Featured Indie Designer – Denise5151

This week spotlights the unique designs by Denise of Denise5151!

Your Name: Denise Anderson
Age: 42
Hometown: Bay Area-Fremont, CA
Current Location: Lincoln, CA

How did your interest in fashion begin? Well, like most women I’ve always loved clothes. As a young girl I often had ideas of what I thought would look good on me or what I would like to find while shopping. When my ideas weren’t what I was finding in the stores, I would get motivated to attempt to make it myself. My mother taught me to sew early on and because she worked and didn’t have the time, she would buy patterns and have me make clothes for my little sister. Additionally, I took a sewing class in Junior High School that helped fine tune my basic skills. I’ve always loved having the ability to modify and/or create my own clothes.
What motivated you to start selling your designs and what were your expectations when you started? Initially I was just trying to make some extra cash. At the time, all the young girls were wearing those little cotton mini skirts you would find in stores like Abercrombie & Fitch. I thought, I can make those. So I did, but it got boring. So I did a little research to see what other seamstresses were doing and I found that the more quirky, one of a kind type pieces were what people were spending the money on. This allowed me to get much more creative and express my own ideas into a piece of clothing.
Do you have any formal training in fashion, art or design? Does being an avid watcher of Project Runway count? No, I’ve never had any formal fashion design training, but I do read available books on the subject. I also have a good friend that lives in San Francisco and is an active designer and I occasionally turn to her when I have questions about technique or equipment performance.
Is Denise5151 your primary job? I am a mother to two daughters, ages 5 and 19, and I am a wife. I like to think that is my primary job, but yes, designing and sewing clothes is my only source of personal income.
How many people are behind the scenes at Denise5151? Just me. I don’t even have a mannequin. I think people need to see my clothes on a real person. I am designer, seamstress, model and photographer for Denise5151!
What are some of the best and worst aspects of being an independent designer? The best aspects are that I do everything my way and I am my own critic. I like knowing I am the one accountable for the buyer’s satisfaction, and that is constantly inspiring me to do my best work. Every time! There are no bad aspects as far as I’m concerned.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs? I am inspired by anything and everything. Certain music brings out my dramatic side. Sometimes I like to picture what that artist would wear on stage, or what a runway show to that song would look like. I definitely get more passionate when I picture a theatrical side to a piece. I love costumes, sometimes dark, gothic types of stage wear.
How would you describe your designs? I make a lot of hooded dresses and tops. I like to try to blend what people feel comfortable in like hoodies, with a more fitted dressy look to be original. I add in corsets and lace etc. but try to keep it soft and comfortable so my buyers will be inclined to wear the piece more often. I mean, feeling pretty is the best, but a lot of times the prettiest clothes aren’t comfortable. I am always working to create pieces that are original and that you won’t find anywhere else.
Any advice for aspiring designers? This is going to sound cliché, but follow you’re heart. Make what YOU love. Passion behind a design is the most important thing. That’s what sells it.
Do you have any interesting hobbies (outside of sewing/designing)? Well I wouldn’t call it interesting, but I exercise. And I collect Alice In Wonderland items. I have a moderate collection of ornaments, dolls, books, movies and miscellaneous art. I have been passionate about that story since I was about 8 years old.

Check out Denise’s design on Ebay: Denise5151
or say hello via Myspace: www.myspace.com/deniseverrette

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