Meet the Interns and other developments

As usual, I like to give credit where credit is due and I have assembled an awesome team of gals who are helping bring life to the collection "Varda's Women".

Before I do the introductions however, I would like to give some updates on the dress now entitled "Triangula" that we were working on in the previous blog.

Last week, we basically had the pic on the left. after sewing up the pieced together triangles that made up the skirt, I decided that the design was way to chaotic and random for the look I wanted to achieve. We wanted more symmetry, so we redid the pattern and simplified the placement of the triangles--as seen in the photo to the right.

We like the second version because it brings out real structure that balances what will be a more fluid design on the bodice of the dress. And, I also happen to think it looks like a Chinese lantern, which have always been very appealing to me.

"Triangula" is still far from done and we are still working out the skirt details and by adding more volume to the bottom so that walking is possible, along with some bunching of the skirt triangles so that we can break up the uniformity just enough to add some playfulness too.

Now for the introductions:

Jessie Bedbrook Coming from a diverse academic background including a Bachelors of Science in Clinical Nutrition and an Associates Degree in Fashion Design, Jessica's primary interests include; multifaceted creative expression, artistic collaboration, social responsibility and happy thoughts. Ultimately, Jessica is passionate about the power of fashion, costume and design and how they can be combined to create not only beautiful artwork, but also a projection of personality and individual spirit. "I believe fashion gives us the opportunity to hold on to our imagination and express it as we want each and everyday."

Catherine Michelle Baranda was born and raised in the East Bay. She always had a love for color, texture, and shape. This tactile love brought her to the world of fashion and textiles. She went away to college at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia. There she studied fashion design and fibers. Her senior project was base on natural dying and sustainable fabrics. After college, she moved back to the Bay Area with her poodle Theodore Bear. She loves to sew, dye, screen print, quilt, and knit.

Dora Un was born and raised in Macau, China, which she loves so deeply and hates so badly. People there didn't really value fashion design, so she flew all the way to the U.S. to study fashion and get inspired by the people from the everywhere. Sometimes she speaks too much but she actually prefers letting her designs speak for her. She loves playing with textured fabric and colors although her wardobe is basically black, white, and grey (but hey, she loves colorful tights!). Issey Miyake is her super idol even though she also loves Marc Jacobs's crazy disorder thoughts and Alexander McQueen's cutting edge elegance. Maybe one day you will see her successfully combines all these great ideas into one.


Anna Lodwick recently graduated from FIDM with a degree in fashion design. After studying photography and fiber sculpture during undergrad in Maryland, she knew that she wanted to further her education. She also wanted to move out west--uprooting herself and replanting in a place that inspired her. Now she has lived here for a year and a half and is excited to be exploring the world of small fashion designers. She is hoping to have her own line later this year.


Sarah Terranella is a design student at San Francisco State University. She likes to sew all the time, drink entirely too much Redbull, coffee, and any other form of caffeine and she is left handed. She spends most of her disposable income on fabric, food, and really cool buttons.