Fashion A Better World

Where are They Now? Redress Designer Jamie Powell (2011)

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!!  

LUMINA CLOTHING: SHOP GRAND OPENING

Media Contact:           

David Griffith

703.395.0404

griffithpr@gmail.com

Lumina Clothing Company to Open Downtown Raleigh Menswear Shop  

When: Grand Opening on Friday, November 2, 6:30pm

Supported by Natty Greene’s Raleigh and Ray’s Hair Shop

Regular store hours

• Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 10am-6pm

Where: 123 East Martin Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 (building owner Al Brothers)

What: Raleigh-based Lumina clothing and accessories label opens flagship store 

All pieces finely-crafted in the USA and inspired by North Carolina’s textile heritage

Stocking the following core items:

• Button-down shirts
  • Poplins
  • Oxfords
  • Chambray
• Brushed-twill chino pants
• Neckwear
  • Ties
  • Bow ties
• Jersey-knit t-shirts
• Canvas totes 

Why: To create a downtown shopping destination for style-conscious men

Company founders manning the store and offering personal shopping consultations

In-store refreshments

Offering American-made, non-competing accessory brands to round-out wardrobes

• Ebbets Field Flannel North Carolina hats
• Field Notes journals
• Imperial Barber grooming products
• Parrot Canvas totes/bags
• Zkano 100% cotton socks

Who: Ownership

Barton Strawn, Justin Carey, Paul Connor and Peter Landis

About: Founded in 2009, Lumina is a Raleigh, North Carolina-based company dedicated to producing quality, fashion-forward menswear made entirely in the USA.

Named after the cotton looms that once served as an economic engine of North Carolina, where possible Lumina regionally sources its manufacturing to create finely-crafted pieces that pay homage to the state’s rich textile heritage. For more information visit www.luminaclothing.com or follow them @LuminaClothing

SOURCE EXPO 2012

From: ETHICAL FASHION FORUM 

ONE WEEK TO GO TO SOURCE EXPO 2012:

HAVE YOU REGISTERED YET?

REGISTER NOW to attend any of 9 inspiring seminar and networking events, online, from anywhere in the world, free of charge, 31st October - 1st November 2012:

Introducing sustainable, eco, organic and fair trade fabrics, fair trade and ethical production units and factories of all sizes, unbranded garments and components, and more: through online events tailored to your needs and interests.

Now in its 4th year, the SOURCE Expo is the only fashion industry trade show dedicated to ethical sourcing. The SOURCE Expo brings together hundreds of fashion professionals from across the brand and retail sector, connecting them with sustainable suppliers.

The SOURCE Expo will take place this year ONLINE. The event will showcase exemplary suppliers of sustainable fabrics and components, fair trade and ethical production units and factories from all over the world, and broker connections between suppliers, brands, and fashion professionals.

Two days of online seminar and networking events will introduce latest trends, present exemplary suppliers, and offer the chance for suppliers, brands and retailers to connect directly. All events are FREE for visitors and accessible from anywhere in the world with internet access.

VISITORS - Build supply chains, update on latest sourcing innovation - REGISTER HERE OR FIND OUT MORE

SUPPLIERS - Connect with buyers and brands, gain profile in the sector - REGISTER HERE OR FIND OUT MORE - Supplier registration closes this week.

Where Are They Now? Redress Designer Payton-Alexis Brown (2010)

Appalachia is my most recent collection, and the closest one to my heart to date. I created the collection my senior year as a sort of homage to the place I have called home for the past four years. I studied antique photographs of people who lived in the region during the 1930s-40s and was inspired by the details in their work clothes, their way of life, and the natural dye processes used to dye their fabrics. The styling inspiration was that of an anti-fashion movement that happened after the French Revolution in which aristocrats began dressing like peasants to avoid execution. Together, I believe the inspirations mixed to create one rugged, elegantly simply collection. The photographs were taken by me in the Appalachian Mountains.Can you give us the history? What's happened in the years since your Redress show? 

