Designer quicky: Louis De Gama

1.What kind of women is Louis De Gama women?

A strong woman, which is not afraid of expressing her sexuality and personality. A woman uses clothing as an expression of her moods, that can be vulnerable and fragile(lace, silk chiffons) or strong and business minded (leather and mix wool/leather constructions) or a mixture of both, but nevertheless uses fashion as a expansion  and identify projection.

2. What is your vision for your brand in terms of growth?

World dominance, louis de gama was primarily set up as a brand name, which has the potential to introduce other lines and create a life style brand identity.

3. Other than having your own company and your store location in London, you are also a fashion school professor, what role is your primary role and why? 

I am primarily a fashion designer, I only happen to be a teacher because I have a fashion business and there is a crucial need of industry people in academic roles for a more realistic approach on teaching. My contribution to the students is that they keep their feet on the ground and gain insight on the industry. A student development isn’t complete without that and also working placements in the industry has to be a inclusive module in any creative course.

4. When you look at kids coming out of fashion schools today, considering todays economy and talent pool what do you see they are missing and what is their advantage vs. previous generations? 

I think with the ‘overture’ of fashion and all the technologic advances of today, fashion has become much more accessible at the touch of the button for everybody! I think there shouldn’t be no excuses for lack of contemporary awareness, it doesn’t matter if you live in a remote city in Africa or Asia or in the Paris, as long as the internet is available you should amass the same knowledge. So there are no excuses for lack of contemporary awareness, but going back to your question….ermmmm I think I have answered it already!

5. How many fashion shows do you do a year and does it pay off financially? Why do you do them?

I do about 3-4 fashion shows. I am mostly invited as a guest to showcase my creations. I guess my collections must have an international appeal!!!(trying to be modest!!!)

6. What do you think about this years Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb? 
What are the good things this year vs. previous years and what are the opportunities for growth? 

I was so positively surprise with the last Dreft fashion week. The venue looked the part, it exuded international standards both the runaway and the VIP area, the production was superb, the amount of helpers we had to deliver the show was fantastic. 
The production team was very professional. Well done to the organizers, that is definitely the way forward and to a certain person that pulled and demanded change. Croatia should be proud to present such high standard fashion event  specially considering the apparel  market segment is still considerably low, comparing to other major fashion capitals in the world.

The only criticism is exactly that: fashion does not exist without sales, no designer can create and realize its creations without funding therefore it’s about time a sales exhibition runs alongside to  the event. 
The only way the fashion industry will ever grow in Croatia is if organizers start looking at commercial side of it, at the business side of fashion rather for status and elitist purposes. It is a huge task, but one that needs consideration and mutual consensus by the responsible organizations/institutions.

7. What is your impression of Croatian young designers which you had opportunities to see/grade and spend time with in Croatia during their contest event? Who would you identify as special talent to watch and follow?

Awwww, there is so much  young talent  in Croatia. We the judges of "Modni Ormar" were so impressed by the sheer genuine passion and commitment of some students. I will not mention names because I might appear to have favourites, which would not be a professional practice, but talent is immense in Croatia.
Please support these kids as their talent is too precious to dissipate and waste.

8. What are your future plans for your brand? 

Always expansion, bring more lines and welcoming a business backer, so if anybody with fashion flair is reading this, feel free to contact me.

9. How would you describe your style and what drives and inspires you for collections? 

I’d say my style is a little eclectic, mostly because of my mix background, but eclectic sounds a little pejorative, I think in the creative battle to mix different elements/materials together harmoniously resides Louis de Gama ethos and trade mark which combines a feminine silhouette and a aim aesthetic.

10. How does your brainstorming process looks like in between collections do you have the team you work with? 

Most of the collections starts with a silhouette in mind, and it is always an exasperation for an aesthetic and them the harmonious mixture with the fabric and trimmings. 
Never a rigid theme, always ever evolving  to aim at the aesthetic! 
Emotions, beauty, technical skill and resources come to play here. it is always a very challenging process and incredibly rewarding! 
There are always 5-6 people working in my atelier on our daily tasks.

Celebration gowns

There is nothing that makes a women more selfconfident, more sexy and more glamurous than a fabulous celebration dress. 

How to find the right one? The right one is the one that makes people's mouth form a WAUU shape on a first look. The right glam dress is the one that guarantees "all eyes on me" effect and a total burst of selfconfidence all through the night.

Here are the few I found particulary fabulous. Enjoy lovelies! 

"I feel very strongly about dresses on every level - a dress feels like underpinning."

Donna Karan

Prison Chic

Inspired by recent political and social events in Croatia I gathered some prison chic editorials as well as some accessories for those who are close to our corupted politicials and are looking for Christmas presents. Seems like this fall/winter seasons instead of those awful reindeer Xmass sweaters trend is - prison chic!

All in all, I am welcoming the upcoming social and political changes and hoping to finally get at least semi moral people in the goverment! Fashion is part of the culture, so it should reflect its events!


Remetinec chic! 


Enjoy darlings! :)

Xoxo,

Designer quicky: Victor de Souza

1.What kind of women is VDS women?

Although Victor de Souza Inc. will eventually expand into men’s fashion, currently VDS Inc. focuses generally on the sophisticated, timeless woman who loves to push boundaries. The Victor de Souza woman is chic, has character and doesn’t settle for the obvious. The VDS woman is someone who is looking for the qualities of historical couture but in a more contemporary and fresh manner.

2. How would you describe your style and what drives and inspires you for collections?

Victor de Souza, Inc. is dedicated to bringing refined, well-constructed and perfectly engineered designs to the world. Our goods, and the ideals they personify, blend classics with innovation, and are at the forefront of fashion. The house boldly embodies elegance and flair. I find inspiration in and around everything. The last collection was inspired entirely by the sea.

