Christine Carmichael: Voltage designer spotlight
Categories: Voltage
 |
In anticipation of the annual Voltage: Fashion Amplified event at First Avenue on April 16th, our media partners at l'étoile magazine have been dropping the deets on this year's runway line up. Voltage is a flagship fashion event in the Twin Cities, which showcases the work of local designers, set to the backdrop of some of the hottest musical acts in town (and City Pages is sponsoring this year).
DRESSING ROOM PICK OF THE WEEK:
Voltage Designer Spotlight: Christine Carmichael
By Juleana Enright (via l'etoile)
Design veteran Christine Carmichael (of Carmichael Claith) is always one to watch, dabbling in several runway shows every year, including the recent
Envision,
SCENEaSOTA and last year's Voltage. A traditional seamstress known to
spark twinges of nostalgia with her timeless silhouettes and
contemporary tailoring, Carmichael's apparel is the perfect presentation
of elegant urban style with hints of Scottish and English sportswear.
For her Voltage
collection, Carmichael tackles tailored menswear with modern pieces
inspired by the literary classic, The
Wind in the Willows. No surprise to us; we've always seen Toad as
quite the distinguished fashion vanguard.We chatted with Christine this week about her designs and Voltage 2010...
Photo by Stephanie Colgan
for Voltage: Fashion Amplifiedl'étoile: Your Voltage collection is a mix of Scottish elements, Victorian-era English sporting wear and traditional folklore with modern updates - themes you've entertained in other collections. What inspires you about these regions and era in particular?
Christine Carmichael: The history of that era and the location has interested me since childhood and has provided a basis for imagination much the same way that places like the American Mountain West inspires other designers. The focus and attention to detail in the clothing during that era is inspiring, as well as the combination of style with function found in the clothing.
You recently showed collections at Envision and SCENEaSOTA and are the sole fashion designer returning to the runway from last year's Voltage event. Of all the productions you've been involved in, which has been your favorite and what have you learned?
Photo by
Stephanie Hynes for SCENEaSOTA 2009The first SCENEaSOTA, because you get to be apart of the production from the ground up. You simply do not appreciate all the work that goes into a show until you have to put one together yourself. At SCENEaSOTA, we were able to come together and successfully put together a show that we were proud of and it has grown every year since.
Your line this season has a "Wind in the Willows" theme. Disney, Broadway or literary version? And how did this concept come to you? Please tell us there will be anthropomorphic runway models.
The theme is drawn from the original literary version of the story. The descriptions written by Kenneth Grahame in the book and the various illustrations inspired by them are the source of the style elements that I will be incorporating into the designs. This was one of my favorite childhood stories, and I thought that the adventures of the characters would translate to a runway story very well.
Photo by Stacy
Schwartz / Voltage 2010 PreviewWhat Twin Cities spots do you draw inspiration from and how do they inspire you?
The Saint Paul riverfront, the historic architectural buildings on Summit Hill and in the Mac/Groveland area, as well as some of the more rural areas such as vineyards or orchards.
If your Voltage collection was the love child of two designers, who would they be?
The great storyteller Marc Jacobs with the impeccable tailoring and imagination of Alexander McQueen.
For more information of Christine Carmichael click HERE.
For more info on Voltage: Fashion Amplified and to purchase tickets for the April 16th event at First Avenue click HERE.
Write Comment
Email to Friend
Print Article
