It’s Wednesday, my absolute favorite day of the week! Why? Every Wednesday we feature interviews from our DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT! If you are fashion forward then you will love this week’s designers. No matter your style - bohemian-chic or rocker glam or Mediterranean goddess - you will be at the cutting edge of the fashion you love!
Alicia Reina by Alicia Reina
What is your favorite piece in your collection, past or present?
Its hard to choose a favorite when they are like your kids but if I where to choose… I would say that my favorite piece is the red wool and lace jumpsuit from the “Entangled” collection. I used one of my closest friends, fine artist, Guston Abright’s finger painting to create a textile print that I placed in the center panel and lining. I like to see people’s reaction when they find out that it is actually fingers clustered together in a vibrant color palette. 
When or where does your best creative brainstorming take place?
When I am riding the subway, I tend to zone out, or when I am watching a movie or a show.
Who are your favorite retailers & why?
I am a big fan of Opening Ceremony as I love Carol and Humberto’s surrealist approach when merchandising their store. There is always something fun and exciting to look at. They have a more juvenile, dynamic, tactile approach to their esthetic than most serious conservative stores especially in NYC. They tend to select the pieces/designers that are more out of the box (not mainstream) and take a chance with them. It makes you feel welcomed and want to touch and feel everything! Every time I visit the store I want to run to my studio to create!
What is the one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you first started your design career?
Take a business course. Pay attention to the actual operation of the business (especially the sales) in addition to just the designing. This is something that I have come to learn as I go and sometimes wished I had had a mentor who had gone through the same experience whom I could bounce ideas with.
Why did you decide to join Modalyst’s fashion marketplace?
I decided to take a chance to push my sales efforts as this is the toughest part. Since you are not creating a more “main stream” product it can sometimes be difficult to get your foot in the door and get people to look at your product. Going digital is also an alternative approach to marketing and sales. It is more instant and has a much more extensive reach.
Lena Quist by Lena Quist
What is your favorite piece in your collection, past or present?
My all-time favorite piece is the Art Deco Catsuit, that’s available now. I feel that it represent the brand and my style very well. It’s that wow-piece that draws immediate attention to the wearer. And that’s what my brand is about; to stand out from the crowd, be yourself and don’t apologise for who you are.
When or where does your best creative brainstorming take place?
Usually, when I’m creating a new collection, I go out to just sit and watch people, I go to art galleries and music events to sort of “gather impressions.” Then I go home and end up sitting in a large pile of fabrics, magazines and sketches. I am my most creative self when I have lots of things around me that inspires me.
Who are your favorite retailers & why?
I really like a strong point of view and a great concept. I think the most important thing when you are shopping is to feel inspired, so my favorite retailers are the ones that can inspire their buyers to go outside their comfort zone and dare to try something new.
What is the one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you first started your design career?
I wish someone would have told me how much time I would spend on the business part. That it was so much more to having a fashion brand than creating nice designs. But you don’t think too much about that when you are 22, just graduated from fashion school and wanna get started right away. I did figure it out on my own; how to run a business and how to make it grow, but it might have been a bit easier with some kind of business advice before starting.
Why did you decide to join Modalyst’s fashion marketplace?
I’ve been having a break from doing wholesale, to focus on other parts of the business, and felt that Modalyst was a good option when getting back into it again. Since I have customers worldwide, but mainly in the U.S. Modalyst was a good choice with it’s New York base. And I also must add that I really like the concept, to connect independent labels with independent shops.
Melina Vou by Melina Vou
What is your favorite piece in your collection, past or present?
Every season, I always have several “favorites” within the collection. For me, my favorite pieces are always the ones, which involve a technical detail or an intricate stitch. Basically, the ones that have made me work hard! From my FW 14/15 collection, I really love the Leila dress and the Mena trousers.
When or where does your best creative brainstorming take place?
My most creative moments take place when I’m traveling. I am fascinated by human interaction, and the effect that cultural diversity has on this. Whenever I travel I sit at café’s, in parks, or even waiting for my flight at the airport and I observe people; the way they move, interact with each other and their body language. All of these elements stimulate my creativity.
Who are your favorite retailers & why?
There are so many! Dover Street Market is definitely one of my favorites. I love the way they combine established and emerging designers. The combination of the various elements that create the interior spaces of the stores is fascinating and described, as “beautiful chaos” by Rei Kamakubo and that’s what life should be! They are continuously doing great things with such artistic vision and innovation. Net-a-porter must be mentioned as my favorite online retailers. Natalie Massenet had a vision at a time where online stores were almost unheard of, so this is commendable and highly admirable to say the least. It has become one of the most reputable and well-respected high-end online fashion spaces.
What is the one piece of advice you wish someone gave you when you first started your design career?
Before I launched my label I did a whole load of research and then some! I spoke to lots of professionals in the industry and they provided me with invaluable advice. In my everyday life I’m very impulsive, when it comes decisions in the studio however, I contemplate over decisions for days on end! So the one piece of advice would have been to not over analyze a design or a fabric choice and to just go with instinct. Trial and error is the best teacher though!
Why did you decide to join Modalyst’s fashion marketplace?
Selling on a platform with so much exposure and access to international retailers is a fantastic opportunity, especially as an emerging label. Being based in Europe and having the opportunity to be part of a selling community based in the U.S is also a huge advantage. It’s also part of the process of establishing which market(s) you belong as a designer.