Sew & Tell: Fun With Upholstery Fabrics

It's been a while since I last made a post. So I LOVEEEEEE working with upholstery fabrics! I mean who says that you can't literally wear a sofa!

I decided to do a little experimenting and this is what I came up with, ENJOY! :)

Xoxo,

D. Hayes
Design Lab Inc.

P.s. To see more of my work follow me on Instagram @designingoncloud9

FASHION GOES PINK

Sorry for the looong absence! The team has been busy planning for the 2nd annual Fashion Goes Pink charity fashion show for a really good cause-breast cancer.  I'm so excited about the show and everything that is going with it, we just had a designer call this past weekend and we are having a modeling call on September 8th and 9th (visit http://www.fashiongoespink.com/ ). 

2ND ANNUAL FASHION GOES PINK CHARITY FASHION SHOW!

There is so much that goes into planning but it will all be worth it.  We are teaming up with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and a percentage of our proceeds will go to the Northeast Ohio chapter.  So far we have had a promotional shoot  with photographer Natasha Herbert (check more of her work here: http://www.natasha-herbert.com/) using two fabulous models, Kole and Sam....
Shoutout to Kise and his beautiful vision- he even made the headpiece!

Kole was literally dripping in diamonds...ok rhinestones whatever she looked fab lol!

Sam with a net over her face...Its all about the effect. Thanks.

This is my fave!

Sam in a dress by Anton Z

Kole in another Anton Z original

 "Stanky Leg?" No no, this is fashion- she's giving all types of  "Angelina Leg".

They looked really nice together!



 

STOMP THE RUNWAY: (DETROIT) WALK

I love fashion shows! I don't care if I'm working, planning, or just attending one as a guest- there's something about the clothes and the beautification of the models that gets to me.  Oh and backstage? There is no other chaos that can compare to the gaggles of tall amazon-like creatures flinging clothes, accessories and hair every which way.  The excitement and energy is crazy beyond belief!

When Dee asked Kise and I to help out with the Walk Fashion Show at the Detroit Opera House in Detroit, Michigan I jumped at the chance.  A road trip and a fashion show all together? Heck yeah I was down lol! We arrived in downtown Detroit early that afternoon and got right down to business unloading the car and trying to locate the person was who was in charge so we could set up our stuff...

Yeah- thirty hot, sweaty minutes later, we were still waiting on said person and shown to a basement where approximately 2,347 designers, models, makeup artists and hair stylists were running around. The room was small and cramped and reeked of Doo Grow, Jam and burnt yaki. No ma'am, we were not putting Dee's gorgeous Electrik Canary Collection downstairs in that hot ass kitchen salon and having our models walk out smelling like hair recipes, hot combs and Bath and Bodyworks.


We held out and finally were shown to a space upstairs with air conditioning, but the fuckery did not stop there.  The ultimate shade happened later that evening a few hours before the show, but after we all had admired the beautiful stage and luxurious seating and how sophisticated the atmosphere was- the organizer tells us "unfortunately because somebody messed up due to communication problems we have to move the set up outside."  It was so quiet you could have heard a mouse piss on cotton...

Kise.Will.Be.Heard.

DIY clothing racks

Two gorgeous models rocking the collection. One looks ethereal and sexy, the other classy and polished.

Dee performing last minute adjustments.

WHO WORE IT BETTER? (see below to find out)

The gangs all here! Kise, Ronnita, Top Model Contestant, Dee and me.

Ronnita, one of Cleveland's coldest hairstylists came out and styled some of the models hair.

The set up turned out to be very sophisticated ('til the bugs came).

But, I have to say they did a great job of making it work. Tim Gunn would have been proud; the stage was very nicely done and the show went on... and on and on and on... That show was the longest show I ever attended in my life. It started late, at about 9:15p.m, our models did not go on until about 11:30 (ahem-more shade) and there were still more designers going on when we left at 12:30.
It really was a cool concept; they had over 30 designers and boutiques, but it was just way too long.  After awhile people lost their attention span and started leaving, mosquitoes started flitting around, photographers fingers started hurting and they were still trying to have an after party, so they tried to rush the rest of the designer's models. It was quite an experience!

