Hawaii is a place synonymous with swimwear and warm weather, but the designer of Bikini 808 Hawaii, Lucia Peterson has created a collection that stands out from the multitude of bikinis that fashionistas can choose from. Peterson’s background as a professional body boarder and a lover of water sports has given her the insight needed in making functional, beautiful swimwear.
Lucia Peterson hails from Brazil as a professional body boarder whose major love for water sports made it natural for swimwear to be part of her lifestyle. Her talents in design continued with the passion to see more women like her in the action sports industry, especially in water sports. This passion fueled her to create pieces for athletes and any women that want fashionable pieces to run around the beach in.
Her Spring/Summer 2015 collection shows modern patterns and fits, stemming out of the theme of love. This love includes many things and are embodied in her designs: a love for life, beauty, nature, sport, and fashion. These combine into fun swimwear that inspires women to stay fit and be beautiful on the land and sea. There’s a lot to influence Peterson in the beautiful 808 state of Hawaii and a lot of support for the small grassroots entrepreneur as she continues to improve her designs with the positive feedback she receives. What really makes her collection special is the use of handmade Brazilian and high quality materials.
For Peterson, ‘making it’ is an ongoing process as she oversees a constant evolution and building of her designs. Born in Brazil, the bikini and swimwear is a tradition and essential part of the fashion world. In making fashionable and functional swimwear for extreme conditions, Peterson hopes to help women find active, healthy lifestyles and feel beautiful in them.
https://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/1-top.jpg1200900Luevo Teamhttp://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/luevo-logo-2x.pngLuevo Team2014-10-30 10:15:022014-12-11 15:32:44808 state Hawaii and fashionable swimwear
Designer, Kristine Rodriguez, moved to San Diego, California in the summer of 2012. She started her career as a freelance Graphic Designer but had a passion for knitwear fashion. Although Kristine did not have “connections” to break in to this tough fashion industry, she made her way onto such a huge platform, called San Diego Fashion Week where she was able to debut her line called Responsive Textiles.
When designing a collection, Kristine usually thinks of a way to answer the question “How do I visually express this idea and keep it functional and beautiful?” Although it’s a lot of trial and error to get the result that she wants, it’s definitely worth it.
I believe a knit machine was the best thing that was ever discovered because now we get to enjoy all of this amazing fashion from Responsive Textiles.
“We believe clothes are our second skin, and they should be as unique and human as we are.” –Kristine Rodriguez
This article was written by Darcel. Follow her on Twitter @DarcelWorld
https://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/10409310_727336400635726_1926941686156394172_n.jpg637960Luevo Teamhttp://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/luevo-logo-2x.pngLuevo Team2014-10-14 11:51:272014-12-11 15:33:33Luevo caught up with Kristine Rodriguez of Responsive Textiles
Freedom. The freedom of knowing that age is what allowed designer Jose Luis Rocha to realize that everything is possible. It gives him a completely relaxed mood when creating the next pieces for his collection. With no board to please, guidelines, and not needing to “sell to eat” liberates him from a pressure most designers have.
“When I finished design school and came back from Europe I was very exited to create “Mexican” designs that will have something to do with culture, geography, and materials available in the country but I was crushed to see that most of the manufacturers just copy whatever is coming from Italy or Spain. They would go to the trade shows and asked us to copy styles, I hated that! Now I control my factory completely and I am finally happy to have the creative freedom to do what I want.”
The creating process without a doubt is Rocha’s favourite part of being a designer. He enjoys that he can translate visions into products.
“It is very transcendent when an idea, a feeling, or even an aroma becomes a wallet, jacket, or shoe. I find it challenging to mix different medias, experiment with tanneries, and explore new processes always respecting the traditional designs.”
At what Jose likes to call “old age” he has other business interests. One of them allows him to have a view on interior design for the hospitality industry. This gives Jose the chance to furnish fixtures, furniture, and equipment for the highest hotel brands with properties in Mexico. He is a designer no matter what.
Being humble and proud at the same time are a result of being the first Mexican shoe designer to get into the USA market. Everyone that has tried, purchased, or reviewed Jose’s products have had great things to say about quality, fit, and forward design.