When I participated in Redress Raleigh, I was just finishing up my freshman year in college.  I went on to produce two more collections, Equipoise in 2011 and Appalachia in 2012.  In the fall of 2010, I was lucky enough to be chosen as a designer for FashionSPARK in which I showcased the bridal portion of my Equipoise collection.  I showcased the full Equipoise collection at my university’s fashion show and won Best Construction and Best Overall Designer.  The summer of 2011 I spent three months in NYC completing an internship with the design team at Nicole Miller.  I returned that September to assist in the production of their Fashion Week show and was honored to return again this past September to assist the team once again.  During my senior year I created Appalachia, which debuted at my university’s fashion show in the spring of 2012 and won Best Garment in the senior division and Best Collection in the senior division.  In most recent news, I graduated in May 2012 from Appalachian State University with a BS in fashion design and merchandising and minors in marketing and studio art.  

Are you working on anything right now?            

Currently I am dealing with the great post-grad life struggle of “what now!?”  To make the transition easier from the mountains of the High Country to what will most likely be New York City, I have returned to Raleigh NC to start putting my plans in order.  Graduating has brought on the finishing tasks of completing my portfolio and defining myself as a designer.  Being an artist, I am inspired by countless things and enjoy creating really diverse collections.  Therefore being able to edit myself down to one set of aesthetics that truly define my work and allow me to market myself to companies has been a challenging task.  However, I just finished up my new website design which I hope reflects this new sense of self.  www.payton-alexis.com  

How did your experience with Redress prepare you for something that happened later in your career? How does your ongoing work with Redress influence the business decisions you make now?            

When I participated in Redress the eco movement was really just coming into pop culture and now green efforts span the country as not just a fad but a moral/ethical commitment to each other.  While I no longer focus on altering vintage garments, found textiles still remain my favorite fabrics to work with.  When I am not using recycled textiles I try to be eco friendly in my cutting and patterning methods seeking to leave the least amount of fabric waste as possible.  

We love your site - gorgeous pics! Give us some details promoting a current project.

Appalachia is my most recent collection, and the closest one to my heart to date.  I created the collection my senior year as a sort of homage to the place I have called home for the past four years.  I studied antique photographs of people who lived in the region during the 1930s-40s and was inspired by the details in their work clothes, their way of life, and the natural dye processes used to dye their fabrics.  The styling inspiration was that of an anti-fashion movement that happened after the French Revolution in which aristocrats began dressing like peasants to avoid execution.  Together, I believe the inspirations mixed to create one rugged, elegantly simply collection.  The photographs were taken by me in the Appalachian Mountains.   During my senior year, I began focusing on my studio art minor to define myself as a fibers artist separate from my fashion design.  Currently I am working on photographing a body of work, titled Sensual Atrophy, that I created during that year in response to the ending of a long-term relationship.  In this work I explore the feelings of the individual, notably from a female perspective, dealing with the ideas of love and loss.  Although this is the most intimately personal work I have ever created, once I began showing the pieces at my university the response was overwhelmingly one of unexpected understanding.  I look forward to releasing this body of work to the general public on my website by January 2013.  

Any advice for Redress supporters considering a similar career path?

Every artist’s path is different.  The best advice I could give someone would be to listen to his or her instincts.  In fashion it is easy to get lost in current trends and trying to design for them, however fashion only moves forward when individuals think past the present.  You will be the happiest when you are designing what you love, and you will produce the best work when it is something that moves you.  

Is there anything else you'd like us to watch for? How can Redress supporters help?

By spring 2013 I hope to have made the leap into adult life and be living and working as a designer in a big city.  Keep watching my website and blog for more information on where I am traveling and the release of my fibers work!

Payton-Alexis, great interview! That is one intellectually mature design philosophy - you're rocking the adult world already! Thanks for taking time to let us in on it.

Buy from her http://www.payton-alexis.moonfruit.com/