To fashion designer and owner Terri Martin, “the TM terrimartin woman is confident, independent and sophisticated. She’s not afraid to stand out and be noticed.” The same can be said of Martin herself. High energy with a megawatt smile, short in stature, tall in talent, Martin is prepping for her first turn on the runway at the fashion and rock fusion event Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2011 on April 15 to present her spring 2011 collection.
Recently, the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) graduate and in-house menswear designer at Target shared her favorite things, some details about the journey from there to here, and her thoughts on doing double duty as both a menswear and women’s wear designer.
What is it like to work as an in-house designer for Target?
Great! There are hundreds of diverse designers creating the product that hits the shelves. I don’t think most people realize that. It’s also staggering to stop and think about the number of people you can positively impact by working for such a large corporation.
On the job, you design menswear. You also design women’s wear during your “free” time? Do you have to think differently when designing menswear versus women’s wear?
Actually, they don’t require a very different mindset. The design process is essentially the same but women’s wear is given the freedom and room to evolve more quickly. Women are simply more adventurous with their fashion choices. Most of my design experience has been in ready-to-wear so it was the logical way to start my own label. But I would love the opportunity to explore menswear with TM terrimartin.
You worked for 4 consecutive summers in NYC at Ralph Lauren as a sales associate. Why did you decide to work there in the first place and what kept you coming back for more?
Well, I worked at the special Ralph Lauren store that only exists during the U.S. Open Tennis Grand Slam. The first summer I worked there I was doing an unpaid design internship at Calvin Klein in New York and really needed to earn money. And I had heard especially great things about the uniforms the RL sales people got to wear, so I decided to apply. Thousands of spectators go to the tournament each day so everyday was as busy as Black Friday. But the managers are fantastic and it is the most fun I’ve ever had working retail. I keep going back because it truly feels like I’m getting paid to have fun and wear ridiculously cute tennis whites all day.
This will be your first time at Voltage: Fashion Amplified 2011. What was the selection process like?
Not too bad actually. It happened so quickly I didn’t have time to really freak out. The application date snuck up on me so I had to throw it together over two days. During the interview, I was allowed to explain my previous work and my initial direction for spring. The panel was very friendly and just curious.
Was the recent MNfashion Buyer Event a success for you?
Yes, I think it was! I’ve already been in contact with a couple of local boutiques.
What are the three most important things you learned in school?
The importance of great craft, patternmaking, and time management.
Name three sources of inspiration
I know its cliché but you really can draw inspiration from anywhere. At the moment, I particularly love geometry, art deco industrial designs, and architecture.
What is your greatest accomplishment thus far?
Finishing college! I was in a 5-year program at the University of Cincinnati that required 6 internships. While it was the best thing I could have done to start my design career, there were several times when moving every 3 months got to me.
What is your greatest challenge?
Keeping life’s little issues in perspective.
What is your favorite low-tech item?
Books. And salad spinners. I just got one for Christmas and I love it.
What is your favorite piece of clothing?
A pair of black leather equestrian inspired boots that my grandmother gave me before she died.
Describe your personal style.
I’m essentially a minimalist but I’m always affected by my environment. So I’ve been wearing a lot of men’s wear lately, too.
If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?
1) To have time to see and learn everything I possible could. 2) To share all of that information with as many people as possible. 3) To have more wishes.
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