Runway for Hope: Designer Interview

A couple of weeks back, we were invited to attend the Runway for Hope, hosted by Fashion 613. The aim of this charity fashion gala is to bring fashion to Ottawa, while simultaneously raising money and awareness for women suffering from abuse and live in shelters. This fresh and fashionable event will be taking place on July 27th at the National Arts Centre, and we’ll be giving you front row coverage all evening!

The fashion show will showcase some of the city’s brightest young talent, and we got the chance to speak with one of them. Heather Graziano is a recent graduate of the Richard Robinson Fashion Academy, which hosts the annual Grand Premiere that we covered a few months ago. This’ll be her second year designing a collection for Runway for Hope.

Being fashion bloggers, we’re naturally interested in learning about peoples’ personal style, so meeting with Heather presented us with a unique opportunity to hear about fashion from a different perspective – the design process, the inspiration, the work that goes into creating the clothes themselves. So we seized the opportunity to hear what it’s like to be a student designer. She even gave us a tour of the Richard Robinson Fashion Academy – now this is behind the scenes! Needless to say, we’ve definitely learned a lot!

Describe the design process, from conceptualizing to actually creating. What happens?
Its a very long process. I started sketching in the fall, and didn’t have proper sketches [for some time], and even when I did, I was changing them around. Then I would go shopping for fabrics. Sometimes you can’t find what you’re looking for, so you have to change your designs again, or find [fabrics] that inspire new designs. There’s been times where I’d start sewing, and it didn’t look right, so I’d change it!

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I think it’s a mix actually – people I see, friends, inspiration from designers. I had an internship with Diane Kroe from Toronto, and a lot of her collection is versatile travel wear. A few of my pieces [draw inspiration from hers] and are versatile as well. For example, I have a winter jacket that can be made long or short, which is good for wearing with dresses. Another skirt has a removable peplum.

Could you describe to us your personal style?
I think it changes, I like to play around with different looks. Sometimes I like to be really girly, and wear pastels and skirts. Other times, I’ll go opposite and wear all black!

Describe your collection form this years runway in three words.
Girly, but sensual. Stylish, but still cozy. There’s a little bit of sex appeal to my pieces too!

Where do you hope your career in design will take you?
I definitely want to start selling some clothes – it’s an expensive hobby. I also really love travelling, I have a huge travel bug right now! So if I could eventually get travelling and fashion together, that would be my all-time goal. I’m open to trying a bunch of different things right now though, and seeing where things go.

For someone that’s considering designing at school or their own home, what would you tell them?
I think its good to get some background [in technique and design], because there’s a lot to learn. But I don’t think you can just go to school – you have to work on it at home. Like making things for friends, a prom dress, [an outfit for] if someone is going to an event.

Where do you see fashion in Ottawa going?
I hope that Ottawa becomes a known fashion city. Right now, a lot of people have the idea that it’s a government city. So I hope it can become a city where, designers, models, bloggers – anyone that has something to do with the fashion industry, doesn’t have to leave Ottawa just to find something they want to do.

Although we’re both familiar with the Ottawa’s rep of being conservative, and has even been dubbed “the least fashionable capital in the world”, we think that Ottawa fashion is moving forward in strides. Ottawa Fashion Week is growing in popularity, and local initiatives like Runway for Hope and Richard Robinson’s annual grande premiere are starting to put Ottawa on the style-map. Even from our Facebook street style features, we have a great appreciation for some of Ottawa’s bold personal style!

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