3. How does your brainstorming process looks like in between collections do you have the team you work with?

It’s not a structured process. Inspiration may hit at any moment and I have to be prepared to capture that moment.

4. What is your vision for your brand in terms of growth?

Our vision is to evolve this couture house and luxury brand into all areas of fashion and fashion-related products, such as fragrances, men's wear, eyewear, footwear, hand bags, watches, home furnishing and all types of accessories.

5. What are your future plans for your brand?

In addition to the vision for growth written above, we also want to inject social consciousness into the industry and business as a whole. We want to serve as a good example and eventually expand our philanthropic activities as well.

6. Do you plan to open your own store and where?

Eventually, we will open a VDS store but the timing must be right. Currently, you can find the VDS line at Bellhaus in Manhattan and the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. 

7. How many fashion shows do you do a year and does it pay off financially?

We typically do two shows per year (one in the spring and one in the fall). However, this year we did three since we also presented at Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb. The shows do pay off financially, because without a show I wouldn’t have the presence in the industry you must have.

8. What do you think about this years Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb? What are the good things and what are the opportunities for growth in upcoming years?

I was honored and excited to take part in Dreft Fashion Week Zagreb. The organizers and the people of Zagreb were very hospitable and warm. It was a pleasure to be a part of. Our goal was to create the same feeling of glamour that we created for our show in New York. I thought the space and the entire setup was well done.

9. What is your impression of Croatian young designers whose shows you had the opportunity to see during Zagreb's Fashion Week?

I found that the men’s lines were especially strong. I saw a few pieces that I could see myself wearing.

10. You seem to be very willing to work on charity projects - you donated one of your dresses for charity action during Dreft Fashion Week. Do you have any charity organizations which are especially close to your heart? Do you plan to do any such projects on your own?

As I mentioned before, VDS strives to be a socially conscious company and to give back to the community that has given so much to us. We are in the process of laying the groundwork to start a foundation. In the meantime, children’s charities are especially close to my heart.

11. What is your opinion about big fashion companies using sweat shops in third world countries?

It’s absolutely unconscionable. I understand that fashion is a business, but there’s a way that you can do it and elevate everyone in the process. It’s time to raise the consciousness within the industry.

 Source: Italian Vogue

Dare to care!

Let's be honest, as much as we all adore fashion, can't live without this seasons shoes and accessories when the push comes to shove we all know what matters the most or at least we should.


It is always easier in the light of our own personal problems and worries to close up to others suffering with numerous excuses we all often make. Seems like during holiday season we are most charitable and most willing to open our wallets when it is cold outside and media are filled with sad stories and charity causes asking us to help, and we are buying many presents and excessive amounts of food while we still precessly hold and are very hard to give what is most valuable to us - our time.


Today, the hardest thing for a person to do is to gift someone with a piece of our day, an hour or a minute of our time and do nothing,just listen.


As one of the most profitable industries in the world, especially now in times of economic crises fashion industry has to and has a duty to give back and help, not only in the communities where the fashion company sell their clothes, but also where their clothes are made, where their fabrics and other raw materials are sourced as well as the people who work for them, which is often the biggest challange for growing company in such a competative industry and many when they do it, they do it out of guilt or following some bad publicity. 


Some fashion companies however do invest more and more into corporate responsibility projects, some of the biggest ones are: , Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony collection - proceeds go towards fighting breast cancer, Fashion Delivers - charity organization helping the survivors of natural disasters and the latest one -  Designers against aids supported by H&M and many other designers, celebrities and fashion bloggers.

In Croatia we just recenly had some individual attempts of fashion designers to support the textile factory workers in strike as well as some forms of celebrity rebellion towards the poor government leadership in crises but nothing major.


 What do we think about fashion activism?


Here are some examples of fashion activism good and bad:

Vogue India, August 2008.

Vogue Italia, August, 2006.

Italian Vogue, September, 2006. Steven Meisel

Vogue Italia, August, 2010.

Shouldn't fashion as for of art and free expression be exactly that, and as such showcase a social and economic situation as well as people's frame of mind in the light of it all?

Is there social responsibility and sensitivity in Croatia? 

What is the fashion bloggers roll in it?

"I choose to rise up out of that storm and see that in moments of desperation, fear, and helplessness, each of us can be a rainbow of hope, doing what we can to extend ourselves in kindness and grace to one another. 

And I know for sure that there is no them.. there's only us."

~Oprah Winfrey~

Xoxo darlings,

Puppy love by Di canine couture

I was recently contacted by a lovely lady called Divya Karamchedu. Divya is a recent Parsons graduate and other then her obvious designing talent she has a charity cause which is close to her heart. Her passion about the cause was really inspiring for me, expecially now when in the light of recent economy downturns people often turn to basic survival expenses and worries. 
So it is really refreshing and hopefull to see that there is still sentiment for fighting causes we believe in for creatures and people we love utilizing our education, income and free time.


Divya has lost her puppy Ruby to cancer and in remembrance she started a pet apparel brand - Di Canine Couture.


 Di. couture pledges to donate $5 of every purchase made to SPCA and other Animal rescue organizations. Every piece of puppy clothes is hand made using luxurious fabrics, finest beading and all out couture finishing. 

Bellow you can see some more of Divya's work. Please join Di Canine Couture facebook fan page.


Enjoy lovelies! Good luck with your cause Divya!

I talk to him when I'm lonesome like; and I'm sure he understands.  

When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; 

then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, 

but I never say naught thereat.  

For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, 

but never a friend like that.  

~W. Dayton Wedgefarth~