Although these six local designers aren't showing at New York Fashion Week just yet, they did get a chance to show off their clothing on a local runway earlier in October at Tucson Fashion Week.
We asked them about the kind of woman that wears their clothes, Tucson inspirations, success in Tucson and the future.
Anine Paulsen
Anine Paulsen, a 24-year-old from Norway, has lived in Tucson for about a year. She went from making her first "bed-sheet dress" when she was 10 years old to showcasing her clothes on the runway of Tucson Fashion Week. You can find her clothes on her website and her Etsy shop.
Courtesy of Anine Paulsen
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
The kind of woman that wears my clothes doesn’t take fashion too seriously, and she just wants to have fun with it!
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
The perfect weather, the bright colors and the people. Pretty much everything is inspiring to me when it comes to Tucson. I think the city is so full of life.
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
Yes, I think so. If you’re willing to adapt to the culture, values and general vibe of a city, I think you can be successful everywhere.
Where do you want to be in five years?
In five years I would love to have my own atelier, possibly working with custom orders for special occasions. I would also love to have my own little store, selling my latest collections.
Kreate
After graduating from Flowing Wells High School, Carlos Osuna moved to Chicago to pursue a degree in Fashion Design at Columbia College Chicago. He hopes to eventually make menswear and footwear. You can view his designs and clothing on his Instagram.
Courtesy of Carlos Osuna
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
My creations are not for a specific type of women but it is what the dresses do that is important to me. For me I hope my dresses can bridge sexy and formal wear together. Boosting the confidence of the woman who is wearing my garment and creating a sense of overall self-confidence and assertiveness. I want my garments to make you feel as if you are the king/queen of the world and you run it.
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
Tucson overall is a very supportive town. No matter what is happening we have everyone come together and celebrate our victories. As for me, Tucson has a weird aid in my designing of clothing. Similar to what I do, Tucson for me is a sense of home and confidence which I then try to transfer onto my clothing. Tucson is filled with beautiful art and creation that many of us do not recognize or acknowledge. Hopefully sometime soon I would love to do a collection strictly focusing on the inspiration of Tucson.
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
No matter where you are or who you are anything is possible. As for me I feel as though I can be very successful designer in Tucson if I put my mind to it. Dedication and confidence are major keys to success which are both qualities I have and use very often within Chicago and school. Also you can never forget where you came from and for myself being a successful designer in Tucson seems like a step in the near future to reach my overall goal of becoming a fashion designer.
Where do you want to be in five years?
This question is probably the most important of all since it deals with someone having to think ahead and plan out their future. As for me, once graduation college with a BFA in fashion design and a minor in fashion business I have two routes open to choose from. The first route is to then attend another college in the Midwest for my masters in textile designs or something related into the fashion design. My second route is that I hopefully get scouted by a business and work as either a pattern worker or designer on their teams — which involves many internships and hard work beforehand. So the question of: Where do I see myself in 5 years, could be trucking depending on what lays in the near future; but for myself these are the two doors I waiting to be opened.
Esteban Osuna
Esteban has lived in Tucson all his life and has participated in Tucson Fashion Week two years in a row. When he was younger, he was exposed to exotic leathers while working in his father's boot shop. Check out his website to contact him about special orders.
Courtesy of Esteban Osuna
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
The kind of woman that wears my clothes is the girl that is edgy, confident, daring and loves quality and detail. She's a self-made woman and she's empowering.
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
I think the beauty of the city and the desert. There's so much culture here that a lot of people don't know about. The southwestern feel is a huge inspiration and I like to mix that with other cultures.
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
I think you can be a successful designer. I think there's a market out here for fashion that needs to be discovered and I think Tucson Fashion Week is going to help make that happen.
Where do you want to be in five years?
I'm not quite sure, but hopefully with a successful brand where my clothes are in boutiques all over the world!
Kayzrly
Kimberly Loyd moved from Kansas City to Tucson and has lived here for about eight years. Since moving here, her designs have gone from formal to edgy. You can buy from her directly.
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
I describe her as the woman with a rebel girl wanting to come out. She wants to look and feel sexy and fun, but without showing it all.
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
The beauty of the sunsets and the diverse assortment of plants. I also love the rich heritage of rodeo and anything western.
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
Absolutely. The population is so diverse that there is a niche for many styles of fashion. I think there is more opportunity for designing for individual clients or producing limited pieces for one of the many local boutiques.
Where do you want to be in five years?
The ultimate goal would being able to work full-time in my studio on my creative endeavors and not having to work outside of that. I love teaching fashion, but it does limit the amount of time I get to devote to my personal.
Qmulative
Quinlan Wilhite, a Salpointe alum, was born and raised in Tucson. He learned how to sew from his grandmother in 2013 and has been doing it since. You can find his clothes on his website, Fed by Threads, Museum of Contemporary Art and Presta Coffee Roasters.
Courtesy of Quinlan Wilhite
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
I strive to offer clothing that appeals to a wide range: the farmer’s market crowd, streetwear industry, sustainability-minded individuals (via Fed by Threads), children – you name it!
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
The history, desert aesthetic, and aura!
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
Absolutely, there’s a lot of great local talent + opportunity! Laura Tanzer just won Emerging Designer of the Year at Phoenix Fashion Week!
Where do you want to be in five years?
I’d love for QMULATIVE to be a staple lifestyle brand/community space/agency!
Theo Doro
Dorota Zglobicka moved from Poland to a farm in Vail and has lived there for about a year. She loves how different Arizona's weather is from Europe's. Her collections are available on her website and she invites everyone to subscribe to her newsletter.
Courtesy of Dorota Zglobicka.
What kind of woman wears your clothes?
My women/girl is courageous, colorful, she's not afraid to stand out in the crowd — in fact she likes it. She is definitely not boring and yet sophisticated. My modus operandi is “life is too short to wear boring clothes."
I am designing for women who look for something different than you see in shopping malls. I am creating the whole silhouettes, from blouse, skirts, pants, coat to evening gown and of course wedding dresses. My woman does not have an age. You can find something from my ready-to-wear collection or you can order custom-made dresses/gowns. My silhouettes are finished up with handmade accessories like necklaces, bracelets, scarfs, headwear and purses. So, coming to my atelier you will find everything you need to make your day.
What about Tucson inspires your designs/clothing?
My last collection Mad Dollhouse — besides a European industrial-urban feeling— is inspired by the landscape behind my window, which is prickly pear cactuses and other beautiful spring desert flowers.
I loved to see my collection at this year's Tucson Fashion Week's runway at MOCA, where Melanie and Paula created second-day fashion shows. Like I mentioned my collection has industrial feeling and presenting it at this venue was great luck to emphasize the mood of my collection.
Can you be a successful clothing designer in Tucson?
I think yes, and it is already happening. I have individual clients who keep coming back buying my creations and all the time gaining new fans of Theo Doro. I think people are tired of same-old-same-old clothing in thousands of copies on the racks at stores. I create unique, unrepeatable clothing, especially when we talk about dress or evening gown...with me you have guarantee that going to a party you will not see anyone wearing the same dress. I think many of us have this fear, at least I did have, that is why I started designing fashion to avoid this embarrassment and help other women with this issue. All with affordable prices.
Where do you want to be in five years?
Every year, with every fashion show or any event I am part of, I meet new people, new fans who falling in love with the Theo Doro line. My plan is to travel around the USA showcasing my collections, and come back to my new home where I can focus on my new creations. I look forward to seeing what the future will bring.
These interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.
