Huffington Post?!?

We've got some serious street cred getting mentioned in an amazing article recently posted by the Huffington Post, Where Is the Next Fashion Capitol of the South...I almost missed it (I am just now emerging as a "real person" from newborn baby fog, he's 9 weeks, colicky, and a true terror, but I love him, and I am learning to operate around his crazy schedule), but so thankful for family and friends harassing me the day the article released so I didn't miss it! :)
Where Is the Next Fashion Capitol of the South by Ada Polla is a great article that highlights some designers who are making New Orleans stand out amongst other southern cities vying for the esteemed title of "fashion capitol of the south." (we've got in in the bag if you ask me ;) )
It is an IMMENSE honor to even be mentioned alongside these designers, especially Suzanne Perron, who is my mentor and whom I was privileged to work for and study under during and after my Masters program at LSU.  We also love being mentioned alongside Lisa Iacono, she's doing amazing things to make other designers dreams a reality with her local production facility, NOLA Sewn, as well as producing her own line as well.  Really all the designers are amazing in their own right, and we're just so happy to get a nod.
Thank you so much to Andi Eaton (now Andi Eaton Nickens, her new married name, congrats!) and obviously thank you to Ada Polla and the Huffington post for the acknowledgement of the talent that is emerging in our fabulous city!
Really, words cannot describe how honored we are at the Design Lab...I just hope we can continue to live up to the hype and MORE ;)
Stay tuned for our Fall Lookbook and store launch (online and available at exclusive retail locations)

LOVE THE PRESS!

 

First off, I'm sorry for the hiatus, I'm totally lost in a newborn baby fog, and I'm doing my best to sift my way out of it, slowly but surely...
The response to the show has been incredible and we're so grateful and proud of so many things; we provided a little sneak peek above of le Sacré Coeur Collection by the Design Lab which walked the runway at NOLA Fashion Week on March 22nd.

One of our favorite acknowledgements was from Southern Living, they featured an amazing article by Stephanie Granada:

Is NOLA the South’s Next Fashion Capital?

Please check out the link to the article above! We're so honored to be included and to be mentioned alongside great local designers such as Suzanne Perron, Andi Eaton, Nola Sewn/Lisa Iacono, Porter Lyons (Ashley Porter), and Bats on Tees (Tiffany Napper)

Another favorite press story was featured in the New Orleans Advocate, 

Designs on Fashion by Steven Forster

What we're really excited about is releasing our full runway show courtesy of photos from Steven Forster, and we're also excited about our Fall Lookbook which we hope to release next week!  Photos above were released by Aaron Henderson of Dent Photography.

On a side note, we're so happy to introduce Marc Gunner Forster into the world, and my husband is chronicling his adventures here, you should definitely check it out and follow...get ready to laugh :)

3 DAYS TIL RUNWAY?!??!

What's it all about?  Take a look at a behind the scenes peek at what went into the Design Lab Fall 2014 le Sacré Coeur Collection ...

Special thanks to Luminetic Media for putting this promo vid together for us, we really hope you enjoy a little glimpse of what goes on over here, and what you can look forward to seeing on the runway Saturday, March 22nd at 5:30pm at the Shops at Canal Place during Nola Fashion Week

Get your tickets to the show and learn more about the organization here

Official Runway Day is Set - Saturday, March 22nd 5:30pm

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Saturday, March 22nd at 5:30 PM the Design Lab Sacré Coeur Collection will be premiering during Nola Fashion Week at the Shops at Canal Place.

Let the countdown begin...just about TWO WEEKS left (and 5 days overdue for a special baby delivery, thank you Gunner, for allowing me to tie up some last minute loose ends!) We're in the zone at this point, getting all our fittings wrapped up this coming week (WE HOPE!)...finalizing hair and make-up, music, shoes, accessories etc...adding the last details to all of our garments - Some of our last minute details include custom embroidery that will adorn several of our pieces...take a look at their beginnings, process, and a few other happenings this past week below...

Just another Thursday at the Design Lab...What to do when you're 2 days overdue for labor and having contractions? Patternmaking and sew-ups, of course!
Kristy thinks I'm crazy...AND probably wants to kill me for putting this pic up of her :) but I had to show off her spider-monkey shoulder yoke ;)



Runnin SERIOUS thread...

beginnings of something magical...come find out what on March 22nd!

We're counting down the days, and we hope you are too!

The full Nola Fashion Week Schedule can be found here; they're still working out some kinks on the site, but individual show tickets should be available soon.  They're $25.00 per show, and the proceeds are going to a great organization that has really stepped up and supported the rapidly growing fashion industry here in New Orleans.