Obstacles from perspectives, more than realities, are what Rocha has had to face. Once Jose started coming to trade shows with his brand, retailers frowned upon the “Made in Mexico” portion of the Jose Luis Rocha logo.
“There is no way I would ever do that. I am a proud Mexican and I am completely behind the quality of my designs and processes. I respect Italians and Spaniards as my equally. No more, no less.”
Jose’s has invested his family’s money into his adventure and has all their support and belongs. That scared him but he is sure he will be a success.
The elegance of the past. Rocha firmly believes that trendiness is a phase and elegance is a virtue. He sees well-dressed men on the street wearing their own fashion, whether they are casual looks or formal. Many times, he is unable to identify the brand or quality of fabric they are wearing, but he knows they look amazing. That inspires him. The new Jose Luis Rocha collection is about to giving you the tools to get your style, not his. The fact that he is taking his family name and making something beautiful that is both accepted and cherished by the public, makes everything worth while.
To Jose, life is a chain of accomplishments and there is always more to conquer. One of the high points in Jose’s career is when bloggers and people that work for other venerable shoe brands ask for his shoes. It makes him happy and drives him to move forward.
https://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/858847_517657248344109_12447911917189040_o1.jpg750750Ana Carahttp://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/luevo-logo-2x.pngAna Cara2014-09-10 18:00:352014-12-11 15:10:47Getting to Know Jose Luis Rocha
Having a successful fashion brand is in no way easy. For Jaime Elyse of Couture Bridal, goals are a large part of growing and keeping her label moving forward. So far, the goals that Jaime is most proud of include over 16 featured covers, editorial spreads with an international reach. She started her career at a young age that she doesn’t remember having any other professional interests other than being a mother.
“I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to be both.”
It is believed that everyone has a gift. Elyse has always been able to look at a design or a piece of clothing and see the construction as a puzzle; how the pattern is cut out and the way the pieces are put together. Early on in her career, she would often go to bargain stores to purchase items she planned to tear apart, just so she could see the inner workings of construction. While doing so, Elyse learned how each textile moulded, flowed and added to the designs. This really helped her become the designer she is today.
“I chose wedding couture because I loved the fairy tale that most brides dream of. Much like a wedding, owning a successful brand doesn’t just get a happily ever after. There are many obstacles, long nights, failed attempts that involve starting over and a clear direction almost always has different roads. I work hard every day and although some days are harder than others I love the feeling of success, even if it means there are some missteps along the way.”
Elyse enjoys having a bold of fabric and watching it become a beautiful gown. The details and texture that it involves is in many ways magical.
“I enjoy working for my clients and designing for their perfect day, but when it comes to my collections, many times I just let the material speak to me and that is when I fell in love with the gowns.”
For Elyse, and many other designers, funding has been her biggest challenge. She has built a great brand on limited resources. All profit built is put back into the company. As she prepares for her upcoming Fashion Week experience, she is proud to say that she has done her best to build a brand and product that she is proud of.
Each of Elyse’s previous collections have had many different inspirations. Most of her inspiration is taken from the brides that she works with on a daily basis. She knows what brides are looking for. This new collection is inspired by a recent trip to Lake Tahoe in Northern California.
“As I sat on the lake watching the trees and waves move with the wind, I wanted to create texture and movement within my collection. I was inspired by the strength and texture of the forest and protection they offer the creatures that live within it. I wanted to create a collection that would be empowering.”
Having clients walk into her boutique because they saw a gown and thought, “I have to have it” is the best feeling to Elyse. She enjoys being able to share her designs and talent with other people and to see the joy in their eyes when they wear a piece from her collection or a piece that she has custom designed for them. To sum it up in three little words, “It is priceless.”
Strength. That is the only word that can be used to describe Elyse’s new collection. She loves a structured bodice with texture and definition. When Elyse was inspired for this new collection, she found materials that seemed strong and powerful on the bolt and moulded them into wedding couture to add depth, texture, and volume. Clients aren’t just looking for romance anymore, but strength and confidence in the designs.
