Fashion News Blog: interviews

Showing posts with label interviews. Show all posts

Friday, October 26, 2007

THE JUICE: EBONY QUITS TOP MODEL?

EBONY SAYS PEACE OUT ANTM.

Okay, i'm pretty sure all of my fellow ANTM addicts know what happened on last night's episode. Well, I was in the dark about who got the ax until a few minutes ago (I didnt get a chance to watch the TIVO'd episode - blame homework for that one!) And I learned this: On last night's ANTM episode Ebony Morgan decided to drop out of the competition. She ended up in the bottom two with Ambreal and Tyra chose to keep Ebony in the competition. However, after weeks of being picked apart in panel and being classifed as a "diva", Ebony made up in her mind that reality tv wasn't for her and she packed her bags. Oh boy, I must say I didn't see it coming even though Ebony wasn't one of my faves.

EXCLUSIVE POST SHOW INTERVIEW FROM BET.COM
Interview by : Stacy Gilliam, Bet.com contributing writer

No need to worry about Ebony Morgan. The 20-year-old Chicagoan is giggling today, and sounding hopeful about her future since calling it quits on "America's Next Top Model." How could she, you ask? Morgan gives us the deal, and shares more about herself than you got to see in this post-show interview.

That took real courage for you to leave the show the way you did. Do you have any regrets?
I don't really regret much of anything that I've done in my life. Reality TV isn't for everyone. It wasn't for me, so I decided to stay true and real to myself. That's what was right for me.

What are your career aspirations now?
I am a nursing student at Chicago State University. I'm in my 2nd year. I'm really excited about that. I'm still interested in modeling, but I don't know if I want to make a career out of it. If any opportunities are thrown to me than I'm defiintley going to go for it. I'm just not for reality TV shows.

What did you take away from the show?
I learned that family is so important. Before I left home, I was the most shallow, materitalistic person I knew. On the show, I was in a $15 million house in Beverly Hills, and I wasnt' happy. All I could think of was my family. I've learned that family is so important.

Do you think the editing of the show presented you in a truthful way?
I was more myself in the house than at panel. I was never comfortable on panel and I don't know why. I couldn't relax. I came off as cold and non-chalant. Or, as they said, "attitudish." When I watch the show, [my actions] are screaming out nervousness. The only time we saw Tyra was at panel. So when she saw me, I was nervous and fidgety.

Did you keep the Naomi Campbell weave?
Hahaha. No, I took that out. I put on my Tyra weave.

Your hair looked nice before the makeover.
That was a wig. I love my lace fronts.

Do you agree with Tyra and the judges that you have trouble handling criticism?
If the criticism was constructive, I would have handled it differently. It wasn't constructive. I felt like I was being attacked sometimes. After they'd say one good thing, there were 10 negative things after. I'm not used to being criticized, so it was dififcult. Also, when I'm down, I call my dad or my sister and I'm back up. I wasn't able to do that on the show.

Which photo shoot did you like most?
When I was the bird of paradise, with the paint. That was a lot of fun. The makeup artists were awesome. They were so creative.

What was Tyson Beckford like?
He was soo hot. I really wanted to meet him. When he came, I was making toast and I turned around he was there and and I screamed! He's cute, and he's really nice, too.

Which of the girls did you like most in the house?
Lisa and I were the closest. I liked Janet, too. Heather was pretty cool. All of the girls were wonderful.

Who did you like least?
There's no one that I disliked. During the semi-finals, Bianca and I went head to head. But in the house, we were all very cool.

Who do you think has the best chance of winning?
No one in particular. I think all the girls are wonderful. They all have great potential. To the girls, that don't win, I wish them well.

What style/fashionable clothes do you like to see on a man?
I love that Kanye West look. Button-up shirt, jeans not too baggy. It's like the intelligent, urban look. I also like a guy with really broad shoulders. I'm really into the football players. (Particularly, Adewale Ogunleye of the Chicago Bears, she says)

What advice do you have for aspiring models?
Stay in school, and keep your education first. Modeling is a fun career, but it can only last but so long. You should always have something to fall back on.

What was the best part of being on the show?
Being in a $15 million mansion in Beverly Hills. There were electronic curtains! They'd open up and close at a certain time.

Do you have a favorite Top Model?
I love Eva. She is just so fabulous to me. She's my favorite Top Model winner.

What do you want viewers to know about you?
That I am really sweet person. That I am not a quitter, but a person who realized that reality TV wasn't for me. I'm ambitious and a go-getter.

Friday, September 28, 2007

DESIGNER DISH OF THE WEEK: EART DZINE !

Mai - Creator & Designer of Eart Dzine

Accessories! I love them.

They are the backbone & the essentials to making any outfit, POP! My favorite type of accessories are earrings. I've gone through at least hundreds of pairs. I just love finding a quirky, unique pair that most people wouldn't think about wearing! Hey, I think style should be unique, and I love being exclusive! And you know what's even better than finding a pair of unique earrings in a local shop? It's having a pair custom made for you with your own ideas ! How fantabulous is that? I had the pleasure of interviewing a jewelry designer who does just that. She comes straight from the hotttt MIA (Miami) and her one of a kind earrings are as equally on fire! She goes by Mai and she's definitely got talent! If you take a look at her picture above, she made those earrings. Yes, you are not being fooled! The pic was not photoshopped! Those are magazine cover replicas made into earrings and they fierce! Talk about fashion forward. Keep reading to get some more info about this ultra chic lady doing her thing!

