2011 Redress Raleigh Designers
Monday, February 7, 2011 at 11:25PM Johanna Ely & Jamie Powell
Good Girls Studio is the home to Johanna Ely's eco-conscious, deconstructed vintage jewelry line. Her eclectic mix of salvaged treasures and accompanying
romantic stories turn any bad girl into a good girl! She specializes in custom jewelry, taking your family's treasured costume baubles & creating One of a Kind modern wearable heirlooms. You may her find her current available collections on her website:http://goodgirlsstudio.com or read about a day in the life of a good girl on her bloghttp://goodgirlsstudio.blogspot.com. Please contact her at goodgirls_studio@yahoo.com to place a custom order.
Revamp is an eco-conscious women's clothing line rooted in the belief that beautiful designer clothing can be produced ethically and sustainably, and still be affordable. Designer Jamie Powell pulls inspiration from all parts of her life - people, places, experiences, nature, and nostalgia - to create pieces ranging in style from simple jersey knit separates to elegant evening
gowns. All Revamp items are made with an eco-conscious focus; all production is local and inputs are selected for their low envionmental impact. You can find Revamp designs at Cat Banjo in Cameron Village as well as online.
Matthew Mahler
My wife, Luisa, and I live in Raleigh and have two wonderful children, Nico and Emma. At 41 years old, I spend my time along with my wife, watching our kids discover the world, reading bedtime stories, hanging out with our neighbors and at nights, it's my time to turn trash into fashion bags. To digress, I grew up spending much of my youth outdoors in the wetlands of southeastern Louisiana with my dad, Butch, an avid outdoorsman. Those many years spent developing an appreciation of the tremendous value that ecology provides, shaped my vision of conservation for nature. My life's passion guided me to a career in environmental engineering where I have worked as an engineer for a state environmental agency.
In 2009, an interest in design and recycling led to the formation of Tierra Ideas, a bag manufacturing company. The idea was to seek out materials in my local region that were both under-utilized when it comes to upcycling and ripe for use as a textile. I currently enjoy designing bags and wallets that function well, and look hip. Knowing that this waste material is diverted from the landfill is incentive to create bags that push the limits of what can be upcycled. I have countless people to thank for helping me get this far.
MATT MAHLER | Founder
email: matt@tierraideas.com 919.880.1737 www.tierraideas.com
Lisa Wood & Liz Esser
Lisa Wood
My name is Lisa Veronica Wood. I never stopped playing dress up and after discovering felting and sewing, I began making recycled and up-cycled designs for myself and friends.(Fun things that we would want to wear.) I have been a working free-lance artist for more than half of my life, shifting my focus to ecologically conscious design in the past ten years. (Just think of me as a busy bee working to the hum of the mantra “reuse, recycle, reinvent, repeat." )
My work has been varied in types and mediums. My initial study and focus was metal and all form of sculpture, but I have done everything from concept installations, fine art and mural painting, jewelry design, branding, resin work, landscape design and venetian plastering, to my latest emergence into the fashion scene. I am an idea person, and my creativity has led me to all different places, including here. Everyday, I scheme and work to find innovative and artful ways to reuse and conserve what is around us. I recently teamed up with Happymessart at Outsiders Art and Collectibles in Durham, to teach workshops on how to felt and recycle old sweaters. "Saving the planet one sweater at a time."
I am thrilled to have my line of recycled reinventions included in the Redress Raleigh 2011 Fashion Show!
- www.artinsomniac.com
- lisa@artinsomniac.com
- www.etsy.com/shop/artinsomniac
- http://www.outsiders-art.com/
Liz Esser
Haden Designs started while I was living in Brooklyn NY. I brought it along with me when I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2007 and it has been evolving ever since. As a jewelry designer I am inspired by the challenge to use materials other than just metal. My most recent line is comprised of repurposed scrap leather from clothing, accessories and the furniture making process, which otherwise would be thrown away. Its all about creating a cohesive piece which is unique and aesthetically pleasing by combining different textures of materials and items which are new and ones that have been already enjoyed by others.