Successfully finishing LA Style Fashion Week was the point that Elyse realized that her hard work has paid off. The experience was truly an amazing one. After her show, Elyse sat backstage, with a Pepsi in hand, and silently watched all the hustle and bustle of the other amazing designers displayed.
“The emotional feeling was one that I will never forget. Now to be invited to grace the runway during New York Fashion Week is truly a dream come true.”
When does the love of fashion begin? For Brazil-born designer Isabelle Donola, that love started when she learned to stitch at the age of three, making Barbie clothes by the time she was six. This early passion sparked a career in fashion for Donola who has been a participant on Project Runway and is showing at this year’s New York Fashion Week.
Growing up, Donola’s creative and imaginative eye allowed her to draw inspiration from many different art forms, ranging form cloths and textiles to metals and recycled materials. For her most recent collection, Donola was inspired by abstract shapes, well-fitted garments and oversized structural pieces.
Even after exploring various other hobbies and career opportunities, including journalism and ballet, Donola knew from a young age she was destined for the world of fashion design. With such a deep passion for every step in the design process, fashion design is more than just a job or interest, for Donola it is a necessity.
Donola was featured as a designer on popular T.V. show Project Runway on the “Under the Gunn” season and has shown at various New York and Los Angeles Fashion Week events. Donola currently has a successful fashion line “ Isabelle Donola NYC”.
Isabelle will be showing her new collection this Monday at New York Fashion Week. She describes the collection as:
“Nude. That was the first word that came to mind when I thought about this collection. The reflection of human nature and how people so often wear a mask. So I created a collection to evoke the naked beauty of the human being, raw in its essence and beautiful just as it is. I want people to embrace their inner beauty and extend that to their second skin. Allowing the garments to fearlessly speak to the world about who they are.”
When you think about fashion what is the first thing that comes to mind? For many people the answer is individuality and signature style. This is the case with LaEsha Barnes the woman behind LaDeChe DCB. Her collection consists of a colorful palette, eclectic tones and daring prints. This collection accommodates the woman who does not mind standing out while still possessing a level of style and class. Barnes draws inspiration from abstract art or children, color and paint.
LaEsha Barnes got a head start in her design journey. At a young age Barnes played dress up in her mom’s closet. From there she got her true start by sketching in her mom’s kitchen on her work papers and bill envelopes. Her new collection has an overall eclectic and expression theme. It also has a very vibrant and classy feel. What is interesting is how all these elements interlock together.
One major accomplishment in LaEsha’s career is participating in the upcoming DC Fashion Week. Although, Barnes is still an up and coming designer this career achievement is a step in the right direction. Despite battling through self-doubt and facing obstacles, LaEsha remains determined. Possessing this type of work ethic has allowed Barnes to achieve her career goals of presenting in fashion shows as well as selling pieces to the general public.
LaEsha Barnes designs with a certain woman in mind. She is distinctive, not afraid of color, diverse and classy. In her latest collection she has provided women an assortment of pieces that are sure to appease even the most demanding of style. As a designer Barnes enjoys the process of thoughts in her head becoming a reality. She believes what makes the hard work and creative process all worth it is seeing the final product before your eyes. Be sure to check out LaDeChe DCB by LaEsha Barnes when she shows at the upcoming DC Fashion Week.
Written by freelance fashion blogger Tamarah. You can read her blog here!
Leighel Desiree is a woman with many gifts and talents. Not only is she a fabulous fashion designer, she is the author of a great book called “A Closet Full of Clothes & Nothing to Wear”, and the CEO and Head Designer of Leighel Desiree House of Fashion. Clearly this woman is a queen when it comes to multi-tasking.
It seems like Leighel was hard wired for the fashion industry from a young age as her design journey began at the age of 8. She would make her favourite Barbie dolls their very own unique dresses, unable to stand the thought of her Barbie’s looking like everyone else’s. From there she continued to grow as a young designer, designing her own graduation dress at the age of 12 on a mere toy sewing machine! Leighel amazed herself and those around her by her natural ability to design and create. Leighel’s story is characterized by someone who knew exactly what they loved to do and attending the High School of Fashion Industries and the Fashion Institute of Technology further enabled her to enhance her passion and skills.