----THE INTERVIEW----

Q. How long have you been making custom made unique earrings?

A. I actually started making them for myself and my friends about two years ago. Then last year I started receiving requests and selling them to people who knew my friends and co-workers. Things started to really take of so I decided to launch the business web site in June thru MYSPACE. It is really receiving a great response.

Q. What inspired you to start designing one of a kind earrings?

A. For one, I love huge earrings! The only thing that bothers me about them is their weight. Large earrings tend to be very heavy and can only be worn for a certain amount of time without weighing down or damaging the ear. I wanted the best of both worlds – style and comfort. I also love to design and draw so the ‘Art earring’ concept just developed naturally. Being that I am also the type of women that thrives on having a unique style, I wanted to share that with other women. I wanted to offer them the opportunity to create and wear earrings that would capture and reflect their own personal individuality and beauty.

Q. Do you make earrings for yourself to wear? If so, what is your favorite pair and why?

A. Yes, I do! I make earrings for myself all the time because I love to coordinate my clothes and accessories to the max! I have so many pairs that I absolutely love so I can’t pick just one . . . sorry :-(

Q. Approximately around how many pair of earrings would you say you'v emade so far to date?

A. I have made about 150 pairs to date.

Q. Your earrings aren't you average pair of earrings..They're different, artistic and fresh! I'm sure you get a lot of second looks walking down the street ?

A. That’s actually how I got started selling them. I’d make and wear my own earrings all the time to work, the mall and parties. Every time I was out and about I’d get inquires. People just loved them. That’s when a friend of mine suggested that I’d make a business out of it and the response has been phenomenal since!

Q. Typically what is the process like for making a pair of your earrings, from start to finish? How long does it normally take to complete 1 pair?

A. Making a pair of custom earrings is really time consuming because the process is two-fold - design and manufacturing. I usually start with a request and head off to the drawing board. I sketch out and create about 2-3 proofs that my client can choose from. Depending on my work load for the day, I can usually create the proofs within 24 hours. When the client has selected the proof or proofs that they want made into earrings I start the manufacturing process. This entails construction, assembly and the use of certain adhesive products that need to be dried over night. This part of the process can take about 2 days. I’d say from beginning to end it can take about three days but that all depends on the client and the speed of the repetroir that we can establish.

Q. What has been the most outrageous design or idea you've been asked to recreate?

A. Being that I consider myself to be a little outreageous because I like to push style to the limit, I think it would take a lot for me to be so taken by a design request. So far the designs although personalized for each individual, are still very main stream because that’s what people ask me for. I look forward to having clients that have ideas that are really over the top because I love to be challenged and I love to be unique.

Q. I saw on your myspace page that your earrings were worn in a runway show during Miami Fashion Week a yearback. How did that feel? I know that was exciting.

A. I felt very accomplished. I was excited and felt fortunate to have the opportunity to add my earring flavor an up and coming designer’s collection.

Q. Have your earrings been featured anywhere else? Any celebrities rockin eart dzines yet? I'm sure they will be soon! Who would you love to see wearing a pair of your earrings?

A. Not just yet. I’m actually working on a marketing package to get the buzz out. I think celebrities like Kelis, Fergie, Gwen, and Paris would really like them but I feel truly blessed when the average person appreciates them.

Q. Do you have any favorite jewelry designers?

A. Not really, I am constant changer. I don’t really get into the designer names because I tend to pickup pieces that stand out and catch my eye. Those type of accessories are usually found off the beaten track and don’t really carry a brand name.

Q. What are your future plans with eart dzine?

A. Wow! I have so many but for starters, I’d love to expand on the merchandise type. I’ve already incorporated necklaces. Maybe in the future, we’ll offer other accessories and fashion pieces.

Dying to your hands on a pair of these one of kind earrings? Know someone who would love a pair?

Well, it's easy! Just stop by Mai's Myspace page and place your order for a custom pair of earrings!

http://www.myspace.com/eart_dzine

BASIC CUSTOM EARRINGS

$ 40 A PAIR PLUS $6.00 SHIPPINNG & HANDLING.

CUSTOM EARRINGS WITH ADD-ONS AND EXTRA DESIGNS

$55.00 A PAIR AND UP DEPENDING ON THE DESIGN + $6 SHIPPING AND HANDLING.

PAYMENTS ARE ACCEPTED VIA PAYPAL USING ANY MAJOR CREDIT CARD.

Samples of EART Dzine

Saturday, September 15, 2007

DESIGNER DISH OF THE WEEK : "THE POPULARS"

McFly - The Creator & Design of "The Populars"

Everybody wants to be popular. No, i'm not talking about in the sense of how many people you know. I'm talking about the clothes you're wearing. What am i blabbing about, you say? Well, I had the pleasure of interviewing a young, fly and flashy guy who's name even has "Fly" in it. Allow me to introduce to you McFly - the creator and designer of "The Populars". He is making some loud noise in the urban streetwear movement. Pay attention.

