Pulse:

Lee: We (the Voltage committee) certainly did a lot of “well, when we do this next year” talking, but I think everything was up in the air until last December. It is a lot of work for a group of people with day jobs. But when it came down to it, we were all for giving it another go. Once we decided on the bands, things really started moving. I was more than pleased with the response to the show last year. It was incredible to see so many people excited about it.

Something that makes the show successful is the fact that we bring so many talented people together to work with each other, in an environment that is more collaborative and supportive than competitive. I think that is why it has grown this year. I would love for the show to become an annual tradition. I think it will be official once we do the third annual Voltage.

Pulse: When most lay people think about fashion design, they tend to assume that most of the action is happening solely on the coasts or in Europe. I’m assuming the truth is actually quite a bit more complicated. How do you feel the Minneapolis/St. Paul fashion scene stacks up against higher profile fashion hubs around the world? What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of being physically distanced from the traditional fashion centers of the world?

Lee: You are correct, it is rather complicated. And you can get different answers depending on who you talk to. I believe that we have an incredible concentration of talent here in the Twin Cities, so it has little to do with that. A lot of it has to do with the local market, resources and promotion.

If we are to create a sustainable design community in the Twin Cities, it is important that we have the support of local merchants and consumers. I say this knowing that sometimes the merchants can have a difficult time finding consistent product from local designers. This is where resources become a huge factor. It can be expensive to produce a line, much less a size run of one particular garment.

A designer has a rather bleak outlook on the design scene if they spend hundreds of hours putting together a line for a fashion show and receive no inquiries. And even if they did, how are they going to manage the production workload to follow through with all of the orders? Many designers are looking for sewing resources when everyone they know who sews is spending time on their own designs. So, this is where the promotion comes in. It is important to increase local recognition for these designers and to get their work into boutiques and fashion shows in other cities to build the reputation of the Minneapolis/St. Paul scene and its many designers. I feel we have a long way to go, but we have a great start.

As the world gets smaller through the obvious technological advances, our physical location becomes less of an issue. Places like Portland, Seattle and Austin (Texas) are good examples. (Note that these cities are also known for their music scenes!)

Pulse: You’ve managed to corral an impressive array of local bands to play this year’s show. More than a few of them are conspicuously fashionable acts—the orange jumpsuit statement of the Olympic Hopefuls may very well soon sweep the nation. All kidding aside, was there any effort to intentionally select bands with a pretty defined sense of style and fashion friendly flair? Certainly groups like the TV Sound, Soviettes and Melodious Owl are memorable for both the visual and aural aspects of their performance.

Lee: I worked with David de Young (howwastheshow.com) and Kate Galloway (Vamp Music) to select a group of bands that would not only be dynamic on stage, but would be exciting for designers to collaborate with and create a very diverse show. The job of the designers is not to take a fashionless band and make them over. Instead, it is to work with the bands to “amplify” the style that already exists, while adding their own artistic expression in there.

Pulse: I’m far from a fashion expert, but—judging from the photos I’ve seen—it seems like there was a conscious effort to include work from all walks of the fashion world, from more traditional and understated work to some pretty sensational outfits. With so many designers applying to present at the showcase, what was the criteria used to finalize the lineup of presenters at the show?

Lee: That is something I love about the local design scene—the diversity. I could have produced two shows this spring with the amount of designers who applied for the show this year, and I know that there must be many more designers out there that didn’t hear about the call for entry. Each designer submitted images and/or sketches of their work. If they were interested in designing for a band, they were required to put together a design proposal. The decisions were difficult. Very, very difficult. I ended up selecting designers that fit the theme of each segment.

Pulse: When I interviewed Gretchen Williams [director of the Sound Unseen Festival featuring music-related movies by a number of local filmmakers] one of the things she talked about was using the high profile of the local music scene and linking it up to local film as a way to spotlight talented local artists in cinema who might otherwise have a hard time getting attention. Do you feel “Voltage” is attempting a similar thing in terms of playing off the local music scene’s strength to get fashion seen by eyes that normally wouldn’t be aware of the goings on here in town?

Lee: I would agree with that, but it goes both ways. There are many people here who are unfamiliar with the local music scene. There were many people who saw the show last year and found they had a new favorite band by the time they left.

Pulse: Last year’s show was a fundraiser for Youth In Music [a nonprofit organization whose focus is to create sustainable music education ensembles in the Twin Cities metro area]. This year the show will also be raising funds for a new non-profit fashion consortium. What role do you envision this new consortium playing in the Twin Cities community?

Lee: We are still in the planning phase of the consortium, but are looking to support, promote and educate designers in an effort to establish the sustainable community I talked about earlier. One of the first steps will take place just after Voltage. Local boutiques (Store Nico, Cliche and Design Collective) will be hosting the Voltage Fashion Crawl Saturday, June 4. It will be a great day to meet the designers, buy some original designs and support local businesses and designers.

