FW: Fabwick -  AC: Alicia Carr

FW: Who is Alicia Carr?

AC: I am a girl who lives in NYC and loves to make couture and demi-couture hats.

FW: Do you wear a headpiece every day?

AC: I do.

FW: I love wearing headpieces and I have several smaller pieces and hats – how can you encourage me to do so more often?

AC: The more you wear them, the more you can become comfortable. You have to embrace how they (can) bring out aspects of your personality. They can bring out personas. They embellish parts of you.

FW: What is the background story on your production of these pieces? How did this company start?

AC: I studied fashion and segued into event production. One of our clients was a hat designer and she offered to teach me. I loved that it seemed more akin to sculpture and art. There seemed to be much more freedom in it.

FW: In your bio, it says you gathered inspiration from your travels. Can you expand on that a bit? Where did you travel and what in particular inspired you?

AC: I have so much wanderlust. The hardest thing about doing an art form that includes so much equipment, is that it’s rather hard to be nomadic, but I am at my most inspired when traveling. You see and experience so many little things outside of your normal reality. Everything can be inspiring- from the colors of the sea in Formentera, to different societies and their etiquettes and mannerisms, the stooped widows in Sardegna and their traditional mourning garb or the silhouettes on a door. Almost nothing inspires me more than ancient European doors and the colors of their crumbling paint.

FW: Why are the “ragged and tattered silhouettes” so important to your artistic vision?

AC: Tattered Gossamer was named to pay homage to my fascination with the dichotomy between tattered, worn, earthy aspects of nature, and gossamer, haunting, dreamlike forms. The tattered aspect speaks of the effect of time on form, and the actual deterioration of material; of how this leaves an imprint and remnant of a history or story behind. Gossamer is unearthly, untouched, intangible and ethereal. I am inspired by the space where these elements meet.

FW: The photos of your products are very unique. Some are playful, some are edgy, and some are natural. Do you have an artistic vision when going onto the set? Or do you leave that mostly up to the photographer?

AC: I am always involved in the artistic direction of the shoot. So far, I have had the amazing fortune to work with very brilliant and talented people who have been really fantastic to collaborate with.

FW: Who is your target customer?

AC: Someone who wants to move it past ordinary. Someone who wants to have a touch of something fantastical or fancy in their day-to-day lives.

FW: When did you start making men’s hats? Was that a hard transition from the femininity of your other pieces?

AC: I started making men’s hats when I met my husband. He is a perfect muse and model. It was not really a hard transition, but it is still a direction that I am exploring.

To learn more about Tattered Gossamer and to view Alicia’s collections visit tatteredgossamer.com

Our City Dreams is a documentary (came out last year) about five women artists inspired by New York City. Swoon is one of the women in the film and an urban artist we’ve featured in Fabwick. (She recently showed at Urban Art Info in Berlin). One of the media she works in is wheat-paste plasterings of realistic images of street-people. She plasters these images all over New York. She has at once been called a street artist and a very influential “inside” artist. We’d love for everyone to see this film in order to visit the inside world of women in the arts and experience their struggles and triumphs.

This image taken by one of our contributing fashion editors, Preston Wood. We think this is by Swoon – we don’t know for sure – what do you think?

125 Greene Street New York, NY
Laugavegi 7, Reykjavík Iceland

For more information visit Kisanstore.com

Duncan Quinn

Duncan Quinn clearly has a strong view for what encompasses the Duncan Quinn lifestyle: bringing every real gentleman’s sport a dashing wardrobe. This London born and bred designer behind the Savile Row style suit and bespoke clothing, has just unveiled the Croquet Shirt for $105. It can be found online at www.duncanquinn.com and in the New York, L.A. and Dallas stores. Mr. Quinn took a moment from full days (and nights) of accepting retainers, exclusive suiting, and entertaining New York City, to explain what is in his immediate future.

S.B. for Fabwick
For the record, how was it seeing your jackets being worn by Brett and Jermaine on Flight of the Conchords in the video for Season 2’s, “I Told You I Was Freekie”? Sean Combs, Adrien Grenier (of Entourage), Lebron James, and Green Day also wore your clothes. Did you ever think Duncan Quinn would have such a diverse following of stylish well-dressed fellows?

D.Q.
The odd thing is, I don’t own a TV so I didn’t see them, but they are all great guys and it’s always a pleasure to see them in the store in NY when they’re in town.

S.B. for Fabwick
What made you decide to do the Croquet Shirt? I’m totally obsessed with it, by the way…

D.Q.
We just figured it would be a good addition and would mean we could do our interpretation of this classic piece. It took a long time to get it right and each one is limited to small runs and custom dyed (even the buttons are custom-made to match color). They turned out great and are selling very, very well with people using them to relax, as well as play golf, sail, polo and croquet, of course.

S.B. for Fabwick
I am still wearing the incredible red trousers from your Fall ‘07 collection. I, as well as many other men, am wondering, are you considering expanding your label into a lavish sportswear collection?

