Lynn Furge: What is your inspiration for the season?
Amy Smilovic: Napoleon and Josephine. It is all about opposites, masculine meets feminine with a military event to it. Very strict tailoring with a lot of draping, ruffles mixed with some very straight lines, the idea of subtle neutrals with pops of bolder colors. And really in terms of the customer this season is about not wearing one look head to toe but having an entire look from head to toe if that makes sense.
AS: It’s been really big and I love it but I don’t like to go there all the way.
LF: This brings me to my next question. We journalists have to ask about the “inspiration” season after season, but so many designers this season have answered with “I want beautiful saleable clothes for the women I dress who love to by them” can you elaborate on that in terms of Tibi?
AS: The inspiration was really driven by the retail environment and us having a flagship store. I need a head-to-toe look that I can sell in the store, not just a dress. It helps when my customer can have an entire look to get into. So many of my friends are asking for something they can wear during the day instead of a cocktail dress. This season is very much about sportswear and it isn’t price point driven but really more looking at the lifestyle of the customer and understanding how I can sell them an entire look.
LF: With other moments in fashion happening, everyone Facebooking, tweeting, blogging… how does Tibi fit into this technology and social media craze?
AS: We are definitely all over Facebook; my team makes me go on twitter a couple of times a day. I do go to blogs every day now. They are very influential as to what I buy. It’s absolutely out there and definitely part of the process. It is what [the industry] is now.
LF: Almost a part of customer service now don’t you think?
AS: It’s more about the fans and people following “you.” They want to know what a real runway is, what goes into the creation, not Project Runway or the America’s next top model version of the industry. They really are intrigued by the actual people that really work daily in the industry. What is the real scoop.
LF: Form fit or function, what do you usually think of first when designing a collection?
AS: Form first, function next, and then fit I know someone will take care of that and make that happen for me on my team.
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