Design Sourcing + Inspiration: LA
Guest blog by Lori Fox, Raven + Lily’s Lead Designer
I just returned from a week of events, meetings, and inspiration gathering in my former hometown of Los Angeles. The week began with a special Fair Trade Christmas Market on the streets of Hollywood. It was so fun to work in person with Sophia since we usually communicate through email and phone from afar. Danielle our P.R. guru also paid us a visit!
Our Los Angeles representative, and long time Raven + Lily supporter, Jennifer Ceci joined me on the next days adventure to photograph and help pick out remnant fabrics for a couple of projects we currently have in the works. Jennifer is an inspiring woman who recently left her full time job to bravely pursue a new course of creativity. She has a curiosity for life that is contagious.
Our day was spent visiting a few friends clothing lines to gather their remnant fabrics. Puella,Champagne & Strawberry, and Apolis Global all donated their jersey remnants for our scarf partnership with Open Arms in Austin.
Their contributions are keeping fabric leftovers out of landfills and are helping to empower women.
We also gathered remnant silks from Cynthia Vincent’s headquarters downtown. These designer silks will be used to resurrect our coffee sleeves with the help of our partnership with the Downtown Women’s Center (DWC). They were all so gorgeous, I wanted to go swimming in them.
We were able to talk with our partners at DWC and visit their new store that was filled with new, vintage, and designer donated goods. If you are ever in Los Angeles you must check it out.
(photo by Kate Rentz)
I made a quick trip to “Mother Plucker” to pick up some feathers for our upcoming look book shoot for Fall/Winter 2013! Getting lost in a warehouse of feathers is quite possibly close to the feeling of heaven.
I stopped by to say “hi” to Ballards Artwork Framing in Echo Park (where our products are sold!) Aaron’s little corner of the world is overflowing with light and joy, passion and creativity. If I was ever having a down day I knew I could go in there to lift my spirits.
My mornings were filled with coffee with creative friends and discussing new art projects and life.
And the evenings were filled with inspiration scouting at boutiques
and a few galleries. Too bad LACMA was closed when we arrived. At least we were able to snap some photos with the rock.
We will keep you posted about up coming projects with coffee sleeves from DWC, and the new scarves from Open Arms. I wish you a creative week as you bravely seek ways to live your dreams.
