Tag Archives: features

Lilith

Written by Rachel Rozzi, Model: Maria Giannakakis, Photos:  Stevyn Llewellyn
Written by Rachel Rozzi, Model: Maria Giannakakis, Photos: Stevyn Llewellyn

Along a darling row of shops on Mulberry sits Lilith, a beautifully ambianced storefront and space with dark wood accents and a ripple of cranberry wall. The boutique is a veritable treasure trove of unique hand crafted pieces meant for layering while also being statement pieces on all their own. From jewelry, knit vests, mesh basics, leather shoes and much more, the assortment shows a true dedication to the French design team’s vision. Lilly Barreth, head designer, is inspired mainly by Rei Kawakubo’s Comme des Garçons (along with other asian designers of the 70’s and 80’s) and designs for the multi-faceted woman.

The Lilith woman doesn’t have one identity, she is inclusive, global, and can be anywhere from her late teens and anywhere above and beyond. She is a mother, a career woman, a wife, and just a woman looking for comfort and style. There is a rarity in such an all encompassing brand, but Lilith successfully defies the separation of ages with clear cut design, simplicity and ease of wear.
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The store is free flowing, merchandised easily by fabrication, color, and print. Gorgeous statement pieces mix in with easy to wear and closet integrateable items such as faux fur wrap-around cropped coats and mesh long sleeved tees and leggings, respectively. The key looks are voluminous and provide interesting and fresh silhouettes that play on the creative woman’s mind. The tailoring is excellent and witty providing that the wearer understands the way the garment is meant to be worn or is clever enough to play with it. However, that small quandary can be resolved by the knowledgeable and sure staff’s advisement. While shopping is the literal verb in action at Lilith, the more encompassing emotions are of discovery and true creativity, as the boutique opens up a world devoid of fast trends and fad styling to help the consumer become unique through the art of dressing.

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With bi-coastal stores in Manhattan and Berkeley, CA, the Lilith woman can “discover” and use her creativity while traveling to such vacationing destinations, but will have to wait for more sister stores until the boutique opens it’s hopeful doors in Chicago, Boston, and maybe even in Orlando, Florida.
– Rachel Rozzi
Dominique Debroux contributed to this article.
Fast Facts:

  • Lilith is derived from Lily Barreth’s first and last name
  • The name Lilith is also known in Jewish Folklore as Adam’s first wife before Eve, who created equal to him, ran away after seeking equality in their relationship
  • The boutique is 2350 sq. feet of shopping bliss and opened Sept. 30th, 2002
Lilith • 27 Mulberry Street • New York, NY 10012-4126 • Phone:  (212) 925-0080

Sachika Fashion Show and Interview

The Sachika designers To-Tam and To-Nya Ton-Nu presented their collection at the New York Golf Center with the collaboration of the 19th Hole Magazine, associated with TR luxury on May 14th.

Ashley Rossi for Sachika
Model Ashley Rossi

Sachika is for the modern woman on the go.

Sachika in Japanese means: “more wishes, more fortune, and more happiness.”

Their many types of dresses focused on the versatile busy woman that wants to accomplish many things. Sachika dresses can easily be translated from day to evening.

The designers use timeless colors & cuts that won’t go out of style. They want their consumer to shop wisely and to buy key pieces for their wardrobe.

To-Tam and To-Nya chose feminine colors that are classic and neutral. A Sachika dress is the perfect key item to wear at any occasion.

The 19th Hole Magazine is a high end luxury magazine focusing on golf and fashion. They combined forces with Sachika to promote golf and fashion. The event was targeted to a younger clientele. The modern woman is a perfect client for golf. Golf is sexy!

Interview By Jenny Mar

Photos and video by Stevyn Llewellyn

You can purchase their beautiful timeless pieces at www.sachika.com

To see the entire collection in a slideshow, click here

Lotusgrace: the interviews

LotusgraceModern Glossy brings you an exclusive, two-part interview session with the designers of Lotusgrace. Alexander Coelho interviews design partners Gregg Pellegrini and Eric Sweeney who discuss aspects of their Women’s Wear collection, it’s identity, and the aesthetic process involved in the creation of a Lotusgrace garment. Lotusgrace creates all their apparel here in New York, thereby actively supporting the local Garment District. With an eye for line, silhouette, and modern interpretations of classic feminine shapes, Lotusgrace elegantly dresses the modern woman.