April Morgan
I began sewing in early 2007 when I took a basic sewing class at a local community college and have since taken garment fitting and construction classes at Thimble Pleasures in Chapel Hill. The fabrics I use often provide the inspiration for my designs. I’m particularly drawn to quirky, vintage fabrics and strive to create women’s clothing that is unique, stylish, and well-crafted.
April Morgan, Cha Designs
www.ChaDesigns.etsy.com
ChaDesigns@yahoo.com
Brittany Erb
Having graduated from NC State's College of Textiles last winter, I felt myself torn between staying in Raleigh and continuing to be apart of its dynamic, fresh art scene and pursuing a dream of moving to New York City. In the summer of 2010, I set off for Manhattan, and now have a job I love as a technical designer. I am viewing my experience in New York as a chance to grow and perfect my skills as a fashion designer, ultimately striving to be an authority on this discipline. However, the allure of Raleigh has never worn off.
It is not an easy task to find a group of like minded, energetic individuals taking a stand for their passions in life and I think I've found that with the work I've done in Redress. I'm very happy to be apart of this show, and can't wait to see what is in store for this year.
Katherine Perretta
Designing jewelry has been a passion of mine since I was a young girl. After leaving Raleigh and moving to Chapel Hill for law school in 2009, I have still found constant inspiration in my hometown. I hope to give a glamorous feel to my jewelry through the revival of old, unwanted household items. Although I have only made jewelry for family and friends, I am very excited to have the opportunity to support the principles of Redress Raleigh.
kperretta@gmail.com
Courtney Schaffer
I was born with a desire to create.
Art and design have always played an enormous role in my life, and it was in middle school when I realized my “passion for fashion.” It may sound cheesy, but from that moment I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the fashion industry. I began to sew and sketch fashion illustrations as well as enroll in apparel development and pattern design classes in high school. That was just the beginning.
Currently, I am a junior at NC State’s College of Textiles studying Fashion and Textile Management with a concentration in Product Development (and loving every minute of it!) In a little over a year I will become a part of the “real world” where I hope to create and sell my designs and see where life takes me!
Participating in Redress Raleigh last year was an amazing challenge and experience,and I am so excited to have the opportunity to design another collection for the 2011 show!
Website: www.wix.com/courtneyschaffer/courtneyschaffer
Jessica Fulks
Jessica Fulks is an up and coming designer and Alumnus of North Carolina State University, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Textile and Apparel Management: Fashion Development, Product Management. Her designs are inspired by urban culture, art, and music as well as Europe’s high fashion couture. She was born in Houston, Texas and moved at the age of two to Fayetteville, North Carolina. As a child, art and creativity were always a part of her life. Fulks started her college career as Zoology major, where she later discovered her talent and passion for fashion and textiles. Three weeks after declaring her new major, she started her own clothing line, Lache’.
CONTACT INFORMATION
910-257-2980
Pilar Ramirez
My name is Pilar Ramirez and I own Pamor Designs. I was born and raised in Colombia, which is where I learned my craft of creating eco-friendly jewelry from orange peels and other organic materials, such as beans, seeds and raw amber. The way the process works, is I collect left over oranges from local restaurants, which I then dehydrate. I shape the orange peels (into flowers, hearts, etc) and color them with organic dies. I lay them out to dry, and my hand-made creation becomes fashionable, wearable (and most importantly) eco-friendly art. It also has a natural aroma of citrus, which pleases the senses!
I began making jewelry because I am a big believer in living an environmentally responsible lifestyle…so why not combine my way of living with my passion of beauty and jewelry? One of my ways of encouraging taking care of our beautiful earth is to create beautiful and organic jewelry that people can wear to feel beautiful and live an earth-friendly life at the same time.
