is an attempt to keep alive certain techniques that currently are not as popular as they were in the past. The mission of Darabil is to maintain alive these techniques; using them to create contemporary objects on one hand and expanding the knowledge in the form of workshops on the other hand.

What does it take to make one item?

My main area is the millinery; felt hats, fascinators, tiaras, combs, straw hats... I make all my creations by hand, one by one, taking care of every step.
With the fascinators, I start sculpting the mold to build the skeleton of the fascinator. When it dries, I cut the excess and sew the wire all around it. Then I line it, decorate it and finally I sew the sujeccion and the brand (that previously I silk printed on fabric). It’s a process that takes about three days and I enjoy every step of it.

Which one is your best seller?
 
This winter the pompom combs came strong and It’s only a guess but I think that the new turbans that I’m preparing for this summer will be a hit!

How do people get in touch with you?
 

My workshop is based in Barcelona, it’s called OSLO Barcelona. That’s the place where I create, where I teach and where you can buy my jewels and fascinators among other beautiful things, all handmade in Barcelona.
If you live far away I’m also available by e-mail and in my online shop of Etsy www.etsy.com/shop/darabil?ref=si_shop

I’m active in different social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest with the name Darabil and I also have a Blog where I share some tips, pictures of the working process and my latest creations (darabil.blogspot.com.es/)

I love to receive the feedback from people and I'm always up to participate in new projects with editorials, fashion designers or artists of other disciplines so if you have something in mind or just want to say hi I'll be happy to know from you.

Do you run your business full-time?
 
Yes. I’m a full-time crafter. Beside Darabil I’m also a community manager of the association OSLO Barcelona (www.oslobarcelona.com/) and I’m one of the 4 women who runs this association. OSLO Barcelona is a space where we show and sell our art directly, without intermediaries, supporting the artist against the big brands and thereby acquiring quality products at affordable and fair prices.

I see a lot of people starting their business online. What do you think makes you stand out from the crowd?
 
I offer quality and unique products made with love, with the techniques that were used in the past. I like to share the working process of my creations because it is one of the notable aspects of my work; and also, when you see how an object has been made, the history behind it, you appreciate it more.
One of my goals are the custom orders for weddings or special occasions. Designing a project hand by hand with the customer’s needs and tastes it’s a great experience, especially because somehow you are letting the customer be part of the process.

How to make Chain Back Earrings

Whenever someone says spending a night in, drinking wine and doing a little crafting is lame, just point them in direction of Domesek.

Erica Domesek is the queen of DIY.  Her hobby  turned from passion to an every-day job and became really successful.  The "P.S. I Made This..." blogger and author revealed that when it comes to crafting and creating, it's best to do not it, well, yourself. "I always say, 'Don’t do it yourself, do it together.' You have more fun doing it with your friends, and there’s always someone who’s a bit more artistic and has more skill. They can help out," she told ELLE magazine in a interview.

In fact, a "crafternoon" of necklace-making was how her fabulous empire came to life. And now, nearly four years after her website launched, she has two books, a partnership with Bloomingdales and is launching a line with Swiss Army knives for West Elm. So.

Domesek has appeared on The Today Show, Rachael Ray, The Martha Stewart Show, E! News, The Nate Berkus Show, Fox Business News, and as a judge on TLC’s  Craft Wars. Her work has been featured in issues of Glamour, Lucky, InStyle, Teen Vogue, Self, Elle, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal and more. In 2013, she was named as a spokesperson for the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA).

If you want to "steal" some of Erica's masterliness take a look at her video of how to make chain back earrings.

A peak inside the Universe – Dark Matter Jewelry – interview with Rana Levy

Who would’ve known that physics  and art have someting in common? „A galaxy is both beautiful and fun to look at but it is also on average 100,000 light years across. Meaning? It would take you 100,000 years to cross from one end to the other if you could travel at the speed of light” (Rana Levy). Knowing this interesting and important detail, Rana Levy brings you the Universe at your finger. Rana’s specialty isn’t art, but physics and mathematics. She is major in Washington state. But she brings the knowledges in these subjects into art, by creating designs for jewelry for people to wear.

 The jewelry he makes will mostly try and capture the beauty that is from the scientific realm, but I also try and include facts and information about what it is you are purchasing. Rana’s goal is to make beautiful items that also have something interesting about them, and to spread knowledge on some well known and some not-so well known ideas in science and physics.

Where did you get the idea for your business and when did you get started?

I started on November 24th, 2013. It has been a short 3 months but I am glad that I started and I love selling on Etsy. I decided one day I wanted a pair of earrings that looked similar to plug earrings I see, but I couldn't dedicate myself to actually stretching my ear size, so I decided to make earring studs that were pretty to look at and also similar to gauged earrings.The inspiration comes from my studies in physics and mathematics and I am constantly finding out new things in my science studies to be inspired by. Its a lot of fun.