D.Q.
It’s a matter of time. It takes a long time to find the right artisans to make what we want, the way we want it. It’s a slow process. There are other items in the works though.

S.B. for Fabwick
What would be the aesthetic behind the sportswear collection if one should be brought about?

D.Q.
Steve McQueen in the original Thomas Crowne Affair, or Sean Connery on the golf course in Goldfinger.

S.B. for Fabwick
With the reopening of your L.A. store and everything bespoke, tell me what’s up your 12-star cuff-linked sleeve next?

D.Q.
Ah, well it might be a close shave among other things, but who knows.

A gentleman never tells. He only leaves it to the imagination. Let’s just hope Duncan Quinn doesn’t keep us waiting too much longer.

Shahcar Blake for Fabwick

Who:

Fabwick (F) Alexis (A)

F: How are you today?
A: Pretty well, thanks.

F: How is it going back to school after having a career in the fashion industry – and giving up your income?
A: Having no steady income is tough, probably the hardest part. And I do miss the creative energy and people where I used to work. But so far, I’m really enjoying school. It’s tons of work and I’m completely exhausted at the end of every day, but it’s incredibly fulfilling to be constantly learning, creating, and pushing myself in ways I never have before. When I had a full time job, I always did my little projects on the side, and now I love that I can devote all my time to that.

F: For how long did you work for Comme des Garçons?
A: Six years, seven including my internship.

F: What’s your closet like?
A: A lot of black everything, a lot of white shirts, a lot of grey
sweaters, denim, floral prints…

F: Who’s your favorite fashion designer?
A: That’s an obvious one – Rei Kawakubo… She truly is in a league of her own.

F: Why industrial design?
A: Industrial design is more subtle than other design fields in the sense that the average person barely thinks about how or why something like a toaster or coffee cup lid, which is used everyday, is made the way it is, yet it is very powerful in the sense it has potential to influence our habits and subsequently how we live.

F: What’s your personal style all about?
A: I alternate between dressing like a teenage boy and a teenage girl. Men’s cardigans, oversize shirts, white Vans.. When I dress up a bit more, its usually something CdG (Comme des Garçons). Now that it’s getting cold, I love snuggly stuff – Cowichan knits, Junya Watanabe puffer jackets, flannels, good socks.
F: Your necklaces and design are very whimsical – are you always in a good mood?
A: Haha. Yes, I’m drawn to designs that sort of wink at you, but no, I definitely have some grumpy moments, especially when I’m hungry, or really tired. Kind of like a baby.

F: Your bio on your website – What’s with the bear and fruit?
A: I’ve always loved the teddy bear, its one of the most classic
toys. And fruit because of the colors and built-in packaging.

F: Where can your design be purchased?
A: Some pictures are on www.alexisliu.com, but to order send an email to info@alexisliu.com. I can customize pieces if you have a certain color palette in mind.

After work, I picked up a friend who kept it cool in black shorts, an over-sized black sweatshirt, a neon tank and sandals, very American Apparel. We headed to a French Bistro off of W 44th and Broadway. I know, yikes, Times Square! How could I? How could WE? If it hadn’t been for my friendship with the bartender, I would’ve been elsewhere. We started our night at the touristy friendly bistro, chatting and drinking the best margaritas we’ve every had. And I still hadn’t broken a sweat or come undone.

After a few more, we were off to the West Village for more margaritas at Benny’s Burritos. Still put together and it was only 8:30. This place was packed and I was loving it. We had just finished our first margarita when I noticed the most beautiful bag in the world. The mustard PS1 bag by Proenza Schouler. It’s a bag that‘s not too much for me to pull off. To my surprise, a girl no more than twenty years old was carrying it and I had to seek her out. The craftsmanship alone is worth talking about. I acknowledged that I loved her bag and then mentioned that it’s Proenza Schouler. She began salivating all over me, full of exclamations, as she said to me, “Oh my gosh, you are my favorite person! No one knows what bag this is! Are you sure it‘s not too much for this place?” “No, and if anyone thinks so she´s an idiot darling”, I said. “You have truly made my day, because this is my favorite bag!”, she said.

By the time I finished gawking over the PS1, it was time for us to be seated. Another friend began calling demanding I meet him in the Meat Packing district. Whenever I go down there, I think of that song “Stilettos” by Crime Mob. Every girl is wearing heels and can barely walk. I don’t mean killer heels or flights of fancy as I like to call them. But Scuff Daddies. I finally came to after daydreaming and decided to go down there to see the train wreck.

We poured down what was remained of our margaritas and left. We met my friends at Brass Monkey, where the DJ was spinning my favorite group Hercules and Love Affair. I love this place. I like the way it’s secluded from the Meat Packing strip. It’s a good mixture of locals, yuppies, socials and Europeans. I also like it because they, too, make awesome margaritas, which you can never have too much of. Or can you? Maybe that’s why I woke up on the subway the next morning. At least my ensemble was in tact and still not too much.

by Shahcar Blake