5 rising designers on their inspirations and aspirations – Local Couture

Baton Rouge is growing ever more fashion-savvy, and today we’re a city where people relish wearing trendy clothes. Some talented young professionals are designing clothes, too.

Here are some up-and-coming area designers with promising futures in the fashion world, plus a 10-year-old entrepreneur (page 38) who’s not waiting around to start his career.

Lauren Weiner

This 23-year-old Baton Rouge native now lives in Nashville, where she created the designer jewelry line HEAVYmetalbyLW.

Did you study jewelry design?

Designing jewelry came naturally to me. I taught myself by taking old necklaces and earrings apart and then learning how to piece them back together.

What’s unique about your jewelry?

I design my jewelry so that it can be versatile. Every HMbyLW piece is one of a kind. I travel all over the country to find the best and most fabulous vintage and antique treasures.

Do any recording artists wear your jewelry?

Steel Magnolia (a country duo founded by Ponchatoula native Meghan Linsey), Sixpence None the Richer (a Nashville-based rock band) and Edens Edge (a country and bluegrass trio).

You will be participating in New Orleans Fashion Week 2011. Tell us why.

NOLAFW is such an amazing way to bring attention to the amazingly talented designers that we have right here in Louisiana. It’s an honor to be a part of something that supports and brings awareness to local artists in (or from) Louisiana.

Check out her work at heavymetalbylw.blogspot.com

Isabel Varela

An LSU graduate, this 26-year-old created IZAVEL and nearly earned a spot on the hit fashion reality series Project Runway.

How did you come up with name “IZAVEL?”

When I was younger, I would get yelled at by my mother, who would stomp her foot and yell out, “IZAAAVELL!”

How did you get into fashion?

I started styling for movies and styling for fashion shows while at LSU, and I decided that I wanted to see my own designs.

Where did you study fashion?

LSU. I have a bachelor’s degree in textiles, apparel and merchandising, with a minor in business.

What’s unique about your fashion?

All of my designs are very tailored, and I use very high-quality fabric. I draw a lot of inspiration through architecture and geometry; each design has interesting angles. Each piece is tailored to perfection, and I also offer custom (tailoring) for all of my designs.

Your biggest professional accomplishment?

Being a semi-finalist on Project Runway (Season 8) and being asked to be a part of New Orleans Fashion Week 2011.

What was it like interviewing with Tim Gunn?

Intense! I flew to Atlanta and was interviewed by Tim Gunn, Anthony Williams and Elle magazine’s Nina Garcia. Many questions later they expressed much interest in my line and me as a designer. However, as a semi-finalist, I intend to try out again next year and feel confident I could be a finalist for Project Runway Season 9.

See her work at izavel.net

Andi Eaton

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Eaton (33) now lives in Baton Rouge, where she is general manager of the consumer lifestyle group for Paris Parker Salons. She recently launched Andi Eaton Creatives, and she’s one of the three designers who created New Orleans Fashion Week, which will run March 20-26.

What did you study?

Public relations at North Carolina State University.

Why did you decide to launch New Orleans Fashion Week, which takes place next month?

Since moving here I’ve found a deep connection to the energy, creativity, fashion and art emerging from southern Louisiana. The talent is here; it’s a matter of creating a venue to showcase it. It’s a network to bridge the gap between them and the media, buyers, bloggers, influencers and VIPs.

What can fashionistas expect through the week?

From Monday through Thursday, NOLAFW events include a Fendi runway kickoff party at Arthur Roger Gallery, Kids’ Fashion Day at Audubon Zoo, and design, production, styling and marketing workshops for young fashionistas.

Friday and Saturday will be dedicated to two full days of runway shows (at Audubon Park) and large-scale industry parties.

How far back were you into fashion, and how do you feel about the art of fashion?

I discovered early that I have a keen eye for street style and catwalk trends, and I’m obsessed with editorial styling. Like any art form, fashion is intricate, delicate and often intense. It can be quirky or classic, beautifully subtle or avant-garde.

Learn more about New ?Orleans Fashion Week at ?nola-fashionweek.com

Jolie Benson and Sarah Elizabeth Dewey

Benson (27) and Dewey (23) are New Orleans-based dress designers who created the label Jolie & Elizabeth.

Tell us about your work with LSU’s fashion and design students.

We have reached out to several students to assist us in different areas of our company. This past October we invited an LSU textile, apparel and merchandising student to intern with us at Atlanta Market. We will continue to invite students from Baton Rouge to assist us and learn from us in the future. We are also involved with LSU’s fashion program, HEMLINE.

How did you partner up and launch your business?

We met in New York City, where, as luck would have it, I was working in design and merchandising at BCBG, and Sarah Elizabeth became my intern. A year later we both moved back to Louisiana with the desire to design a line and start a company that would manufacture here. After several months of planning and preparing, Jolie & Elizabeth launched in April of 2010.

What type of woman do you design for?

When a woman can feel comfortable, sophisticated and stunning in a garment, that garment becomes a work of art. We cater to women of all ages and women from all over the country.

Your biggest accomplishments?

Our dresses have been featured twice in Daily Candy’s New York edition—once for our Summer Collection and once for our Holiday Dress Collection. As far as celebrities go, Scarlett Johansson is a fan of our super-comfy Heart Nola tees. And one of our most recent accomplishments was an invitation to show at New Orleans Fashion Week this March.

What can people expect to see on the runway from Jolie & Elizabeth?

Within our line we have two main categories, Upperline and Lowerline. Upperline is our proper-with-pearls girl, and Lowerline is our more boho, free-spirited girl, so we design a wider range of pieces to fit whatever you feel. We’re known best for our dresses, so you’ll see a lot of fun, feminine, fashion-forward dresses, and lately we’ve been inspired by Grace Kelly—her confident style, particularly in To Catch a Thief.

Check out their collections at jolieandelizabeth.com.

The next generation?

Kyler Doutrive isn’t waiting around to begin a career in apparel; this 10-year-old entrepreneur already makes and sells a T-shirt of his own design.

A third-grade student at Belfair Magnet Academy, the precocious retailer sells Skayte By: Kyler D t-shirts via the Web site skayte.com, where he’s sold a few dozen.

Kyler is a skateboard enthusiast who loves to draw, and his first design reflects his passion.

Kyler has the support of friends and family, but it’s his mom Cosha Hayes who helps run his fledgling business. He also gets occasional input with designs from his 6-year-old brother Kaleb, who came up with an idea for a children’s comic book called “Funny Chaps” that Kyler is illustrating.

Although she has a budding businessman on her hands, Hayes says school is top priority. “Kyler is constantly reminded that school comes first,” she says. “His education is something that will not be affected by his new venture.”

Hayes, who works in social service, set up Bran Nue Productions, the parent company of Skayte By: Kyler D. “Since Kyler is so young, the managing of Skayte is done by me,” Hayes explains. “But he has control of his designs and is involved in the process of where this is going. Kyler wants to show children in his area that you are never too young to have dreams and aspirations and make it happen. He wants to encourage kids to follow their dreams and never give up. You never know what you might accomplish unless you try. A person’s age should not make a difference.”

“This is Kyler’s dream,” she adds. “I am only here to help him make it come true.”

skayte.com