Was there a turning point in your childhood, growing up or at any point in your life that led to your pursuit of fashion design?
I went into design out of necessity; Since I grew up in a small town and fashionable clothes weren’t for me then.
Can you describe the fashion design jobs you held before launching your own collection, Taylor Tinker?
I started working in New York City’s fashion district, working for a home and loungewear manufacturer, and I learned a lot of important things there. It wasn’t the coolest or the most creative job, however; It gave me a lot of information that had an important role in the way I practiced my profession. During my career, I have worked as a stylist for photo shoots for prestigious clients. I worked with different photographers and editors, through whom I was able to learn about the world of marketing and advertising. I also worked as a freelance designer and provided advice to other companies. I also worked in fashion shows and collaborated with a large number of entertainment workers on a personal level, and designed clothes for some theatrical and cinematic works.
What advice would you give an aspiring fashion designer trying to launch her own collection?
Start with a very specific plan, and you must have an idea of the way you want to develop, so that you can support yourself on several levels, financially and creatively; It’s all about keeping your business for life.
What is your design philosophy?
I place great importance on craftsmanship and quality, in both classic and tailored garments. And I feel it’s important to invest in something that will benefit you for the long haul.
Who inspires you as a fashion designer?
Geoffrey Bean, who was quite revolutionary in his amazingly beautiful work, was a source of elegance, beauty, genius and creativity, and he did it all in his own way. Another designer and journalist who has influenced me deeply is Elizabeth Hawes. She opened her own fashion house in New York and became a fashion critic, and later a labor leader. I also like Norma Kamali; She gave me advice when I needed it most in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was revolutionary then and still is. I also loved Ezzedine Alaïa very much for being the owner of a principle, an aesthetic touch and a vision, in addition to his dedication to his work.
You are the genius fashion designer and artwork designer who designed the amazing creations for the world famous Victoria’s Secret runway show, can you describe the experience and how long the creative process takes?
This is the ninth season I have designed their collection for them; We work with the design team and try to define and articulate what they think and aspire to be in terms of the Victoria’s Secret brand, and what their ideas will lead to. We also work together to determine which products will be shown in the stores and which will be displayed on their website. And we have the luxury of designing something that we don’t necessarily have to translate into sales as much as we design an idea that people aspire to relate to emotionally. It is about creating a story; Something that moves people and makes for a great show. I was fortunate enough to work with absolutely wonderful people, including Lesage, who is responsible for embroidering for us — as well as for Chanel and all the couture houses. We also collaborate with the best shoe designers, corset makers, textile painters and jewelers. We have already started working on this year’s show; So it’s almost a year-long process.
How did your interest in designing artwork clothes begin?
It is about multiculturalism; I have always loved pictures, always drawing inspiration from cinema and music; These are the things that make up my stock photos; For me, it consisted of several things, and it was not only the glamorous world called fashion; I see that inspiration comes on many levels.
Describe your ideal day.
The day when things don’t go wrong, or if they do, something good comes out of it. One has to get over whatever frustrates one, and a ‘revealing moment’ may result. It’s this turbulent, nebulous moment that turns into something that ends positively.