How did you come up with your brand name?

I had several names conjured up regarding the shop but I thought the coolest one was Dark Matter Jewelry, inspired by the theoretical matter that has not yet been detected in physics. I think the name sounded elusive and attractive and mysterious.

How did you start this passion for jewelry?

Ive always dabbled in making items and art in general. Jewelry came more naturally as I have certain styles that I like and it felt very easy to come up with ideas, hence why I have so much variety in my shop. I think jewelry is a nice way to represent a person and what they stand for.

What does it take to make one jewel?

My process begins with custom made mixed pigments that I spend hours experimenting with. It takes a lot of time to get the colors right or get the shades I prefer. I then make my designs on glass which I then consider what it would look best on (earrings? Rings? A necklace?). Sometimes I make sets where I have a particular design on different items as a group, but everything in my shop can be made custom for a particular liking. I like to let my customers choose what type of metal finishes they like, or what style of glass they want the design on.

Which one is your best seller?

Currently Sunset, Constellation and Singularity always sell well. I think people like the Sunset design because its pretty close to a real sunset, as Constellation really does look like the night sky. Singularity is just so fun and funky looking, I think people like the dichroic flakes and fun glitter.

How do people get in touch with you?

People can contact me anytime on Etsy via the messaging system. A message will come up on the front of my phone and also get sent to my email as well as sending me a text ( I always make sure to answer quickly). I sell primarily on Etsy but I have sold on Ebay before and I do promote on Pinterest, Wanelo, and Facebook. However all monetary transactions are done through Etsy officially :)

Do you run your business full-time?

Definitely. As a physics and mathematics major in my senior year at university, this is my primary job and source of income. Its so much more than working anywhere else (besides maybe a physics lab!).

Are you participating or managing any other project you would like to talk about?

The only other thing I have going is I have an Etsy promotion team with a friend of mine. We have members post products and items from their shops and we all like to help each other out. Etsy teams are a great way of getting noticed in a busy online market place.

I see a lot of people starting their business online. What do you think makes you stand out from the crowd?

I think being inspired by something naturally makes what you create stand out. I think if I had chosen something else to be inspired by, maybe I would not have put 100% effort into making lovely items. My designs are inspired, of course, from loads of places, but I think my passion for physics is what makes it really stand out.

 Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?
I started recently doing olympic weightlifting and occasionally compete and adore cats :)

You can see of Rana’s products on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/DarkMatterJewelry?ref=s2-header-shopname

Fun and joy – clothes with personality from Mandalina Rossa

Someone told me once that before you meet a person and find out he or she has a great personality and you want him or her near you, first of all you just put your eyes on that person. For that to happen, that person needs to stand out from the crowd. And how do you do that? With great clothes. For those of you that stay with a smile on all day long or those who want to be like that, you can dress up from Mandalina Rossa. 

„My customers are the ones who like to get dressed colorful and stand out in crowd.They still keep the inner child alive” - Nazlı Çetiner.

Nazlı Çetiner is the person behind Mandalina Rossa. The business idea came up to Nazlı when she was studying fashion design at Fashion Institute of Technology. In her second year she was sure that she wanted to start her own business. „Little by little I began selling my designs first on the street in Soho, then on Etsy”. And the rest is history, like they say. Nazlı told me how she makes her clothes  and little bit of what knitting is all about.

How did you come up with your brand name?
In Turkish Mandalina means clementine which is my favorite fruit and my nickname. Rossa is red in Italian. I'm a redhead and I had many Italian friends who called me rossa. 

How did you start this passion?
I've been making and creating since I was a child.My mom is a crafter.I was always interested in new projects and materials. I learned knitting at an early age and never dropped the needles and yarns from my hands.
After studying fashion design with knitwear specialization I was set up to work on my own business.

 
What goes into making such interesting items?

I work spontenously directly on the material rather than planning and drawing first.I like the feel of the fabrics and yarns. If I know what I'm going to make I make it very quickly.Usually by looking at the fabric or yarn, I can visualize what can be made out of it. 

Nazlı loves to make circle skirts, because ti's practical and looks great. Her best seller is Vintage Sewing Machines T-shirt, but she is currently out of it.  Don’t worry, Nazlı will make more T-shirts soon.

How do people get in touch with you? Where do you sell?

I have a website that runs trough tumblr www.mandalinarossa.com and also a Facebook page and twitter account. In Istanbul I have a shop/studio co-operated with my boyfriend where I sell my designs and give sewing classes.

I see a lot of people starting their handmade business. What do you think makes you stand out from the crowd?
Everyone has their own style and their own crowd who appreciate them. My customers are the ones who like to get dressed colorful and stand out in crowd.They still keep the inner child alive.

