Electricity And Fashion Embrace In Jessie Lui’s Simple Pair Collection


Academy of Art University MFA Fashion Design alumni, Jie Jessie Liu, filled us in on what her Spring ’15 Collection for her label Simple Pair. And her plans for the label. She plans to present her collection at the New York Coterie show on this September. Coterie, also known as the Fashion Coterie, features handpicked designers comprised of both established names and the young avant garde of fashion. The Fashion Coterie is a culmination of fashion RTW and accessories. Collections shown are priced from better, contemporary to designer. Note: ENK offers pre-registration, however, no pre-registration is required for this show. The show takes place in two NYC locations, at the Show Piers on the Hudson and at the Jacob Javits Center. She balances her time between her love of fashion design and her nineteenth month old son. “Whenever I am with him, I forget about all the pressure of the outside world. He is full of joy and love.” But being a new mother doesnt mean setteling down, Jessie has high hppes for the brand including her sights set on being sold at only the top tier department stores – Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

What the brand name ‘Simple Pair’ means to you?

In the early days of the company, my partner and I founded this studio with a simple philosophy: to enable all women to freely express their ideals of beauty. We wanted to manifest the various forms of beauty using simple yet tasteful cuts, patterns, and prints throughout our collections.

What does a regular work day look like for you?

I work out of our It is a nimble 400square-foot studio in the bustling downtown San Francisco. Besides working on designs and patterns, I often spend hours coordinating and contacting various supplier or venders. No matter, how busy or tired I get, I still try to browse magazines and online resources for new inspirations and ideas. I also keep up with apparel industry news, fashion shows , and new sources for fabrics and manufactures.

What inspired your new Spring ’15 Collection?

I collaborated on this collection with a Chinese artist whose name is GuoFeng. We used his artworks as our inspiration. We loved the vibrant colors of his works. The signature of his art is a type of abstract with the use of mosaic images with pixilated strokes. We took parts from his artworks and reconstructed them into new motifs for our collection.

Because the emphasis of this collection is on prints, we had invested a lot of time and energy into organizing, transforming, and designing the prints. Since we were printing on silk, there were very high technical hurdles. Not every vendor could do it because we had so many colors on each print, and our high standard of consistency.

Our design philosophy is to infuse the abstract artworks into wearable designs.

What was your design process?

We first created a mood board, the color story, and sketches. We then sourced the appropriate fabrics, made patterns, and produced our initial samples. The first sample collect was then altered after model fitting.

Who is your target customer?

My target customer is a woman with unique tastes, who is curious about the world, and lives a sophisticated lifestyle. She is not afraid to go for what she wants. She may be a company executive or a vegan chef. She desires freedom and independence and does not judge nor want to be judged.

What are your goals for your company?

My immediate goals are to expand my company with the help of potential investors and get in touch with various potential buyers. For the long run, I would like to make my line an internationally recognized label synonymous with elegance and acceptance.

Most designers are gathered in New York or Southern California. SF is one of the top cities in the US I love the culture and the weather here. I often wonder why SF isn’t a fashion-forward city just like NYC. I wish I could bring more job opportunities for the people here in fashion industry, and I would like to take on a leadership role to help transform the city into a fashion capital. I know it’s a long shot, but I am willing to try it.

Does your experience in the electrical power industry play a role in your design methods?

My background in the electrical power industry and as former accountant definitely helped me in my current company. Most young fashion graduates probably won’t know how to operate a company, nor about setting up its infrastructure. I was fortunate enough to have previously acquired the skills to negotiate, delegate, and communicate effectively.

What advice can you give for aspiring fashion designers?

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can and you will, as long as you persevere. The job market for fashion designers is tough, but keep trying and you will succeed. Don’t do five internships simply because people tell you that’s what it takes, be judicious with your choices.

Written by Ashley Castanos

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