You may have seen my work in locally in fashionSPARK 2010, My Carolina Today, Couture for a Cause (as a sponsor for the silent auction), Rock & Shop Fashion Show, Morning Times Market, Festi Fall, The Designers Downtown Market, Lazy Days Festival, Plein Air Auction, along with local fashion blogs, publications, just to name a few. We have even recently been featured in an NYC fashion event!
I like to help spread the word that being fashionable can be earth-friendly too! I would like the opportunity to share my unique design in order help convey this message to the public.
Thank you,
Pilar Ramirez
Pamor Designs
www.pamordesigns.com
Amabella Vintage
We are two high school seniors, and as twins we began our interest in sewing and fashion after realizing the abundance thrift stores like Goodwill had to offer. We began to sew our finds into more flattering and fashion forward clothing, and our love for thrifty spending and sewing escalated from there. This past August, we opened our online vintage store through Etsy.com in which we sell vintage clothing that we often alter while still keeping their classic feel. With this fashion show, we hope to showcase all we’ve learned from sewing over the years, as well as turn our designs into realities while keeping an eco-conscious goal.
- Blog: amabellavintage.tumblr.com
- Store: amabellavintage.etsy.com
Lee Westfield
Lee Westfield is a women's contemporary ready to wear designer and California native who has attended NC A&T, American Intercontinental University and Long Beach City College. She holds degrees in Fashion Design and Merchandising, Marketing and International Business and Operations Management. Lee has worked as a trend forecaster for renowned LA based forecasting agency, Barbara Fields Buying Office, as a sample maker for Tulle Moss (Huntington Beach, Ca), and as an independent designer and buyer for private clients. Lee has won 2 Golden French Curve Awards for best contemporary sportswear collections and aspires to build her network of fashion professionals here on the East coast.
River Takada-Capel 
Riverbasin Outfitter is a Carrboro based clothing and accesory compnay founded and run by River Takada-Capel. Practicing an Eco.Eco, ecologically and economically friendly business style. All materials are sound and reclaimed from thrift stores, yardsales and clothing swaps; therefore the products are reasonably priced. Since 2007, River has been remixing stripes with paids, jersey with woven fabric, hand dyeing ans screen printing to create one-of-a-kind statement pieces.
This year's Redress collection will focus on summer dreams sea, presenting RbO.Resort: a mashup of gypsy layers with nautical stripes and simplicity. River hopes to bring a classic yet individual look to the runway which ladies can full from all summer long, be it at music festivals or at the beach. This collection features clothing, bags and jewelry.
Riverbasin Outfitter can be found for sale online at Etsy.com. River also travels around North Carolina to craft shows and festivals. Visit www.riverbasinoutfitters.com for a calendar of upcoming events.
- www.riverbasinoutfitters.etsy.com
- www.riverbasinoutfitters.com
- www.riverbasinoutfitters.blogspot.com
- www.rbo-resort.blogspot.com (inspirational images for the upcoming Redress collection)
LLLavender
My interest in fashion was sparked at an early age, watching "Style with Elsa Klensch" every Saturday morning with my mom. When I was 8, I spent a week with my grandmother learning the basics of sewing. Throughout my youth I continued my progression, designing my own clothes and building a unique set of sewing techniques based upon rudimentary skill and experimentation. After graduating with a degree in marketing, I started LLLavender© in 2002.
Over the years, I have become increasingly conscious of my own waste and that of the fashion industry. While this consciousness has certainly influenced my production methods, it has also tremendously influenced my creativity. Some of my best ideas have evolved from an effort to find uses for every last scrap.
The material focus for this line will be a construction of garments made solely from the leftovers of manufacturing excess and mishaps.
The LLL Hoodies© are reconstructed out of irregular/imperfect product from a local sweatshirt manufacturer. All the fabrics have been purchased from textile jobbers selling manufacturer's surplus.
Contact: Lauren@LLLavender.com
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