Dear Pennies & Pens,
This past weekend, I was in Dallas covering Fashion X Dallas. Fashion X Dallas was a three day fashion event that featured independent and emerging designers from Dallas and beyond.
Fashion X Dallas took place at the Fashion Industry Gallery Thursday, November 6 – Saturday, 8, 2014. Fashion X Dallas featured runway shows and The Gallery where guests and media could view jewelry and accessories designers’ collections.
Having seen Consuela‘s website prior to the show, I knew I wanted more insight on the designer and line. I fell in love with Consuela handbags with their unique yet classic designs. After seeing the Consuela handbags in person, I became even more enamored with the bags. Consuela was founded by Connie Reed who left corporate America to design handbags.
As both founder and creative director of Consuela, Conni creates pieces that aim to tear down boundaries and inspire people to celebrate everything that makes them unique. Her designs are marked by their unconventional fusion of intense colors, eccentric patterns, rich textures and exquisite craftsmanship.
Since launching in 2006, Conni has grown Consuela into a complete lifestyle brand that offers a spirited collection of quality fashion and home accessories. She continues to create new and original designs from Consuela’s flagship store in the heart of downtown Austin.
I’m glad that I was able to interview Conni and get more insight on her and how she created Consuela. With no further adieu, check out Designer Discussion with Fashion X Dallas Featured Designer Consuela,
1. Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from a small town outside of Houston named Waller. Lived in Boulder, Colorado through jr. High and high school.
2. How has your heritage influenced you as a designer?
I don’t know that my heritage influenced me as much as my environment. I had a lot of very mixed influences in my life. Small tone texas, uber liberal creative and artsy, Boulder Colorado, mixed with trips with my dad to interior Mexico gave me a very mixed bag of perspectives.
3. Why did you decide to start your own handbag line?
I have loved fashion my entire life, but did not have any mentors or friends to help me move in that direction. I had never even entertained the idea of being a designer or that you could go to school for that. After working in the corporate world for 16 years and feeling like I had a lot more to give and a whole life I was missing, I just decided to follow my inner voice.
4. There are so many fashion and accessories designers, what makes your line stand a part from the rest?
I trademarked the phrase the “Art of the Unmatched tm”. This is my life philosophy and carries into our designs and sets us apart. I believe that people are amazingly, wonderfully unique and unmatched. Mis-matched is a mistake. “Unmatched” is on purpose. We each have as many random and unique parts to ourselves as there are stars in the sky.
I hope that through Consuela we help people embrace and rock their 100% unique and authentic self! Also we make fashion fun. True amazing, on trend, forward thinking fashion…but we will always stay resolutely friendly and approachable. A lover of individuality and independent thinking.
5. What inspires you most?
Travel, music, pop culture, and art.
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?
I typically create very rough sketches, then work with an illustrator to create the specs that go out for sampling. I love to play with color in photoshop and create patterns and fabric designs.
7. Who is your favorite designer and why?
There are so many it’s hard to say, but I definitely relate to Coco Chanel’s independence and drive and continued vision to being something to the world that was not previously accepted.
8. Do you social media? Why or why not?
Not personally. I like to keep to myself in the off hours, but I love our company social media. I think of it as an extension of me.
9. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?
On a very quiet beach with bright clear water.
10. The most stylish man/woman ever is…?
That question makes my brain hurt. My taste is eclectic. That’s like asking what my favorite song is. Impossible 🙂