Don't forget to mark your calendars and save the date! Saturday, March 22nd, 5:30pm!

FIRST FITTINGS...MARDI GRAS...AND GUNNER'S DUE DATE!??!

I can never decide what's TOO much to reveal...but OH WELL...take a mini sneak peek at the Design Lab Sacré Coeur Collection and our first fittings

This is when it really starts getting REAL...real scary ;)  We're well on our way now, there's really no turning back at this point (yes, turning back was a contemplation up until this point...seriously!)  In the midst of the Mardi Gras Madness, as usual, ish hit the fan and our embroidery machine decided to collapse (from me running it ragged, no doubt...we've been running serious thread on that thing) Thankfully Dennis from Accurate Sewing came to our rescue, and we're back up and running.  (also had a KILLER muscle strain in my neck that had me walking around like a T-Rex with no neck turning radius and disabled arm movements - Marci knows what I mean...ALSO keeping my legs permanently crossed to prevent a baby from exiting my womb, HIS DUE DATE IS TODAY!! stay put a little longer Gunner!) But what's a good runway show without a little background build-up drama...

Thanks for the tune-up Dennis!

Anyway, enjoy a few sneak peeks of what's in store, we had Joey and Luminetic Media here again for some fitting documentation and more interviews, can't wait to share the footage!  We really appreciate them taking time out to shoot, considering it's MARDI GRAS TIME down here, and most people are out drinking and cutting up...it's nice to know you can count on good people to come through when you need them, so shout out to Luminetic Media and to my models, Taylor Jordan, Dwane Davis, and Nadiya Kahn for being good sports!

We're so in love with our custom fabrics that we created...we can't wait to start adding all the special details and finishes that will really take this collection to the next level.  We're so happy with our exploration into textile design and fabrication, and we can't wait to pursue it even further; It's been a long journey and we're so excited to see everything come together in the next couple weeks!!

Model Dwane Davis...our Lundi-Gras victim :)

Also, it's looking like Saturday, March 22nd is going to be our Runway day during NOLA Fashion Week, so mark your calendars!!!  I'll keep you posted for further details with time and location.  It's possible Gunner will be making his debut on the runway as well...we shall see what shape we're in at that point...Watching these garments walk during our first fittings was incredible, and we cannot wait to see the Design Lab Sacré Coeur Collection take the Runway!

Model Nadiya Kahn, who recently walked during NYFW! We love her and are so honored to have her!!

Taylor has been with us since our very first fashion show...she's our go-to gal, we'll never let her go!!!

Started from the bottom now we're here...

Sneak Peek...come see the real thing during New Orleans Fashion Week, March 15-22nd

In honor of Marcella's FAVORITE Drake song (referring to the title of this post)...just kidding, she despises it, but seriously, she's come such a long way...Is it really possible that this will be Marci's first runway show ever?!  She seems like a seasoned designer to us at this point; she was so ambitious during this whole journey, and it has really paid off! Everyone is going to be so impressed once her designs hit the runway.

She started with such little experience in pattern-making and construction, and her skill set has evolved exponentially!  We know she's talented, but we're still shocked and amazed everytime we see her pieces come to life on the dress forms...we're so excited and proud of her and we cannot WAIT for her to show 3 of her custom designed and executed pieces in the Design Lab Sacre Coeur Collection during New Orleans Fashion Week, March 15-22nd!  (details on specific show date and time TBA)

We also love that we have somewhat documented the journey, so enjoy our homage to Marcella below :)

First Torso Drape 

Converted torso drape into custom design

choosing fabrics for her custom designs

editing her torso pattern

Flat patterning her trouser foundation...

It's in the details...

Started with inspiration, created custom embroidery designs through Embird Software, and we watch our pieces come to life

Each garment that's in our upcoming collection has something unique to offer that you really cannot find anywhere else.  We've talked a lot about our custom printed fabrics (which can be seen in our previous posts), but we're also adding details through custom embroidery.  The 2014 Fall Sacre Coeur Collection by the Design Lab is heavily influenced by the religious iconography that is infused throughout our city's culture, history, art, architecture, and overall presence here in New Orleans.  Images and inspirations of Mary and the Sacred Heart are found throughout the collection through many different details, and we cannot wait to share each and every detail with you during Fashion Week in New Orleans March 15th - 22nd, 2014.  Stay tuned, we'll be fitting models all this week, so we should have some great posts and images very soon!