Watch Lotusgrace: the Collection

Watch Lotusgrace: The Interview

Shop Lotusgrace here.

Interviews by Alexander Coelho.
Exclusive Photos and video By Stevyn Llewellyn.
More Photos of the collection below.


Exclusive: Interview with Lola Haze designer Laura Mehlinger

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You originally began as an English Major—What prompted you to pursue fashion design?

I’ve always loved fashion.  In fact, at Harvard, as an English major, I used to take as many opportunities as possible to write essays about clothing.  I’ve been studying clothing—studying all aspects—since I was a child.  As soon as I could be trusted with a needle, I was deconstructing clothing and trying to make my own—and this fascination with the artistry as well as concepts of fashion stayed with me.

Lola Haze 4When choosing the name for this line, my favorite book (which I wrote my thesis about), Lolita, immediately suggested itself to me, but not for the obvious reason.  My line is not particularly about seductive 12 year olds.  The name, Lola Haze is actually more of an ode to the book and to Nabokov, who was such a master of his craft, and used words for play and at the same time to create incomparable beauty.  And as for the character of Lolita Haze, she’s an iconic representation of the complexity and power of sexuality – and of the various ways it can be used.  The names “Lolita” and “Lola” have been culturally appropriated and have come to invoke a simpler flirtation than the original character in the book.  So there are many layers of associations with the name now.

Do you think your position at Gap, inc. was helpful to your current design aesthetic?

I’m glad to have had the chance to work there.  For designers in the rarified fashion capital of New York, it’s always important to remember what real women want to wear, and what they expect from their clothing.

As a designer, what process do you undertake in order to see an initial design become a completed piece?

I start with impressionistic ideas that can come from anywhere: a certain neckline, or a metallic fabric that catches my eye, or a work of art or a molding on a ceiling.  The most fun part of the design process is finding commonalities between, say, Austrian 18th century interiors and Henna tattoos and metallic lace, and then melding these ideas into a cohesive collection.  At the same time that I’m pushing concepts around, I’m sketching silhouettes and thinking through the structure and components of each garment.

lola haze 3For your spring 2009 collection, what in particular inspired these pieces?

For Spring/Summer 09 I sought to fuse two disparate inspirations: the paintings of Morris Louis and Prince concerts.  In each, I was drawn to the liquidy feeling of bold colors layered on top of each other: transparency that creates a sense of the ephemeral.  I drew from these two dramatically different media—watery paint and neon-lit stage smoke—to create the collection, called “Colorfield” in homage to Morris Louis.

Spring and Summer are hot, bold, colorful seasons.  I played with stacking bright colors against softer ones, and gorgeous drapey silk charmeuse against geometrically cut mesh to create wearable, comfortable clothes that at the same time really make you feel special.  The luxury is not only in the fabrics and design details, but primarily in that transforming feeling of slipping into one of these pieces.  You feel playful, special, like the most delicious candy you would ever want.

lola haze 4How do you integrate surface imagery into your work?

Charlotte Pinson and Lola Haze TM have teamed up to create whimsical one-of-a-kind wearable art—and priced to suit the art aficionado on a budget.

The element of visual surprise is an essential for Lola Haze’s TM seasonal intimates collections.  I like to integrate playful juxtapositions within the structure of the garments, for example through color blocking or hardware mixed with silk.  Working with Charlotte has been an inspiring experience, and working with a surface artist creates a new element for bringing whimsy and surprise to Lola Haze TM.  It’s also exciting to bring Lola Haze TM out of the boudoir and onto the street.

It is very admirable that you have followed and pursued your dream to become a designer here in New York.  Do you have any advice to people who have similar aspirations?

Work hard and have fun!

– Interview with Laura Mehlinger by Stevyn Llewellyn

Shop Lola Haze Here

Photos © Lola Haze Spring 2009