Leighel’s favourite thing about being a designer is watching the expression on a woman’s face when she is wearing one of her designs. The excited, empowering feelings they get feed Desiree’s need to create more. There was never a question as to what she wanted to become and she says she owes that to her mother. She saw the talent and desire at an early age and kept her focused on the path to achieving her goals. When you have found something you love to do, it doesn’t feel like work and therefore you stay hungry for it.
In her new collection, Leighel was inspired by the beautiful colour combinations in fabrics. The oranges and purples reminded her of the evening sky on an exotic island which inspired the name “Exotica” for the collection. Imagine yourself walking on the beach of a beautiful tropical island, sharing kisses in the moonlight and dancing the night away, and you have Desiree’s collection. She uses fabrics, colours and textures as sources of inspiration, rather than simple resources for her designs. All of the meaning and depth in her designs are in the fabric themselves. The special ones that calls out to her saying “Make me into something beautiful” are the ones that make the cut.
This Article was written by Angie. Follow her on twitter @Unngie.
The fashion industry is not an easy place to succeed; it’s fast-paced, competitive and takes a lot of passion. It is my pleasure to introduce to you an amazing designer who is making her mark in this tough business and she goes by the name of Elda Doamekpo.
Elda’s work has been seen in Omaha and Kansas City Fashion week. Her work is inspired by her West African roots. What Elda enjoys most about being a designer is, “the look that customers give me when I put a figure flattering garment on them, it’s priceless.”
At only age 17, Elda is taking the fashion industry by storm; from jumpsuits to elegant gowns, Elda does it all! She stated that before she starts sketching a look, she does some research on what exactly she is trying to achieve. Like many designers, Elda goes through many designs until she comes up with her desired product. How many 17 year olds do you know that are doing this much homework, willingly? Kudos to Elda being an inspiration for so many at such an early age!
With two Fashion weeks already under her belt, Elda continues to follow her dreams as a designer no matter the hurdles she may face. She believes there is always room to grow and get better. Elda is just beginning to scratch the surface; I know we can continue to expect nothing but great things from her. Our fellow fashion lovers must keep a look out for Elda Doamekpo designs.
Written by fashion writer and beauty consultant Darcel Laurie. You can follow her on twitter @DarcelWorld!
https://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Kansas-City-FW.jpg960585Luevo Teamhttp://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/luevo-logo-2x.pngLuevo Team2014-08-22 20:45:402014-12-11 15:20:46You Are Never Too Young To Love Fashion
Being a great fashion designer takes a certain type of person and unique inspiration. Not only do you have to be confident in your designs but you have to be confident in yourself. For Portland, Oregon’s 2013 Designer of the Year, all of this comes naturally to her.
Her name is Nelli Millard, a Russian born designer that lets her inspiration and love lead her to places many wish they could be. Her love of designing started in Russia as she learned how to sew and design from her mother.
She brought those valuable lessons and her passion for designing to the U.S and has become one of the best designers you may not have heard of yet. Expect to see and hear more from Millard as her clothing line, Nelli Millard, is becoming one of the hottest in the Northwest.
Millard’s inspirations for her designs are truly unique and powerful. Whether she is getting her inspirations from a Chinese horoscope or a world famous violinist’s “Euphoria” performance, Millard delivers the perfection that people want to wear.
We were fortunate enough to speak with Millard and get inside of that great mind of hers. We thought our readers would love to hear what she has to say almost as much as they’ll love wearing her clothes.
Luevo: What goals have you accomplished that you are most proud of thus far, when it comes to your label?
Millard: Honestly, I don’t know yet…. Being fashion designer is a hobby for me. I don’t make a goals, I just enjoy what I do.
Luevo: What is your favorite thing about being a designer? What path would you have followed, had you not become a designer?
Millard:Being a designer for me is a way to express myself as an artist. It is my favorite hobby of life, which brings me joy and inspiration. My other path in life is very much related with a clothing design. I’m a specialist in the custom garment industry.
Luevo: What do you think has helped you most with your designing to date?
