Category — Designer Dish

FFB: Who is Neha Chhabra?
Neha: An Indian American designer and entrepreneur whose passion was found through travel and family history. Neha Chhabra was born in the entertainment capital of India, Mumbai and raised in the sunny beaches of Southern California. At an early age Neha was exposed to the production of luxurious fabrics through her family business. Soon after apprenticing at her husbands’ fourth generation textile business, the Chhabra fashion houses of Delhi. Neha decided to combine her passion for design and textiles and began to design her label SURIA.

FFB: Describe your collection and what it entails.  
Neha: Our collection consists of luxurious fabrics like chiffon, silk, chanderi cotton (only found in India), crepe and different types of embroidery techniques that are unique and inspired by India. All these elements are added to flowing kaftans, fashion forward cocktail dresses and contemporary ready to wear Indian inspired clothing.  The collection features simplistic embellished dresses, vests, tunics and kaftans. The colors,  prints and beading make every single piece in this collection a must have statement piece, giving an outfit a whole new meaning!

FFB: I think handmade designs have a more personable quality as opposed to factory made designs. What is your opinion and does it have an effect on the craftsmanship?
Neha: Each of our pieces is handmade by artisans in India. It is a very intricate process so it’s impossible to mass produce quality clothing. Machines aren’t able to do complicated types of stitches as well as work with bead and stones the way an artesian can. Most pieces that are handmade can never be reproduced exactly the same and that is what makes it so special and beautiful.

FFB: Describe your brand SURIA in three words.
Neha: Inspired. Eclectic. Edgy.

FFB: I find it so interesting that you use 14th century techniques to perfectly execute your designs in its mostproper form. How has this technique helped you in achieving the amount of success that you have gained to date?  
Neha: The artisans are the visionaries of embroidery design.  We work with them by creating a small production which helps in keeping costs lower. By keeping production lower we produce quality embroideries and techniques such as chikan and zardozi into our collection that are meticulously done by hand and add them to contemporary silhouettes. We feel like we’ve achieved great success by being able to work closely with the artisans and help them better their lives by giving them work they enjoy and love doing.

FFB: I understand that you were born in Mumbai, India and grew up in Los Angeles, California based on your designs would it be safe to say that you have find a medium in allowing the two cultures to clash in your designs?
Neha: I came to LA when I was 3 years old and frequently visited India with my parents growing up From an early age I always enjoyed purchasing fabrics and jewelry and return back to LA and wear it with my jeans or dresses. When I started Suria, I realized that there were many fashionable women who like to incorporate rare pieces into their everyday wardrobe. India is far more then what it use to be when our parents migrated to the USA 30 years ago. It’s progressive and metropolitan and fashion is translating into that everyday. By using traditional embroideries and incorporating them into contemporary silhouettes.

For more information and to purchase pieces from SURIA, visit the official site by clicking here.

FFB: Who is Joi French?
Joi: I’m an ex-corporate American and former stylist turned designer.  I’m originally from Newark, NJ and Brooklyn, NY.

FFB: Pure EDGE is what we see when we go through the collections from ‘In Pirate we Trust’. How imperative is it in a collection especially in a jewellery line to be bold?
Joi: I think for my line it’s very imperative to be bold because that’s my aesthetic. I look at my line as wearable art, so it’s to be noticed as you walk into a room or down the street. It’s meant to start a conversation.

FFB: Explain the origins of the brand name ‘In Pirate we Trust’.
Joi: That is my overall company name, it means you trust in my brand. The jewelry is specifically called Pirate Romance. I wanted something catchy and also it’s a nod to one of my favorite clothing lines, Romance is Born.

FFB: We believe the pieces in the collection ‘In Pirate we Trust’ scream confidence! How important as a jewellery designer that your collectionhelps a woman exude confidence?
Joi: I think first you have to be a confident woman to wear my collection because it will definitely attract even more attention!

FFB: Explain your collection being inspired by your favourite cartoon JEM.
Joi: JEM was one of my favorite cartoons as a child. I was obsessed with the fashion, the songs, and Asia’s blue hair! I wanted to incorporate those colors, funky-ness, and the idea of transformation (synergy) into the jewelry.

For more information and to shop pieces from the In Pirate We Trust, Pirate Romance collection– visit the official website by clicking here.

FFB: Who is Cynthia Kio?
Cynthia: Cynthia Kio is a fun loving and passionate African designer who manages to incorporate her culture and traditions into her design aesthetics.

FFB: Describe your brand in 3 words?
Cynthia: Elegant, classy and Afrocentric

FFB: How important is it for you as a designer to stay true to your self and keep you designs looking fresh and innovative?
Cynthia: I think that is the first step to being a designer. That is what makes me unique and stand out from other designers.

FFB: Describe your decision to specifically focus on the African culture in regards to your designs.
Cynthia: African Fashion has always been around but there has been this mentality that it has to be made a specific way and the clothes can only been worn to specific African events. My goal with my design is to break out of that box. Moreover, reflecting African culture in my designs gives me a leaway to connect to my heritage.

FFB: We love the intricate patterns and bold colors in your designs. How important do you think this aspect in designing is when you bring out a new collection?
Cynthia: I get most of the inspiration for my collections from these colors and patterns. African fashion is usually represented with bright colors and multiple patterned fabric and working with these is what defines my brand.

FFB: What can we expect from you and your brand in the future?
Cynthia: I intend to spread to other part of the world and have more people appreciating my designs. Expect to see more creativity and better quality designs in the future.

For more information and to purcahse pieces from EMUA, visit the official website by clicking here.

