"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

84 IMAGES SHOOT W/LOCAL TALENT

My second styling adventure with Design Lab Inc occurred one hot ass weekend at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Kise and I had just recently bonded over fashion and style, the greatness of Beyonce and extra-ness as a lifestyle, so when he asked me to accompany him for an epic shoot featuring a slew of upcoming Cleveland photogs, stylists, models and designers I was like "Heck yeah I'll tag along!"

Ummm yeah... it ended up not being like that at all- we (Kise and I) arrived like 45 hrs before everybody else and were hot, sweaty and irritated (or ahem just maybe me), several key people canceled, we switched locations, it got dark on us aaaaand the shoot lasted almost until midnight... But despite all of that we had a lot of fun, I discovered the wonderful virtues of Instagram and made connections with a bunch of talented creatives. Here are some behind the scenes photos from that day and a few edited pics from Char (84 Images).  See more of her work here: 84 Images Photography

Designer/model Kole Steele stepped in and modeled this Cloud 9 Boutique tunic dress when our original model canceled on us.  She  is also a Cleveland based designer and you can see her work on Instagram @trampboutique.

Thanks to these two ladies the night was not a complete bust.  They stepped in for the  model of the day.  The blue and gold outfit looks like a dress but is actually a one shoulder top and a high low hem bubble skirt by D. Hayes.

Kise did a really great job at directing and posing this young lady who had never modeled before.  He can meet 232 people all at once and remember everybody's name like five minutes later correct pronounciation and spelling included lol.

Designer D.Hayes showed up later on set and helped fit his designs to our make shift model.  We turned the lakefront into our very own styling/photography studio lol.

Here is an edited 84 Images photo by Char.
 Tunic  (might be) available at Cloud 9 Boutique.

Attitude here, there and everywhere!

I really liked this one and I loved how the necklace laid  against her shirt.   These are three seperate pieces btw: a cropped vest, a sleeveless shirt and a high-waist silky maxi skirt with a slit.  Very sexy D. Hayes!

I met so many cool people on this one shoot and I wouldn't mind doing something like this again (errr- in a more organized fashion that is).  I think it would be great to get a handful of Cleveland designers, photogs, mu artists, hairstylists, models and stylists together and see what happens... maybe one day.

PHOTOSHOOT WITH DION HARRIS

Design Lab designers D. Hayes and Anton Z are always sewing something! They both have a very sweatshop like work ethic and pop out dresses faster than straight to the hood bootleg movies lol. For that reason we like to document each of their designs before they are sold to the public.

  Photoshoots are often a great collaboration between the photographer, the model, the designer/stylist the hair dresser and the makeup artist.  Yes, one can survive with out the other, but the outcomes are so much better when it's a cohesive team effort.  Here is a shoot we did with photographer Dion Harris, model Pamela A, and Jason Kelly for makeup. All clothes are by created Design Lab Inc designers D. Hayes and Anton Z.
Here is more from the talented Mr. Harris via his website:
http://dionharris.com/?page_id=5

Dee and Kise go over last minute directions for the shoot.

The fabulous and humble Jason Kelly of FaceArt graced us by providing makeup.
 Check out more of his work on his FB page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/JKellyFaceArt/157343784323405 

Kise and Anton doing the typical high fashion/ANTM pose and Zoolander faces.
These guys are so silly lol.

The beautiful model Pamela A.

Wearing a sleeveless cranberry A-line shift dress by Anton Z.

Jason Kelly MUA

Pamela in an  multicolored Ikat print dress by Anton Z

D.Hayes prepping a gorgeous Moroccan inspired high low hem dress that he designed himself.
Here is the dress in motion:

 

Pamela and Dion Harris in action. Pamela is wearing a zigzag print scoop neck dress by Anton Z.

D.Hayes perfecting his tomato red body con dress on Pamela.

Pamela looked absolutely gorgeous in this one shoulder cut out dress by D.Hayes

CLOUD 9 BOUTIQUE GRAND RE-OPENING

On June 2, 2012, Cloud 9 Boutique hosted their grand re-opening loft party to an eclectically beautiful crowd of shoppers and partygoers. Guests shopped, networked, sang, danced and posed all night in the loft and everyone had a great time.  Of course we took thousands of pics, but I narrowed it down to just a few lol.

 Cleveland designers Anton Z and Dru Christine showed off their pieces at the grand re-opening.

The ladies of Cloud Nine Event and Royal Wedding Planning and owner/designer D.Hayes

Gorgeous guest taking in the scenery at the loft.

The Design Lab Style Team was definately in the building...

 Kise and I could never be tardy for the party!

This little girl was gettin' it, striking poses and walking the catwalk all night!

 She did not care about the people, the clothes or the food-

 she was ther for the camera only and the camera loved her!

Networking and shopping at its finest!

Shoppers browsing through locally designed accesories.

Guest and Cleveland blogger Jennifer with a cold butterfly temple tatt. Very cute and original!

 Jennifer did a great blog post about the grand re-opening.  You can read about it here:

http://sparkplugent.blogspot.com/2012/06/in-tha-labwith-designer-donald-hayes.html

 The ladies posing by their handmade, custom designed jewelry. They have beautiful necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings and body chains. I purchased a multi colored purple stone necklace and had a hard time not wearing it everyday lol.

  Jennifer rocking the heck out of a D.Hayes original.

 Chillin' and minglin' at Cloud 9 Boutique.

WELCOME TO THE LAB!!

Welcome to the Design Lab Inc. blogspot! Design Lab is a fashion co-op based in Cleveland, Ohio.  The co-op includes Cloud 9 Boutique, a showroom featuring 11 Cleveland fashion and jewelry designers and independant brands, Cloud Nine Royal Event and Wedding Planning, and Project Model Academy.  You can read more about the concept here: http://www.cleveland.com/style/index.ssf/2012/06/cloud_9_boutique_in_cleveland.html.

This blog is a behind the scenes look at all the fashion related things going on in "the Loft" as we call the Design Lab headquarters. In addition to parties pics, events, photoshoots (not to mention the actual designing itself) we will also bring you up to date fashion and style news, tips and ideas, and showcase fabulous Cleveland style along the way!