Millard:I work every day to improve my professional and artistic skills, by self learning new trends and technologies.
Luevo: What obstacles have you had to face and overcome to get where you are today?
Millard:My biggest obstacle is the market. It’s not easy to be in the competition with big garment corporations with cheap prices.
Luevo: What inspirations did you draw on to create this collection?
Millard: To create this collection, I draw my inspiration from violin music “Euphoria” performed by World famous violinist Vanessa May.
Luevo: What is the thing that makes all this hard work and effort worth it for you?
Millard: The biggest thing to work for are results: when I see a person wearing my garment, and she looks beautiful, stunning and empowering – that’s the thing worth working for.
Luevo: What was the turning point in your career that made you say “Yes I’ve finally made it”?
Millard: My career turning point was the day I was recognized as a designer of the year of 2013 in Portland OR, but I think the sky is the limit.
Luevo: How would you describe your process of inspiration? What do you do to keep your ideas fresh and interesting?
Millard:The process of the creating of new collection is a combination of many things: my vision, prospect, mood, and environment. I can say it’s a sort of meditation form for me.
Luevo: If you could describe your new collection with one word, what would it be and why? What would you say the overall theme of this collection would be?
Millard:My new collection “Euphoria” shows my emotional felling combined with happiness and overwhelming sense of contentment.
Luevo: How did you start your design journey?
Millard: Since I was a child I had a pretty good idea of who I wanted to be, because I grew up in a fashion sewing atmosphere. My mom was a professional tailor and I got it from her.
As you can see Millard is not only an inspiration to many future designers, but she in an inspiration to anyone wanting to reach their dreams. She is proof that if you love something enough and are willing to chase your dreams you can achieve them. It also doesn’t hurt to be really good at your craft like Millard.
Written by Elias Trejo; writer for AskMen, BleacherReport & owner of The Raider Nation Times.
The new Skyler Man collection, The World is Yours, shares a commonality of the natural world; natural stones, pearls, gold and silver in all of their jewelry. The jewelry is rich in style as well as substance – it will not lose value as the seasons change, but become a timeless staple in your wardrobe. The World is Yours is dedicated to the distinction between the romantic and dark side of nature. Pre-order pieces from the newly launched collection here!
I really appreciate the message you have behind your jewelry. How did you got involved with sustainable goods and what inspired you to move towards that?
We pride ourselves on the point that Skyler Man is an eco-responsible brand and we aim to be as sustainable as possible in everything we do. Not only do we use recycled gold and silver, as well as conflict-free diamonds, but we are committed to this pursuit even behind the scenes. Our packaging materials, our tissue paper, our stamps, ribbons, mannequins, everything we use, is either recycled or recyclable, locally produced and made in the USA. It’s really just our signature, what we believe in and this philosophy extends beyond our jewelry line and into the way we want to appreciate the world because, why not?
If you can minimize your carbon footprint, then why not do that? But also, jewelry is not so much a philosophy but an aesthetic luxury, and truth be told, it’s also the way a piece of jewelry looks and feels when it’s hand-made that really led me on this journey. I decided right from the beginning how I wanted the jewelry to look, and that required it to be hand-made, which required local production, which led to local refineries that utilized recycled materials. I then sourced local companies which offered conflict-free stones and gems. So I would say that my designs and desire towards a certain aesthetic is what originally drove the need for a sustainable product.I wanted that look and feel, so it became a win-win.
What was your designing journey like? Growing up, is this what you aspired to do?
I come from an artistic home. My mom is an artist, a painter. She used to paint little tiny figures and stories on miniature canvases. I can’t paint, but I have been designing for as long as I can remember. I started dabbling in jewelry design at least 15 years ago with the idea for Skyler Man coming about around 5 years ago. It began with the desire to create edgy, punk- rock, urban pieces that embodied a vintage presence through a modern interpretation.
I mostly liked to wear “real” jewelry, meaning made with real gold, silver, and gems. I like the way I feel when I wear a precious piece of jewelry that also holds more value for me. I feel I can pass it on. Instead of a splurge, I feel as if it’s an investment. So there weren’t too many cool pieces of “real” jewelry out there at the time, so I started to make my own. I learned a lot over time, because my school and training was actual practice and real life mistakes. The brand has evolved over time and naturally through the design process, to include a wide range of pieces that are more affordable and easier to wear, much like the collection we are doing for Luevo.
