The one thing I love most about blogging, is the ability to connect with people, designers and brands that I may have never had the opportunity to connect with before. It is even greater when designers themselves are willing to answer questions about how they got to where they are. As an educator, I find guest speakers and industry professionals to be incredibly beneficial to my students.
I know many of you out there who read my posts are very similar to my students, as you have a thirst for knowledge in the industry. Many of you might be interested in blogging or becoming a designer or just entering the fashion industry. This is why I feel the Industry Insider Interviews are crucial to your growth and extremely helpful. I hope you find them to be.
This week, I am posting an Industry Insider that was from a few months ago that unfortunately got lost in the shuffle. Designer Nicole Rueda-Watts of NYX Studio was kind enough to answer some interview questions for you readers! Her answers are honest and inspiring and I hope you all gain some insight from her words of wisdom.
Her accessories line is an array of beautifully handcrafted bracelets, earrings and necklaces. The line is fun, eclectic and definitely statement making. From feathered neckpieces to leather cuffs, any fashion forward accessories lover is sure to find something to pique their interest. To check out the line in more detail please visit her site here! All pieces range from $125-$1000.
Read on for the interview:
1. Can you tell us a bit about your line and who the person is that you create for?
It is hard for me to define an audience since I feel the need to have the freedom to follow my own creative path. In other words I have a fear of my audience defining me, where I get too attached to the idea of what women may be looking for and not being as fearless in my own idea of design and beauty …..at the moment I definitely feel I am apealling to a “Gypset” audience! A bohemian, world traveler, lushly fashionable type. I’m thinking the Verushkas and the Bianca Jaggers of the world.
The interesting thing is that I think anyone who admirers their iconic, sensual, yet classy with tones of masculinity style… will find my work easy to wear and work into their wardrobes easily!
2. What made you divulge your creativeenergies into launching a business? Had your past experience helped you to undertake running a business and do you do this full time?
For me it just seemed it was what I wanted to do….I wish I had more of a background in the business end of things DEFINITELY! I was an artist first and started making jewelry and it just clicked for me…and as my friends started buying my work and they started getting such a great response to it I just started dedicating more and more time to it!
I started going around to stores and they started selling my work and well it has just been going from there…last year I opened my own retail space and the sales tripled!
3. Can you tell us about your background and experience and any type of schooling you had?
MY background couldn’t help anyone in this business!! Seriously I’ve done everything slowly and the long way! Art school does not prepare you in any way to be a business person.. BUT I have stuck with it….tenacity is a huge huge part of staying in this business. AND you have to leave a certain part of your ego at the door…rejection is a part of this business. Until you find your market and even then sometimes you might not nail some of the designs! There are those great moments too, where it all seems to fall together so easily and it make it all worth it.
5. Can you share with our readers your best experience in the industry as well as the not so glamorous realities they will face or any obstacles they should be aware of in the industry that you work in?
Requires you to work hard in order to succeed)I think one of my great moments happened recently when I went out for an event at Saks Fashion night out for Fashion week. I dressed my girlfriends up in my new designs and I couldn’t believe the huge response we got …..from the press and fashion insiders it was really tremendous.
It was so amazing to see how much people genuinely loved the work….it definitely opened
some doors for me as well!! Some of the not so glamorous realities that I am dealing with now is trying to make a really well made, high end, quality item while the prices for materials have jumped so steeply…… it can push you into a price point that fewer people can afford…and that can be a serious problem. Also it really does require some money to make money!! So be prepared for that…you need a fantastic product (always helps!!) but website, photographers, PR and a whole slew of other things!
6. How do you feel that the internet, social media and blogging has affected the fashion industry and where do you see it in the next 5-10 years?
Bloggers are hot little numbers these days…..and really you want to have them singing your praises J. They are the trend setters and they are real!!It’s like being able to see what the coolest person is wearing and get inspired from it. So obviously people will identify with them more than say an editorial spread in a magazine….it makes fashion feel tangible again.
They have started taking on endorsements and becoming fashion celebrities…they are becoming powerful. It will be interesting to see how this evolves in the future, how whole businesses will be built on the shoulders of these people…..they are becoming more important than the fashion designers themselves because ultimately they will be able to make or break the up and comers.
The fact that you see something on line or in print want it and find it without leaving your house has been a game changer as everyone knows…If you are smart and know how to get yourself out there you can be from Helsinki and be killing it in Japan…Global market! And now with QR codes it’s making everything even faster and easier to get exactly what
they want.
7. What are some key tech trends that you see popping up in the fashion industry?
How about 3d digital body scans ….so when you buy something on line you can have the option to have it tailored to your exact measurements!!! As well as personal preferences!!! It will also be able to give you a better idea of how well something will fit you….take some of the guess work out of ordering things online….You know go get your spray tan and while you’re at it pay an extra $15 for a body scan. HA (maybe that should be what I should be working on)!!
8. Who are your top 3 inspirational fashion designers/tech people/bloggers? What draws you to them?
Man Repeller for her irreverence
The Glamourai because it appeals to my classier side
The Sartorialist because it gives me a wonderful international fashion
point of view.
Alexander McQueen blows everyone’s mind…..
Tom Ford sooooo saucy.
Isabel Marant for her perfect girl on the street edge.
9. Do you have any tips for the people out there who are interested in pursuing a career in the fashion/publishing industry, what kind of direction should they take, how can they find their passions??
That is a personal journey everyone takes alone…they might end up doing something so different and amazing that it blows everyone away. It is up to each designer to find their own voice and believe in it or no one else will.
I would recommend however working in the industry for a while before jumping in!! They will learn so much more that way then trying to figure it all out for themselves…..it will also help them network which is priceless.
11.Do you have any tips for the people who want to start their own
fashion lines? How can they go about it and how can they find their
voice in this crazy crowded blogosphere?
I will have to say the same thing I said in the answer above!! And reiterate the word TENACITY!!! Bang on the doors and get out there wear your designs……shameless self promotion!
10. Where can we learn more about you and your site or even just keep up
with what you are doing in the online world(social media? Websites?)
on facebook ……NyxStudio
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