Q&A: Jess Rizzuti

I'm always hearing about new designers through various PR agencies, and this one caught my attention. Her name is Jess Rizzuti. She's an emerging New York handbag designer with an innovative approach to textiles. I really enjoy the unique structure and variance within her collection. This season, she created a sustainable chic cork handbag that is both stylish and feminine. From wine bottle to hand bag -- I love it!

Darrah: Why did you start designing?

Jess: I remember loving fashion and accessories at a very young age, and ever since then it has been a source of inspiration. In college I majored in Textiles, which then led me to pursue a business in fashion.

Darrah: What goes into making a handbag?

Jess: It all starts with the inspiration where I’ll do a series of drawings and then pick one design to go with. From there, I create the technical patterns, source materials, while trying to keep the cost in mind. I like to do as much as I can myself to insure that the whole process is very personal and speaks of me. It’s always great to see an initial come to fruition and turn raw materials into a finished product.

Darrah: What's your favorite material to use for handbags? What's your least favorite?

Jess: Typically my favorite material to use is leather. But lately I’ve found some really innovative eco-friendly materials like Cork which I plan to continually explore. I don’t use fur in any of my designs, for various reasons.

Darrah: I noticed you design a lot of clutches. Do you prefer them over bigger handbags?

Jess: I carry a large bag daily as it holds everything that I could possibly need. But I’ve noticed a real interest in smaller bags, so it was important for me to create something small that could accommodate a women’s essentials.

Darrah: What are 5 essentials every woman must have in her purse?

Jess: Lip gloss, sketchbook/notebook, phone with a camera, hair pins, and a piece of jewelry or accessory that can take a look from day to night.

Darrah: Do you think it's okay for men to have "man purses"?

Jess: It definitely depends on the man, and on the purse. The “murse” should definitely suit the person who carries it. If it’s done well, I think it’s okay.

Darrah: What makes your collection standout from the crowd?

Jess: My work really reflects my textile background in the pairing of materials and textures. I like to have things custom died, embossed, and really personalize my materials. I also like to emphasize the interior where I always use colors and prints that compliment the exterior. To me, it’s important that the inside of the bag be as beautiful as the outside.

Darrah: How many handbags, purses, clutches, etc do you have in your closet right now?

Jess: I can’t really put a number on that. But I will say that since I’ve started my own line, I have brought a lot of bags to consignment stores -- except for a few favorites.

Darrah: How does your collection merge fashion and art?

Jess: My collection really reflects my surroundings. I’m intrigued by architecture, travel, and nature while I also like drawing inspiration for color by the use of it in paintings. It’s a mix of all these things plus the beautiful craftsmanship, which is an art form in itself.

Darrah: Do you think a woman should have a token purse she wears every day or have a new one for each outfit?

Jess: I think it’s great for women to buy versatile bags, so they could in fact go with every outfit. But I like when accessories also change, compliment an outfit, and create an entirely new look.

Darrah: What's your opinion on fanny packs?

Jess: It’s hard to take them seriously. I like them in theory.

Darrah: Where do you see the fashion industry going?

Jess: Well you can see that the industry has been seriously been affected by the appeal of “going green” and I think it’s great. I’m sure it will continue and that we will be amazed by the type of things that can be made by eco-friendly materials.

Darrah: Who is your favorite handbag designer?

Jess: It’s hard to just choose one. I’ve always admired the work at Valentino and Bottega Veneta.

Darrah: What's your next step?

Jess: I will continue to build on what I have established thus far and create new designs. Someday I hope to have my brand expand to include shoes, luggage, men’s leather goods, and apparel. I’m always thinking about new ideas and what to do next. But for now, it’s one thing at a time.

If you'd like to see more, please visit her website at JessRizzuti.com.

Q&A: Sarah Harris

I know you're all excited about Seattle Fashion Week! Tomorrow is the Emerging and Independent Designer show at WAMU Theater. I can't wait to see all the local talent showcasing their best work! One of the designers who will be showing tomorrow is Sarah Harris. Her line is called Cocoa Couture. She has a great aesthetic and unique perspective on fashion. Sarah is truly a breath of fresh air, and I had a wonderful time getting to know her as a designer.

Darrah: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Sarah: Sure – I am from Long Island, New York. I combined an Art degree with Archaeology, and Computer Applications at the State University of New York in Cortland. I started out as an archaeological illustrator. It’s a nomadic lifestyle and decided after a couple years it wasn’t what I wanted in the long run if I was to have a relationship, etc. I moved here afterwards and have lived here since. I am 31 now.

Darrah: What made you want to become a designer?

Sarah: I came to a crossroads shortly after moving here, and a friend asked me, “What can’t you live without?...then check off the list.” Making clothes and drawing were my top two. It was then that I realized my passion for fashion, drawing, and all the elements behind the process of designing a garment and later a line. I had been sewing my own clothes since I was five. I walk into a fabric store and feel as you can imagine Audrey Hepburn’s character at Tiffany’s in “Breakfast At Tiffany’s”. I started out making bridal wear for friends which eventually evolved into Cocoa Couture: more day-to-night dresses and special occasion.

Darrah: Your website mentions something about bridging the gap between fashion and art. What makes your collection stand out as art, and how do you define "art"?

Sarah: Hhhmmm, I think trying to define art is like defining what water is. It can be defined by stating it’s basic chemical properties; however, it doesn’t describe the frothy white caps on the ocean waves, the placid reflection it gives off a mountain lake, or that it sustains life. Art is personal and creates a mood. It is what the viewer brings to it, and is the reflection of a creative process. I like to design garments that inspire, create a mood, and are personal to the woman wearing them. I think the artistic approach transforms a garment from a fashion item to something personal and therefore, more enjoyable to wear.

Darrah: I noticed that your collection is all sewn by hand. Why that route?

Sarah: Haha, because I lack the financial means to have them produced otherwise.

Darrah: What's your opinion on eco-friendly fabrics?

Sarah: I have worked with eco-friendly fabrics over the years, bamboo being my favorite. I don’t choose to use it as a selling point because I don’t only use eco-friendly. I am excited to see the growth of the technological development behind these fabrics transition into different blends with more sophisticated qualities (such as drape, etc.) in the near future.

Darrah: How do you create those beautiful appliqués on some of your outfits?

Sarah: The appliqués are cut out from a fabric and has been re-appliquéd in an alternative way.

Darrah: Why did you want to show at Seattle Fashion Week?

Sarah: I am thankful for the opportunity to show at Seattle Fashion Week. It is and has been a fantastic experience so far and I am learning a great deal. I hope to get my work out to the public eye, facilitate possibilities to sell, and potentially be picked up as designer for a larger company if the opportunity presents itself.

Darrah: Who is your favorite designer?

Sarah: Oh, there are so many and it would be a dream come true to work with any one of them…a few are:John Galliano, Kate and Laura Mulleavy (from RADARTE), Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby (from Boudicca), House of Balenciaga, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino, the late Alexander McQueen…

Darrah: If you had to make something out of newspaper what would it be?

Sarah: Well, does paper Mache count? Last year, the Seattle Art Museum sponsored a challenge for designers to create up to five masquerade costumes inspired by specific artwork in the museum. I made two costumes - one was partially inspired by a plaster sculpture by Jean Arp. I created a paper Mache sculpture that fit around a model. It was flexible enough that she could get in and out of it like a regular garment. It was my first time doing this process and was so inspired that I diffidently want to do it again - it has so much potential.

You can check out more of Sarah's work on her website Cocoa Couture. She will be showing in Seattle Fashion Week's Emerging and Independent Designer show on Thursday at the WAMU Theater.