FFB:  Tell us a little about how Kris Nations came to be? What is like working so closely with family?
KN: I have always made jewelry as a hobby – since my teen years. I had made so many pieces, I needed to start selling them, just to feed the hobby. In 2002, I started selling my jewelry to local San Francisco boutiques. They were always selling out and re-ordering. Kim, my sister built an ecommerce website and helped with other parts of the business. Eventually it grew into a business that allowed both of us to quit our day jobs. Now, we design the jewelry together and run the daily operations. A lot of people tell me they could never work with their siblings, but for Kim and I – it’s a great partnership.

FFB: What are your favorite materials to work with?
KN: We love working with metal, and mixing metal with raw stones and other unexpected materials like silk and leather.

FFB: What/ who are your main inspirations for the line?
KN: We are inspired a lot by where we grew up – in the Southwest – Texas and New Mexico. Native American motifs and art inspires a lot of our designs.

FFB: Is there a Kris Nations aesthetic?
KN: Modern Bohemian.

FFB: What are your jewelry staples?
KN: Hoop earrings and bangles, I love stacking some of our friendship style bracelets where we use silks, and leather with our classic stacking hammered bangles.

FFB: What do you wear on a regular basis?
KN: I’m in the jewelry studio every day, plus I live in a beach town, so it’s a pretty casual atmosphere. I wear jeans quite a bit, sweaters and t shirts, boots and moccassins. I like to dress it up with our jewelry.

FFB: Who, ideally, wears your pieces? Who is Kris Nations aiming for?
KN: We have a pretty broad range of jewelry for all types of styles. We have a lot of every day pieces that are popular like our state charm necklaces. People who like to keep things simple, can wear a number of our simple charm necklaces and bracelets. We also have more statement making pieces available for people who like to wear larger, more artful pieces. Our customers really range in age from 18 and up. Our mom is in her 60s and she wears our jewelry all the time.

FFB: What sets Kris Nations apart from the rest?
KN: We have always made our jewelry by hand in our studio in the San Francisco Bay Area. We recently moved to a new studio about 25 min. south of San Francisco- on the coast- in Half Moon Bay, Ca. I’ve noticed with many jewelry businesses – once they hit a certain point of success, they feel forced to start producing overseas, to keep up with demand and make a larger profit margin. We’ve chosen to continue to make everything by hand in our own studio. We love the idea of creating jobs locally, and we have complete control over how things are made and the quality. Everything we make is truly made to order.

FFB: What are your most popular pieces?  Do you have any signature pieces?
KN: Currently, our state necklaces are very popular and we sell a huge variety of bracelets.

FFB: What’s in store for the future?
KN: We have lots of exciting new projects coming up in the next year or 2. For the near future, we hope to create 3 full time jobs.

For more information and to purchase pieces from Kris Nations, visit their official website here.

Most of you in the fashion world probably know Shavonne DeAnn as the first designer to crash New York Fashion week. Unheard of I know, but this bold designer had her own unannouced fashion show outside on the stairs of the Lincoln Center! But Shavonne and her brand are so much more, luckily I got the chance to sit down with her and talk to her about some upcoming things she has planned for her brand.

FFB: Who is Shavonne DeAnn?
Shavonne: Shavonne DeAnn is a young, fun, bold, fearless, and ambitious fashion designer on a pursuit to happiness!

FFB: We understand that you are known to crash NYFW by having your own fashion show on the stairs of the Lincoln Center. How has that helped your brand? Also what brought on such a bold gesture?
Shavonne: Yes, it has really helped because crashing fashion week was something new and fresh that myself or no other people have seen. What brought on the gesture was that I was in the process of designing/making my Fall collection and I wanted to showcase in front of many eyes on a very tight budget. So what better place to have my showcase than the Lincoln Center where there would be fashion bloggers, media, buyers, celebs, etc. Perfect time! I went out there, took a risk and turned my dreams into reality.

FFB: How did you get your start?
Eve: I began designing theatrical headpieces in 2004. I am a formally trained vocalist and at the time I was performing in New York and abroad. Always looking to push the envelope in terms of what I wore on stage, I started designing opulent pieces for my performances.

FFB: What happened in the dream that inspired you to start One Crown In Glory?
Eve: In the dream behind my inspiration to start One Crown In Glory, two feathers were given to me as a gift. They were a brilliant teal and fuchsia. The person who gave them to me in this dream was a dear friend. I believe they were representative of our friendship.”Birds of a feather….”

FFB: What are your favorite materials to use when making accessories?
Eve: Crystal, plumage, silks,leather & metals.

FFB: What are some of your trademark design elements?
Eve: Classic hair wear ( headbands, combs, clips) with juxtaposed design concepts…hardware against plumage and silk ribbons, ladylike toque silhouettes and spikes.

FFB: Who do you design for?   Do you have anyone in particular in mind when designing certain pieces?  Who would like to see wear On Crown In Glory?
Eve: I create for the woman or girl who understands her own individuality. I love the idea of marrying a classic style with a dash of the whimsical. Or setting a delicate glittering piece to it’s opposite. My pieces..creations are for those who choose to think inside & outside of the box in style.

FFB: What are some of your favorite current trends? Do you plan on using any of these trends for One Crown In Glory?
Eve: I take note of trends but I tend to allow my creative intuition to be my compass. But I love to work with bold or soft colors and textures. I would be delighted if each person who wears my designs felt as if each piece were her one crowning glory!

FFB: What’s in store for the future of One Crown In Glory?
Eve: Branching out further into bridal and neck wear accessories and becoming the hair wear and accessory of choice.

To see more and purchase pieces from the One Crown In Glory collection,  visit the official site here or check out their Facebook page!