Category — Designer Dish

British fashion designer Misha Vaidya premiered her Fall 2012 collection, “Crown Jewels” at NYFW week this past February, and as usual Fashion for Breakfast was there to catch up with the designer to talk about her collection and her experience at NYFW.

FFB: Who is Misha Vaidya?
Misha: I could answer this question in two ways. To give you a more in depth description, I’m 23 years old. I’m British; born and brought up in London, England. After crossing the pond, I graduated with a Bachelors in Fashion Design at the age of 19. I also went on to obtain a Masters in Public Relations from the University of Miami at the age of 21. I launched my first By Misha collection, ‘Tea Time’ last year at Miami Fashion Week. This year, I had the pleasure of showcasing my second collection ‘Crown Jewels’ in New York Fashion Week. My second response would be…Still the little girl who believes in fairy tales.

FFB: How was your experience at NYFW?
Misha: It was an amazing experience. I was delighted with the enthusiastic response that I received. It was both pleasure and privilege to be supported by such experienced and talented teams, which helped to share the story as well as the collection.

FFB: Bold cuts, striking silhouettes, and beautiful bold colors…what inspired this look?
Misha: Many people want to fit-in; I’m inspired and designing for those who want to stand out! I have always believed that fashion should be an extension of one’s personality, a form of expression. When designing Crown Jewels I was drawn to silhouettes where I felt prettiness trumped quirkiness and sophistication prevailed over trend conformation. As for the bold shades, it’s an Autumn/Winter collection. If the sun isn’t going to make an appearance; we have to take matters into our own hands!

 
FFB: Describe your collection in 3 words.
Misha: Enchanting. Romantic. Empowering.

FFB: Where did you draw your inspiration for your collection– “Crown Jewels”?
Misha: A time of extraordinary adventure, romance and courtly manner. My inspiration came from those moments in history and our favorite tales, where secret smiles and an enchanting charm were the very essence of captivation. The concept of a brief encounter turning into the love of a lifetime. When armored knights and worthy suitors tried their hand at winning the love of beautiful women; the Crown Jewels.

FFB: We loved the mix of beautiful gowns, party dresses, and elegant pant suits. How important is it to create a collection that embodies a woman?
Misha: Thank you! I’m so glad you like the mix of pieces. Creating a collection that represents the woman is not only important to me; it’s the By Misha mission. Part of the beauty in designing is the ability to develop something that not only appeals to the woman, but helps tell her story without needing to speak one word. The By Misha brand prides itself on creating effortless combinations of modern sophistication and timeless elegance.

FFB: We also loved the use of jewels in the collection. You managed to find a great balance of using embellishments without it overpowering the entire collection. How did you do this?
Misha: “Crown Jewels” isn’t just a name, it’s a tale. Not only is it about the richness and sparkle associated with the jewels, but it’s also about the history, elegance and discretion of the woman behind the crown. I tried my best to relay that thought by fusing jewel tones and embellished silks with more understated fabrics. To tie the whole collection together, I decided to use jewels in the crowns, which I had so much fun making!

By Misha NY Fashion Week A/W 2012-13 presentation. Behind the scenes look of the show prep and experience the Crown Jewels.

FFB: We absolutely love the concept of LOVEBULLETS and everything it stands for. Can you explain a little bit about the origins of the name and what you guys do as a company and organization?
LoveBullets: We are a creative house that innovates with artillery and items of war. We transform negative imagery into works of art and fashion accessories to send out a positive message of peace, love and unity. We launched at Glastonbury 2008 with an army tank that we turned into a DJ booth and had a series of parties; this probably explains our hippie values! We work closely with a great charity called War Child and donate a percentage of the products sold on our website to them and also involve them in our events, which hopefully helps to raise awareness for the inspirational work they do with children in war torn areas around the World. The name LOVEBULLETS is descriptive of our core product – the Love Bullet pendant – and also represents the paradoxical nature of what we do. We hope that the Love can override the Bullet and become a Love Bullet just like the positive overrides the negative in our work.

FFB: How has LOVEBULLETS incorporated fashion into their movement?
LoveBullets: Martin, our creative director is a fashion designer, he studied fashion print at Central St Martin’s before working at several different fashion houses and finally set off to conceptualize LOVEBULLETS. Fashion has always been at the forefront of everything we have ever done so it when we started at Glastonbury the Original Love Bullet pendant was a very important part of spreading the message. We have recently gone seasonal with our lines and are developing at a fast pace, the fashion element is really coming to life which we are really excited about

FFB: How important do you think fashion is in getting poignant messages of topics surrounding world issues across?
LoveBullets: We are living in times where information is readily available and people are more aware and conscious of World issues than ever before. Fashion is about how a person perceives his/herself and those around them, therefore fashion plays a major role in spreading any message, trends spread like wild fire across the globe so if a trend has a message it will be heard by the masses. With LOVEBULLETS we want to give people the opportunity to make a statement: to send a strong positive message that is also fashionable and cool.  We have veered away from slogans that can become a fad and by going seasonal and constantly innovating; the message of peace, love and unity can be continuously re-generated in waves.