For each collection, you have a brief description about the inspiration behind it. Do you do any additional research leading up to each collection? i.e. listening to music, researching history, basing a design off of a picture or texture of clothing etc.
I don’t do research leading up to a collection, but I definitely get inspired by various elements and definitely all of those that you mentioned. I don’t need to travel to a distant land and be thrust into foreign experiences to get completely inspired to design and create. I think that comes from within a designer and it can and will be inspired and triggered by immediate circumstances that ignite an idea or thought that lives within. We are all made up of experiences.
I am lucky enough to have grown up in New York, where my artistic interpretation has been shaped by the rich diversity that paints this city. I am and have always been inspired by the urban streets, past and present, and always the unique styles that represent the times, which primarily include music and clothing. Also, I have a Masters in literature, so my mind is always naturally travelling to different times and various places. I have been conditioned to pay attention to the circumstances which shape thoughts, and so my thoughts are shaped by past experiences and styles, and they manifest themselves and are interpreted into my designs.
If you designed a collection that was solely based off of your personality would we see a lot of colour, texture, and design?
My personality is a dual one. I think most of us are that way. We are not strictly one way or another. My style is black but expensive, an example being the Black Celebration collection. A lot of black diamonds, encased in 18 karat gold, where the diamonds are set upside down so they look like spikes. It’s a sort of edgy glamour or a gothic luxe look.
At the same time, my dark personality is conflicted with my romantic side. Perhaps this comes from my love of Romantic poetry, or perhaps it’s because black spikes look so beautiful paired with bright flowers. Everything looks better and becomes more complimentary when it’s set against its opposite. I would have to say that all my designs are really pieces of my personality. I have to design things that I love and things that I would wear myself. I have to be true to myself and only then I know the designs are good.
I feel that a lot of your pieces stand out on their own and can easily be worn as a statement piece. How long does it take you to find the right materials for a collection? What is that process like?
Sometimes a piece starts with an idea and sometimes it starts with an actual piece of material, like a gem, then I have to build the rest of the piece around that. The hope is always that the piece I make flows smoothly but that’s rarely the case. Like with everything, there is always a multitude of problems, and sometimes I can’t find what I am looking for as easily as I had hoped, but honestly, with experience, the process becomes a lot smoother because at this point I know a little more of what I am doing.
Since fathers day is coming up, what would be your top 3 suggestions as a gift from your collection?
I take pride in the fact that many pieces from Skyler Man are androgynous. It obviously depends on the guy who is wearing it, and on the budget, but if I had to choose for my man, the cufflinks in both gold and silver are great, because you really can’t go wrong with them. I also have teeth cufflinks which look amazing, and they’re cool because they’re teeth, but they’re really substantial and solid.
I also love the Fallen Ring, and the Howl Ring for men, and I found that men love those pieces too. The Pyramid Macrame Bracelet is a really cool, casual piece which I have sold to both men and women alike. Some men who like to be more bling are into the inverted diamond studs and the Black magic earring. But you have to be blingy to pull that off. And if you can, they look amazing.
Is there anything that Skyler Man has yet to do in terms of jewelry that you are looking forward to doing in the future? i.e body chains.
I’m not really into creating jewelry like body chains, I like more classic jewelry, although we did some midi rings which are fun and super cute. The only thing I really look forward to, in terms of design, is more design ideas that I currently have residing in my head. I have an idea for an amazing limited edition, One-of-a-Kind collection. I really can’t wait to do that, but those collections are expensive to make so….soon.
Make sure to keep up to date with Skylar Man and check out their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!
This article was written by Jonika. You can follow her at @JonikaJun.
https://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/skylermanbanner.jpg666822Ana Carahttp://www.luevo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/luevo-logo-2x.pngAna Cara2014-05-29 10:00:572014-12-11 15:43:07Getting to Know Skyler Man Jewelry