---The Interview---

Q. WHEN DID "POPULAR PHASION" COME TO LIFE? HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

A: Popular Phasion is actually just the name of the web site. The Populars is the official name of the collection. The Concept of The Populars is like 6 years in the making. I started out painting clothes and jeans and it just evolved into what it is today, but the official start of the line as you know it was Dec. 2006.

Q. I KNOW THAT YOU'RE AN ARTIST AND A DESIGNER ON THE VISUAL/GRAPHIC ASPECT. DID YOUR LOVE OF ART INFLUENCE THE LOOK FOR THE CLOTHES FEATURED IN THE POPULARS?

A: Yea, It heavily influences the designs. Anybody can can just slap some words and colors on a shirt and call it a clothing line, but it takes art and design to really stand out and have longevity in fashion. Im very passionate about art/design and fashion so Ive dedicated my life to it.

Q. TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT THE "POPULAR STREET COUTURE". WHAT IS IT EXACTLY? NORMALLY WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD "COUTURE" WE THINK OF EXPENSIVE HIGH-FASHION DESIGNERS WITH CLASSIC, TIMELESS PIECES. HOW DOES YOUR LINE MERGE THE COUTURE WITH STREET WEAR?

A: I am very happy you asked that because I'm in the process of changing the name. At first when I began back and December the concept of Street Couture was to take what the High Fashion designers do and put a street feel to it, while putting the same time and work into each piece. As time moves on and The Populars grow, I see that it might rub some people the wrong way and they might not understand the concept of Street Couture. And I totally respect and love Couture and the great designers, so out of respect I feel that I should change the name. I had a conversation with a designer who I really admire and he helped me understand that I can still put in the same time, effort and love into each piece without it being misunderstood.

Q. HOW DO YOU THINK PEOPLE THAT BUY POPULAR WILL FEEL WHEN THEY WEAR THE CLOTHES? WHAT DOES "BEING POPULAR" MEAN?

A: Every person is different and we all dress ourselves in different ways for different reasons. But what I want the people who where The Populars to feel is a sense of uniqueness. I want them to feel as if they are ahead of the pack. Leading the way into the future of American design. A lot of people are tired of the same things, same colors and I just want to give them an opportunity to have other fashionable options. Being Popular is a way of life. Being Popular means taking pride in your appearance, and having confidence to be a trend setter, while opening your mind and the minds of others to New Things.

Q. THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF OTHER URBAN STREETWEAR CLOTHING LINES RECENTLY. WHY DO YOU THINK THE APPEAL TO THIS MARKET IS SO HOT RIGHT NOW?

A:[laughs] Yea I know, the market is becoming saturated. I feel like fashion is like music. Every genre of music kind of has its own fashion. For urban street wear its mostly rap. And in my opinion Rap is becoming saturated. More and more rappers are coming out and more and more clothing lines are coming out. All it takes is one hit to "make it big"..the same with street wear, all it takes is that one design. There are a lot of "One hit wonders" also in the fashion game. The urban youth is the target market for most lines for a simple reason. Urban youth has unmatched buying power and also a very impressionable mind, everybody is trying to tap into the gold mine.

Q. WHAT DO YOU THINK SEPARATES POPULAR PHASION FROM THE REST OF EMERGING URBAN CLOTHING LINES OUT THERE?

A: The Populars are different from most because, I'm actually a designer.[laughs] I actually have been an artist and Designer since I was in elementary school. I go to college for Art/Design. Most emerging lines are just a spur of the moment type of things. So, I believe that I bring creativity and art as well as concept to the table and also The Populars is just not a Clothing line. In the years to come I plan to venture out into other aspects of our everyday lives, While keeping the focus of high quality design.

Q. WHERE DO YOU WISH TO SEE POPULAR A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD? WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE LINE?

A: Each season has been better than the last, so I just want to keep building up until I reach the pinnacle of where I can take the Collections.Fashion is one of the most unforgiving industries, one minute you can be on top of the world and the next you can be played out and your entire collection can be turned into a mockery. I just want to keep giving the fans of The Populars what they want. The people are responding to The Populars like I could never imagine. For the future, I will keep trying my best to meet their fashion needs and keep them coming back for more. If you are loyal to The Populars we will be loyal to you.

Q. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ANYONE OUT THERE WHO IS TRYING TO START THEIR OWN STREETWEAR LINE? WHAT DO THEY NEED TO KNOW?

A: Never give up, if its your dream, go for it. Never let someone tell you that you cant do something. But you have to be ready to commit pretty much your entire life to it. If you aren't ready to make that sacrifice maybe its not the right career for you. DO YOUR HOMEWORK, research everything you can about fashion and the fashion industry. Fashion is 80% business and 20% talent and design, just know what you are getting into before you commit because it will save you a lot of time, heartache and money.

POPULAR GOODIES