Besides Mandalina Rossa, Nazlı is running a studio/shop Zelazo (zelazolab.com) with her boyfriend. They make a monthly workshop schedule with other maker friends. The workshops include soap making, pinhole camera making, linocut printmaking, sewing… Also they have a fabric shop fabriconly.etsy.com, because she loves collecting fabrics.

The future is closer than we thought - Amy Winter interview

Dresses that change color become reality. The imagination of one designer changes the world of fashion forever. London-based designer Amy Winters made revolutionary items of fashion, from the Rainforest dress, to the Thunderstorm. Amy ‘Rainbow’ Winters is a textile and fashion designer working with interactive materials and excited by their use in performance and entertainment. 

But how did Amy get to design such interesting pieces?

How did you and fashion meet?

I trained originally as a set and costume designer at Central Saint Martins and graduated in 2006. I also had a love for Avant garde fashion and fairytale couture opera. After graduation I was able to dabble in fashion working at fashion shows and developing materials and clothes with a college friend. Experiments back in 2008 included holographic leather and LEDs implemented into clothing.

Is there someone artistic in your family?

My whole family is artistic in their own subversive way from writing to story-telling. My grandmother was an artist.

What are your studies?

I trained in theater design and I am currently working on a PhD in future textiles.

Where does your idea come from?

Ideas are inspired by the mechanisms of nature and it’s wild beauty, the energy of thunderstorms to the morning dew, which drips from a bright green leaf. The more playful elements link in to my childhood, fun toys and dressing up in fancy-dress.

How did you start your label?

I set up Rainbow Winters back in 2010 and wanted to develop some of my concept pieces such as the ‘Thunderstorm’ dress into more commercial wearable pieces. The name was apt as it is my middle name ‘Rainbow’ and surname ‘Winters’. I also love the juxtaposition of the two words which are both elemental but together create something beautiful.

No one picked the idea sooner. How do you think that happened?

Oh lots of people have! It’s a great ‘zeitgeist’ movement of people coming together to start innovating. When I first started back in 2007 there were only a few but now there are so many exciting, interactive developments.  

How do your dresses function?

The Thunderstorm dress (sound-reactive): is made with bespoke holographic leather and sound-reactive, animated electroluminescent panels, as the volume rises, the dress illuminates to create ‘visual music’.

The ‘Rainforest’ showpiece changes colour on reaction to sunlight and water, morphing from a black and white world into living colour and is hand-printed with water-reactive ink.

 

Petal Dress (sun-reactive) is  screen- printed with sun-reactive ink. The print transforms from clear to blue or purple under sunlight. 

Do you collaborate with different specialists from other domains such as technology for creating the outfits?

I collaborate with many different laboratories creating new materials. 

What is people’s reaction so far? Is it how you expected to be?

People are intrigued which is great so I am receiving interest. 

Is there a huge demand in buying the dresses?

My business has developed in the last couple of years and we now work heavily on the research side developing new materials and experimental prototypes rather than ready-to-wear.

Is there a piece that attracts people more?

The sunlight reactive petal dress was a definite best seller. The Thunderstorm dress and Picasso Explosion pieces receive the most attention.

How do people buy the outfits?

Some classics can be bought online through our online store: http://www.rainbowwinters.bigcartel.com

What other projects do you have for the future?

I just released at CES Vegas new fibre-optic prototypes. I am working on a secret new material and other projects, which will be released throughout 2014. 

To see all the Rainbow Winter dresses take a peek on the official site www.rainbowwinters.com.

100 years of fashion in 10 seconds

British Mall presents 100 years of East London Fashion in 100 seconds. The Viral Factory produced this short film celebrating 100 years of fashion in East London in 100 seconds. In the spot, a guy and a gal start dancing like it's 1911, and by the time they reach 2011, they've tiptoed their way through 100 years' worth of costume changes.

This video features a century of style icons that shaped couture and alluring amazons to the ladies of today. Each timeless trend and modern movement is elegantly shown through movements that define those trends, because fashion is not just wearing clothes....it merging textures and shapes with gestures. Thus a human being is a mix of fashion clothes, gestures, ideas, dancing movements that define his or her era.

  

Handcrafting: From religious views to just fashion

Handicraft trend is not actually new. It has its roots in the rural crafts—the material-goods necessities—of ancient civilizations. Many specific crafts have been practiced for centuries, while others are modern inventions, or popularizations of crafts which were originally practiced in a limited geographic area.

 Nowadays, the handmade trend is growing. The market supports over a million craft shops and a community of more than 20 million buyers and creative businesses. Annual sales have skyrocketed from $US170,000 in 2005 to more than $750 million in 2012.

If you want to know more about the handicraft history, in a short story read this article on Ezebee: http://magazine.ezebee.com/2013/12/handcrafting-from-religious-views-to-just-fashion/