FFB: Explain the design of the ‘Original Maxi Love Bullet’ pendant. What was it like having celebrities like Lily Allen and Cheryl Cole wearing the pendant?
LoveBullets: The Original Maxi Love Bullet Pendant is a bullet shell adorned with a red Swarovski crystal. The design is simple, clean and not too bling. The red crystal symbolizes the parting of the bullet tip from the shell and is a mental magnet, therefore by wearing a Love Bullet you are mentally pulling back the parted bullet towards its shell and reversing any negative effect it may have. It was amazing to see the great reaction of such high profile and influential people, the Original Pendant really became the symbol of UK festival culture and continues to strike a chord with the fashionable forward thinking festival goer.

FFB: How have your pendants changed in the design from the original launch?
LoveBullets: We have really come a long way since our Original launch. The ORIGINAL collection is Unisex, with the more recent collections we have designed pieces specifically for men and women as well as keeping some pieces unisex. Last season we developed ‘Amo Ammo’, incorporating shapes from our high end art work for example the Maxi Mortar Bomb, which is from the Love Bomb art work. This season we have developed a new line which is much bigger and more daring! The collection will remain a mystery until a later date but we can reveal that we have added more bracelets and big chunky statement edgy pieces The collections continue to have hidden meanings and depths which is how each line is developed.

To see more from LOVEBULLETS collection, visit their official website by clicking here.

Meet Mia Jafari — an incredibly talented London based designer who captures your attention instantly with her flawless infusion of bright colors and intricate digital prints into each of her collections. Jafari has recently launched her latest (and third) collection for F/W 2012 which is entitled, Oisea de Paradis.

18 year old accessories designer, Yumnah Najah wearing her own designs..

FFB: What motivated you to start your own jewelry brand?
Yumnah: I started painting again during my last year in high school, and during that same time I was looking for bold and unique accessories to add something different to my outfits. I had this image in my head of the kind of jewelry that I wanted and I couldn’t find any thing to match the vision. That’s when I decided to merge my love for painting with my love for accessories. First, I started painting pieces inspired by paintings that I’d done in the past, and then I started to really let my creativity run free and in November 2010 I launched the first collection.

FFB:  When you’re designing new pieces, what’s the concept and design process like?
Yumnah: The design process would happen very spontaneously because I get inspiration from everywhere! I can be outside looking at a flower or in a bookstore looking at a book cover and I’ll get an inspiration for a color scheme or a pattern. With the most recent Spring collection I focused in on two major influences and designed a collection featuring different interpretations of those inspirations. With those two concepts in mind I just sat down in my art room and started playing with different colors and let my hands just have fun :)

FFB:  We see that everything in your line is 100% hand painted. What made you decide to handcraft each piece yourself? Do you think this sets your brand apart?
Yumnah: I think its so important for every woman to own a piece in her fashion collection, whether it be jewelry or clothing, that is truly one of a kind and that no one else will have.  With each piece being hand painted, every piece that goes out is created differently. Even if someone orders the same design, the nature of the work is that the strokes and textures will be different. Every piece that goes out is as unique and different as the person who will wear it, and that sets my jewelry apart. I want the women to feel like they are wearing a piece of jewelry that is as special and intricately crafted as they are.

FFB: Tell us about your latest spring collection. What can we expect to see and wear?
Yumnah: The latest spring collection was so much fun to work on! I always have so many ideas and inspirations on a daily basis and it was nice for me to focus on a few at once and let each piece be a different representation of those inspirations. This spring collection was inspired by the bold and whimsical fashion and patterns of the 70s as well as the grid style paintings of artist Piet Mondrian, whose influence you’ll see in a lot of the necklaces and rings.  You can also see a lot more beading in different styles on a few different necklaces and earrings.

FFB: What is your favorite accessory to wear and why?
Yumnah: I love statement pieces. Whether the statement is being made with a pair of over-sized stud earrings or a bright cocktail ring. Recently, I’ve been wearing a lot of statement beaded necklaces from the Spring collection. They’re the perfect piece to pair with an already fun outfit or add some pop to a casual one.

FFB: What materials do you most enjoy working with?
Yumnah: …Paint! I know that’s the expected answer, but I love working with both acrylic and watercolor paints. The colors, patterns and different designs I can come up with are limitless. I have so much fun when I’m working on a new piece with no concept before hand and I just let my hands guide me..at the end when the piece is done its amazing to see what I’ve created with such a simple material.

FFB: What’s next for Yumnah Najah – the person and the brand?
Yumnah: There are so many things in the works and I’m so excited to see what comes of it all! Right now, I am excited about the Yumnah Najah line continuing to grow and be recognized as a brand that represents elegance, creativity and individuality. I want to continue to inspire young people through my line to know that no matter what field you’re in, you’re never too young to start working towards your dreams.

To purchase pieces from Yumnah Najah’s latest collection, visit her official website by clicking here.

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 it easily translates into having something unique and wearable. This has allowed me to combine two cultures I’ve grown up with into something everyone can incorporate into their everyday lives.

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.