Talkin’ Trims with Trim Queen
Texworld USA is excited to team up with New York City-based embellishment expert, Jana Platina Phipps of Trim Queen for our Summer 2018 edition! She has created a trim activation for us in collaboration with MintModa providing color palette direction. She is known for her refined vision and impressive list of clients in the world of fashion and home furnishings, Jana will also be conducting a hands-on passementerie workshop providing a brief history and how-to instructions for attendees at the show! Read more about her love for trims in this week’s Q&A:
Q: As a trim embellishment expert, why trims?
A: I started my career in fashion at a trimmings factory in the garment center working with Italian artisans creating Chanel-style edging for suits, custom braided belts, passementerie buttons and tassels. I was amazed by the idea of transforming the style of a garment with embellishment, adding design by applying decorative trimmings. It was clearly integral to the expression of the designer.
Trimmings have a lot of personalities and give dimension to a design, consider the pop of a tassel added to a drawstring, as a fob of a handbag, fringe at the hem of your jeans. Trimmings are details that make something seem more “designer”.
Trim Queen DIY denim, Norwalk Furniture tasseled sofa, Kate Spade Handbag
Q:What designers today do you see doing great things with trims, accessories, findings etc.?
A: Alessandro Michele really championed the idea of personalization of fashion as self-expression. At Gucci, you can add appliques of a bee, a daggered heart or a king snake to handbags, sneakers, and bombers and even choose the silk lining for a jacket.
My all-time favorite is Dolce & Gabbana, they understand passementerie – the art of turning braid by hand, and even create a pattern that looks so modern, with applied trimmings.
Trim Queen customizes her jeans with silk jacquard ribbon.
Dries Van Noten’s use of ribbon is an artful interpretation of historic military uniforms.
Locally, the Griggs Brothas set up their concept shop in Opening Ceremony customizing EVERYTHING. They also recently collaborated with Doc Martens. They exude creativity fueled by their motto “Live Free Above Negative Thinking” for which they named their brand LFANT.
Johnson Hartig’s Libertine was one of the first to marry modern mixed material in apparel using signature graphics in screen printing and embroidery.
Coach recently launched a Coach Create – a customization program that’s like specifying finishes of a new car! You can choose the leather, custom strap, rivets, add metal pins, patches, bag charms and finish off with a personal monogram.
Julian Mejia Design uses braid to create forms of passementerie for home décor.
Q: What is your favorite trim and why?
A: I LOVE fringe, long fringe, short fringe, caterpillar fringe….fringe in any yarn combo. At the base of some jeans, down the side leg, embroidered into shapes, on dresses, draperies, on furniture…fringe adds instant style that can go boho or elegant.
Interior designer Justine Sterling customizes fringe for a room vignette.
Dolce & Gabbana, Fringed Mary Janes
Lorenza Bozzoli’s fringed poufs were the rage at Salone de Mobile in Milan.
Fringe used as welting on this sofa by Corey Damen Jenkins for Leathercraft
Figue fringe is always BOHO
Marco de Vincenzo applies fringe as a textile.
Q: Would you say that customization is important to consumers?
A: Customization has always been important to consumers. Look at the history of monogramming of jewelry. Then it evolved to monogramming EVERYTHING from sweatshirts, tote bags to bedding. The new embellishment craze is an extension of personalization. It is a way that designers can further give consumers what they want which is to BE THE DESIGNER. I don’t see this trend fading anytime soon; as it becomes easier to personalize products, more people will want to express themselves as a sign of creative status.
