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 :)

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!

Forward Progress...and more SNEAK PEEKS

a little background/behind the scenes work...

 

work in progress...but things are moving right along...

More custom fabric detailing combined with our custom prints here at the Design Lab.  We're hoping things can keep progressing (on the design side, not on the baby delivery side!) as we get closer to Fashion Week which starts March 15th here in New Orleans.  We also have some great promotional video additions in the works courtesy of Luminetic Media, so stay tuned for big updates...hopefully not big embarrassments...talking is harder than it looks ;) !

 

                         

Art Show Exhibit

Had so much fun displaying a piece at the N.O.N. Gallery Design Art Showcase.  The garment isn't 100% finished...but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to display next to some very talented artists and an eager audience.  The showcase was intended to display different genres of art and each design process from start to finish of production.  I tried my best to give a glimpse into what goes into each garment design process...inspiration, rough sketches, patternmaking, fabric design, pattern placement, construction, and finishing...to name a few of the key components - the last image is how Ayo Scott displayed all the different pieces at the Gallery; couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

inspiration: religious iconography - this print is found hidden in the fabric

 

inspiration: religious iconography - this print is found hidden in the fabric

Fabric manipulation: creating a perforated vegan leather for the panels

Fabric manipulation: creating a perforated vegan leather for the panels

pattern/print placement: figuring out what part of the textile to feature within the pattern pieces

embroidered details

embroidered details for accent

"final" product!

On display at the N.O.N. Gallery - loved how Ayo Scott curated the entire event!

Upcoming Art Show

Have the privilege of calling New Orleans artist, Ayo Scott, a great friend.  He has an upcoming show, and he asked if I'd be interested in showing a garment.  I told him I'd be crazy to say yes right now, so of course, I said YES...

This exhibit will show the relationships between ART and DESIGN. Its focus is centered around demystifying the processes of art / design creation and highlighting the work of Design Media (a fresh young design firm based in New Orleans). The show will display graphic design, product design, furniture design, fashion design, painting, photography, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and an installation curated by Carl Joe Williams and Ayo Scott, and a spoken word performances curated by Gian Francisco Smith.

I'm busting it even harder in the studio to try and get a new piece together to show this Saturday, February 8th at 6pm at the Joan Mitchell Center (1000 N. Rampart, NOLA).  Link to the event on Facebook and more about the artists involved can be found here.

Still TBD what piece I'll be showing...but hoping to show a piece from the upcoming "Sacre Coeur" Collection by the Design Lab (which will be officially unveiled during New Orleans Fashion Week in March)...fingers crossed...I'll attempt to post progress/updates before the show...

FABRIC EXPLOSION...(in a good way)

ok ok ok...I know I seem excited 24-7, but I swear that's not the case...this is GENUINE EXCITEMENT Y'ALL...trust me, most of the time I'm pulling my hair out in distress, but in this instance no hair has been lost...yet...WE GOT OUR FABRICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is most definitely extended Christmas like feeling when we receive fabrics over here, but when it's a custom design that you've slaved over and waited forever for, it's like Christmas on crack or something...hard to describe, but in a good way (and let it be known we are not condoning the use of crack, especially on Christmas, but I digress, WE'RE EXCITED)!!

We had planned on using local printer, Blissett Textiles for our entire order, but she's been having some issues with her machine, and while we'd love to stay local (New Orleans local) we ended up outsourcing to North Carolina, and we couldn't be happier with our Spoonflower creations (and glad to stay domestic)!  While they weren't our first choice, they were AMAZINGLY helpful throughout the entire process, GREAT customer service, and a good fabric selection for such short notice (we were able to remain organic and eco-friendly, which we were very happy about).  Special shout out to Emma over there at Spoonflower, I know I was one annoying customer ;) thanks for putting up with me

We still plan on having some fabrics locally printed, just not all of them, unfortunately we needed to get started ASAP, so we had to do a majority through Spoonflower, but we're still so happy to use Camilla and Blissett Textiles also :)

Loving our new tech!

So I know I've already raved about the Dell Inspiron 23, but it's just making design life SO much easier and so much more FUN...

When dealing with incorporating custom prints into a collection, there's A LOT of unseen work...using Adobe Illustrator is a key tool that has helped us to narrow down print selection and placement for specific pattern pieces.  Once again, I hope I'm not giving too much away with our images below...but we're having a lot of fun with this collection...just hoping we can get it all done in about 3-4 weeks (insert crazy face)...enjoy some preliminary roughs/thoughts below

the SACRED collection - Sneak Preview....

We're so excited here at theDesignLab to launch our Prefall 2014 "Sacred" Collection.  We still have A LOT of work to do in order to actually show during New Orleans Fashion Week, BUT, we feel confident we can pull it off (despite a LOT of obstacles that are presenting themselves...but as fellow designer and friend Lisa Iacono recently told me, "that's the story of our lives in this biz!" so I guess I better get used to setbacks, it's not just me!)

Waiting for our fabrics to come back from the printer and we're super excited, so we decided to share a few previews...these aren't to scale, and they're kinda lackluster viewed so small, but we didn't want to give away TOO much, so here goes nothing (or everything)...fingers crossed they come back from the printer and we love them...excited to share and hope you enjoy...going from illustrator on to a body is always a huge guessing game, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.  Anyway, enjoy your sneak peak of a few SACRED prints from our 2014 Prefall Sacred Collection by the Design Lab...

Prepping Marcella

deep thoughts...by Marcella Perino ;)

Piggy-backing off one of my last posts, we're so excited to launch Marcella Perino's first capsule collection under the Design Lab label!  Pictured above is a small glimpse into some runway collection preparation - from sketch, to fabric swatch selection, to print selection, to required yardage, and much more thought and time that goes into runway prep!  Marcella has come such a long way here at the Design Lab...below are some progress pics of her learnings and progress toward her first capsule collection which can be seen during New Orleans Fashion Week in March 2014!

drafting her first trouser pattern!

first attempt at a trouser, not too shabby...this pic is PRE-edits

Torso drafting and sew-up

a Marcella Perino original, from sketch to dress form :)