Collection The last show I did a collection for was the 2011 Redress Raleigh, in which my partner and I (Good Girls Studio) incorporated LED lights into our collection, dubbing it "Enlightened". We had both been through some storms in life and felt like it was time to brighten up, literally. The collection featured light and airy fabrics and looks, with sprigs of LED lights throughout the clothing and in the models' hair. The fabrics used for the Enlightened collection were all vintage, paired in contrast with the fairly new technology of battery powered LED lights.
Simply elegant: I think that over-arching principle applies to the way I conduct both business and personal decisions: money isn't everything, think about the impact of your actions and decisions, and know your community.The History The Hillsborough show was our first year as Redress, and when that show happened I was still running my now closed vintage clothing business. Since then I have closed the vintage business while still keeping the Revamp Clothing line active. Closing the business was also a catalyst for change with Revamp; I used to employ a lot of re-purposed fabrics in my designs, but that has shifted to a focus on new, eco-friendly fabrics such as bamboo blends, Tencel cotton, and organic fabrics. The style of Revamp has evolved as well; I used to use a lot more vintage design aesthetic in my collections, but the designs have become more modern as have the fabrics.
Happening Now I just participated in the Redress the Dead fashion show which was part of the Raleigh Living Dead Halloween festival on Saturday, October 27th. I am working on a new collection for 2013 which I will be submitting for jurying for the 2013 Redress Eco-Fashion Show. This collection will once again be a collaboration with Good Girls Studio, and will be much darker and tougher than our last collaboration... more details to come... In the meantime, you can find me working at Cat Banjo in Cameron Village most days, where we sell locally made jewelry, clothing, and giftwear.
Why Redress Working with Redress has been a passion of mine these last 5 years and the co-producers I work with (Beth Stewart and Mor Aframian) push me and the organization to keep growing. Being a part of this organization keeps me connected with my community, and with the decisions I make, both as a consumer and as a designer. We run the organization in the most sustainable way we know how, and I think that over-arching principle applies to the way I conduct both business and personal decisions: money isn't everything, think about the impact of your actions and decisions, and know your community.
Good Advice Pursuing something you are passionate about it something everyone should do - sometimes you can do that through your work, and sometimes your passions take you in different directions. Redress Raleigh and my clothing line Revamp are both part of my career path, but neither are what I do for a main source of income right now. When you are passionate about something, you have to work for it, and sometimes it takes a while to see the results. It will never be the easiest path, but it will definitely be the most rewarding.
Shop See the Revamp Clothing line, check Good Girls Studio and visit Cat Banjo.
Jamie, thank you so much for your time - we can't wait to see what else is in store!!
Redress Raleigh | 
