Well you never know. You constantly question your talent at it. You just sort of have to persevere. Being an artist and a creator, you’re constantly questioning your purpose and reasoning for creating. There’s different parts to the joy of designing. There’s the part of a completion and the realization of an idea that’s very gratifying. It’s the improv of creating it. There’s the mistakes, which are incredibly joyful and exciting, and often lead to the best work. And there’s the experience of seeing a woman and how she feels in a piece of clothing.
Having restraint is a great struggle of mine. Finding, you know, balance – reality versus “surreality” – of creating is always a struggle. Each one has their own struggle for different reasons, whether it’s the editing process, or that you don’t reach the idea that you want to finally reach. We did a collection called “Trinity”. And it went from this section of all white, and this idea of the rarity of the color white, and all the symbolism of all the virginal symbolism, the luxury symbolism of it. And it was quite architectural – white on white. And it went from these shapes in white, which were quite sculptural, into what I call “tribal-like” collections. Sort of this idea of these urban nomads. And then it went into you working within this African theme – this idea of creating more sort of abstracted shapes. These inflatable sort of black, ebony, and floating shapes, and sort of reaching that kind of strength of women was really hard. And continuously within the industry of fashion, trying to empower women is a constant struggle and battle with any collection. It’s much easier to have that connection with the customer and have that experience. But to communicate that artistically in a non-phony way is a great challenge. I think it would be very easy to do a collection about power women, but not in a masculine way. It doesn’t mean a big shoulder . . . that women dressing as men, you know . . . And so that’s, you know . . . It’s a constant, constant striving place. Everybody in our culture has an obsession with new. And so for me, the next step that I think I’ve added is to create validity and to create a test of time.
My creative process is really exploring ideas that I’m interested in at the time. And then intensive research, which can become literal research or abstract in terms of just form, or texture and shape. And then I build on a woman three dimensionally with fabric, and form, and textures, and sewing techniques that I build in my studio. And then I work with my team on sort of building that up into a collection. I treat it in acts in a very theatrical way in terms of the sequence of our collection and our show, and where it starts and where it begins, or does it go in reverse or backwards. It’s like cooking a meal. It’s so varied. I often find my inspiration through play.
Recorded on: 7/31/07
Discuss
Dan Sutera on April 3, 2008, 5:26 AM
Most of our GDP is comprised of consumption by the american people. The average american family's credit card debt is around $10,000. As goes personal financial responsibility, so goes much of our economy.
Denis Sheeran on April 3, 2008, 5:31 AM
Are you saying dsutera, that if we stop spending more than we have, the economy will suffer? This is not sustainable long term.
Emma McNamara on April 3, 2008, 5:41 AM
I think it's perfectly easy for people who have means to talk about financial fitness, but what if you are barely scraping by and cannot save? Also, the credit card industry makes it so easy to spend above one's means in this country, don't you think the credit card industry should be regulated in some way?
John Locke on April 3, 2008, 5:41 AM
Right now, the American people have a negative savings rate—that simply can't continue. We've relied on rising home values and mounting credit card to keep our lifestyles on an upward trajectory. What we really need, like Schwab says, is a total overhaul of how we approach money — and our very understanding of value — so our personal finances contribute to a positive feedback loop for the economy as a whole.
Swedish Chef on April 3, 2008, 5:44 AM
I line up with Denis on this one. You must spend money to make money. That being said, Credit Card debt in this country is a major problem and one solution, I think, is more regulation of the credit card industry. I mean, honestly, has anyone here ever tried to read the contract that comes with a credit card? My point being, I don't think you can totally blame the card-user for racking up debt when card companies switch their interest rate without informing the customer. I know this from experience!
Dan Shalawl on April 3, 2008, 5:46 AM
I had no idea a financial literacy month even existed. I certainly was never trained to handle my finances and it hurt my in my younger years. Particularly my 20s (which I am still in). Would have been nice to have a little guidance in college. That being said, would I have paid attention? Actually, probably!
Jenna Beals on April 3, 2008, 6:30 AM
Am I financially literate if I understand what I am doing wrong, but cannot see a way out? I have huge student loans, work in a "coveted" position in media, share an apartment, don't go out very often, but still go through my entire paycheck each month. I get that I should save, but I don't see how.
Dan Sutera on April 3, 2008, 9:26 AM
Most of our GDP is comprised of consumption by the american people. The average american family’s credit card debt is around $10,000. As goes personal financial responsibility, so goes much of our economy.
Denis Sheeran on April 3, 2008, 9:31 AM
Are you saying dsutera, that if we stop spending more than we have, the economy will suffer? This is not sustainable long term.
Emma McNamara on April 3, 2008, 9:41 AM
I think it’s perfectly easy for people who have means to talk about financial fitness, but what if you are barely scraping by and cannot save? Also, the credit card industry makes it so easy to spend above one’s means in this country, don’t you think the credit card industry should be regulated in some way?
John Locke on April 3, 2008, 9:41 AM
Right now, the American people have a negative savings rate—that simply can’t continue. We’ve relied on rising home values and mounting credit card to keep our lifestyles on an upward trajectory. What we really need, like Schwab says, is a total overhaul of how we approach money — and our very understanding of value — so our personal finances contribute to a positive feedback loop for the economy as a whole.
Swedish Chef on April 3, 2008, 9:44 AM
I line up with Denis on this one. You must spend money to make money. That being said, Credit Card debt in this country is a major problem and one solution, I think, is more regulation of the credit card industry. I mean, honestly, has anyone here ever tried to read the contract that comes with a credit card? My point being, I don’t think you can totally blame the card-user for racking up debt when card companies switch their interest rate without informing the customer. I know this from experience!
Dan Shalawl on April 3, 2008, 9:46 AM
I had no idea a financial literacy month even existed. I certainly was never trained to handle my finances and it hurt my in my younger years. Particularly my 20s (which I am still in). Would have been nice to have a little guidance in college. That being said, would I have paid attention? Actually, probably!
Jenna Beals on April 3, 2008, 10:30 AM
Am I financially literate if I understand what I am doing wrong, but cannot see a way out? I have huge student loans, work in a “coveted” position in media, share an apartment, don’t go out very often, but still go through my entire paycheck each month. I get that I should save, but I don’t see how.
zahara richardson on April 3, 2008, 11:12 AM
It would be good to learn how the average person can learn about personal finance. I'm lucky enough to have been educated from an early age in financial matters and have an MBA—but what about the folks that didn't even graduate from high school?
zahara richardson on April 3, 2008, 3:12 PM
It would be good to learn how the average person can learn about personal finance. I’m lucky enough to have been educated from an early age in financial matters and have an MBA—but what about the folks that didn’t even graduate from high school?
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