Dear Pennies & Pens,
I’m so excited because this weekend, I’ll be attending Fashion X Dallas! Fashion X Dallas is a three day fashion event that will feature independent and emerging designers from Dallas and beyond.
Fashion X Dallas will take place at the Fashion Industry Gallery Thursday, November 6 – Saturday, 8, 2014. Fashion X Dallas will feature runway shows and The Gallery where guests and media can view jewelry and accessories designers’ collections.
Since I’ll be seeing Dallas and Austin based designers, I wanted to interview some of the designers who’ll be showing at Fashion X Dallas to get some insight on the Texas fashion scene.
Today’s post features my interview with Neelam Mathrani, Founder & Creative Head of Red Paisleys. Red Paisleys launched in 2009 and mostly focuses on designing bridal collections. Neelam believes that special life events should be celebrated and cherished forever. In essence, Red Paisleys bridal collections display sophisticated drama, feminine detailing, and a modern approach.
Neelam has been able to blend the traditional designs of India with a contemporary flair for today’s bride with a clever use of embroidery, intricate draping, and exquisite attention to detail. As you know, de la Pen…All Pen Everything is all about featuring multicultural designers so I was excited to learn more about Neelam and Red Paisleys. With no further adieu, check out the interview below.
1. Where are you originally from?
I am originally from India and moved to the US 16 years ago.
2. How has your heritage influenced you as a designer?
The heritage and culture of India is from the time of civilization. Indian Fashion with its rich textiles, age old artistry and vibrant colors have influenced my designs in a big way.
3. Why did you decide to start your own fashion line?
My great grandfather and grandparents were textile merchants that supplied fabrics to the royals. My mother was a seamstress and a designer (she had to raise 3 small children single handedly) so being an older child, I started helping her at a very young age. Fashion runs in my veins, and I rediscovered my passion five years ago when I founded Red Paisleys.
4. There are so many fashion and accessories designers, what makes your line stand apart from the rest?
What makes my line stand apart from the rest is our service, quality, and value. We work with the client through the entire design process from implementation to development to completion, providing the best quality and craft with attention-to-detail. Thats why brides choose Red Paisleys!
5. What inspires you most?
Nature, beauty, art, and people! A woman’s inner beauty is the most inspiring of all.
6. Tell me more about the design and creation process. How does it work? Do you sketch designs or actually create a sample to be recreated?
Yes, we have a step by step process in place that helps ensure each client is completely satisfied. Our design process starts with an initial consultation where we discuss colors, embellishments, style, beading, and trends. Once we have an idea of what the bride is looking for, we sit down and work out all the details with images.
This is typically when we go through our design catalog and image library. Once the style is picked out, we make a sketch of the outfit. This can take up to 4 weeks because we want to be sure we have each and every detail nailed down! Here are some examples:
We keep our clients informed and also send them images of the process. This timeframe allows the bride to make small changes such as removing or adding the beading, trims etc.
Finally, we send out an image of the final product before it ships out. So, the entire process typically takes 100 business days to finish our in-house design and a little longer for a recreation.
7. Who is your favorite designer and why?
My favorite designer is Alexander McQueen for his bold styles and fascinating shows.
8. Do you use social media? Why or why not?
Yes, absolutely! Brides today are using social media for everything – to find inspiration, source vendors, etc 🙂
9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
I love nature. I get drawn to mountains and water – ironically we don’t have either in Dallas. If I had a choice, I would live in the Himalayas during the summers and on the Mediterranean ocean for winter time.
10. The most stylish woman/man ever is...
It keeps changing, but all time favorite is Princess Diana.