I love seeing how shows are executed in other cities and the mannerisms of the models. One thing the "D" does not play with is the style game.  Detroit's finest came out indeed; men in salmon colored pants looking so fresh and so clean, (not a white tee in sight) playas in linen suits and gators, women in colorful painted on dresses high steppin' in heels with thick roach stomping platforms... I just appreciated the fact that they actually dressed up to come watch the show.

We were dead tired when we finally got back to the hotel, ate and passed out, but the next morning we swam, got in the Jacuzzi and went to the mall.  The guys went to Aldo and browsed  around lazily while I hit up as many stores as I could, grabbing accessories left and right like a contestant on Supermarket Sweep.  Then we came on back to Cleveland, tired and bedraggled, but slightly refreshed after our little mini vacay.  Here are the runway pictures, all taken by Detroit photographer Vince Hollaway...



Next Fashion Star?!

 I'm sure that we have all had a chance to tune in to NBC's hit, Fashion Star which has been renewed for a second season. Fashion Star is a fashion based show that takes a very different approach then the popular PROJECT RUNWAY. Unlike Project Runway, Fashion Star places hopeful emerging designers in direct contact with buyers from top retailers, such as MACY's, H&M and etc.

Each week designers have the opportunity to present their designs to the buyers with the chance to have their designs in-stores the "very next day!" Two of Cleveland based designers, Anton Zbarzh and D. Hayes hope to be two of the 12 designers selected to compete on the show. Check out their audition videos below. Feel free to leave comments, LIKE and SHARE the videos.

Fashion Design D. Hayes

 

Fashion Designer Anton Zbarzh

                                       

"All Hail The Queen"

In my last post "In The Lab with D. Hayes" you got the chance to check out my "Armadillo" jacket, with futuristic elements but not taking it to far that it's not sellable. I always try to find a happy medium between "couture" and "commercial" when designing.

For this garment I took inspiration from the Victorian era. I knew without a doubt that I wanted a oversized, very dramatic skirt and TULLE TULLE and more TULLE! Lol I also decided to use upholstery fabric for the skirt and the bottom I used Tule and Chiffon on the bottom to give it a very whimsical feel, very Alice in Wonderland.

Another IDEA came to mind...what about pairing this very soft couture piece with a more edgy piece to create a contrast. So I paired the skirt up with the "Armadillo" jacket...I think that it will be a haute combo for an editorial shoot. WDYT fashion jury? Haute or Not

In The LAB with D. Hayes

As usual I'm in the LAB (Design Lab Inc) creating away into the wee hours of the night and sometimes until the early morning, all in the name of FASHION.

Here is one of my latest creations entitled, "The Armadillo" Jacket. Designers find inspiration in many places. The best of part of being a fashion designer to me is, being able to bring my wildest ideas to LIFE! So here is my interpretation of an Armadillo into a jacket.

"In Fashion We Love & Trust"

❤D. Hayes

To see more of my work follow me on Instagram @designingoncloud9

N-O-S-T-A-L-G-I-A

Nostalgia is a defined as being a wistful or excessively sentimental return to some point in ones past and that is the EXACT feeling that I felt at this year's Annual Waterloo Arts Festival, as I returned as a vendor (pop-up boutique) in one of many tents that lined the street versus a merchant owner on the block.

The Waterloo Arts District was where I decided to open my very first business, CLOUD 9 Boutique that I have since then relocated to the West side of town from this East side location in the midst of being revitalized. Despite me leaving the area, I have never forgot my very....I mean VERY HUMBLE beginnings.

I will never forget the mixture of people that I would meet on a daily, the friendly merchants who are fighting hard and believe in the Waterloo Arts District and it's potential, who welcomed me in to the neighborhood with open arms, the 1st Annual "Fashion Goes Pink" Charity Fashion show that we had at Arts Collinwood.

I could go on and on about my experience while on Waterloo but what I hold dear, is what I learned as a businessman that I know will only help me to grow my business. Any who here are some pics from the festival, an AWESOME event that celebrates community and art.

                   

                     Waterloo was lined with various vendors with all types of hand crafted goodies

                                 BIG BLUE creatures walked the streets adding to awesome festival

                              

                                    Artist created beautiful pieces of artwork right before the onlookers

 Lata Fashion goons and goonets.
 "In Fashion we LOVE and TRUST" DH