This year’s “Voltage: Fashion Amplified” happens Wed. May 25 at First Avenue featuring music from Melodious Owl, The Violettes, The TV Sound, The Deaths, Ouija Radio, Mike Gunther & His Restless Souls and Olympic Hopefuls plus the work of over 20 local fashion designers. 7 p.m. 21+. $8 adv/ $10 door. This event is expected to sell out so get your tickets ahead of time! 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. Find out more about this year’s event at VoltageFashionAmplified.com.

SOME OF THE DESIGNERS, IN THEIR OWN WORDS

Rachel Carlson for Rachelle Appelle

With my line Man Ray’s Web, I have brought together my favorite children’s book “Charlotte’s Web” and my favorite photographer Man Ray. These fashions walk the fine line between innocence and sexuality; being whimsical even when you are forced to be sensible. I have worked to create a contemporary aesthetic for sportswear and eveningwear that plays off dark, sexual undertones, but in such a way uses fantasy, childlike elements to create a youthful, new silhouette. This line has innovative fashions for both men and women who want to look professional as well as creative.

Fashion design is my artistic outlet. In no other way do I feel as complete as I do when I finish one of my designs. Each yard of fabric that I cut and sew and dye and bead is my canvas. I view every one of my designs as a piece of art and thus I work until I have perfection. I have very strong construction skills, and so I am constantly challenging myself to create beautiful well-made clothing that people will fall in love with. I believe fashion should be fun and explore new personalities.

Taissa Lada Hrenchyshyn

My clothing represents a modern-day interpretation of visions from the past. Many of my inspirations stem from the movie “The Dark Crystal”; the 1920s and ’30s; surrealism; and the classic “little black dress.” I specialize in high-end eveningwear, accessories, one-of-a-kind garments and ready-to-wear items. My designs have a modern-day feel accompanied with a vintage flair, and touched with a mysterious and whimsical twist.

The collection I am showing is based on the “elements”: earth, fire, water and air. I do not think that fashion is something that should ever be taken too seriously, but rather something that should be enjoyed, appreciated and most of all accepted.
Basically, I feel that people should wear what they like and what they feel most comfortable in, not what the media tell us. It’s a field that is constantly changing and taking on new directions, ideas and philosophies. It evokes and provokes and amazes and astounds. It stirs up emotion and excitement, yet often causes controversy and questioning.

It’s a high-paced field that is relentlessly driving down an endless road, twisting and turning but never failing to surprise us with something new and profound. No matter how many times the pages are rewritten, fashion continues to shock and stimulate, turn heads, raise eyebrows and, most of all, capture our attention and leave us thinking.

Emily Johnson

Fashion design was something I just kind of fell into. I’ve been sewing since I was a child, but the only clothes I ever made were for my Barbie dolls. I studied sculpture at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, focusing on the use of fabric and installation art. After college I struggled with my work, because I had no spaces to do my installations in. Instead of large-scale pieces I made small hand-sewn sculptures and embroidered drawings. I was itching to create larger work, so when I was invited to design for the SooVAC fashion show, I jumped at the opportunity. The show was thrilling! Seeing people proudly wearing my artwork gave me great satisfaction. That, combined with the music, movement and the crowd, got me hooked on fashion design. For me fashion design became another vehicle for my artwork; it’s like portable, interactive installations. For this year’s Voltage I’m focusing on the integration of my sculptural work into my clothing. I am incorporating materials such as: deconstructed silk flowers, plastic charms, mushroom birds and shrinky-dinks. These more unusual elements will be paired with simpler pieces in asymmetrical cuts and, of course, loads of accessories.

Katy Gerdes

My design philosophy is pretty simple: I believe that fashion should be fun, creative and (contrary to many of today’s designs), comfortable. When I’m designing, I try to keep the thought “would I wear this?” in the back of my mind. It’s not necessarily that I design with the intention on making a new wardrobe for myself, but I like to think that if I would be uncomfortable wearing it, then maybe I should re-think the design. I wholly believe that no matter how creative and original your designs are, if the person wearing it is not comfortable, then it simply defeats the purpose. If someone feels good in what they are wearing, then they’ll look good. And if it looks good, then conversely they’ll feel good...it’s just that simple.

For Voltage, my design inspiration started from the idea of finding out how far you could blend the mixture of casual everyday wear with more formal dressing. I’ve always been one to try and push the limits on how casual I could dress and still get away with being considered “dressed up,” such as wearing a nice skirt with my tennis shoes for my mothers wedding or trying to work the “dress over pants” look for church. I consider it a privilege to design for this show...first because it’s a fundraiser for a great cause, but also because it gives me the opportunity to combine my technical and creative talents from my design education with my desire to create designs that push the limits yet really work in real life.

MacKenzie Labine (Oishii Momo designs)

At first glance Oishii Momo designs look like they could come from an off-Broadway show of “Alice In Wonderland.” My clothes are futuristic and renaissance, whimsical and sexy, and even a little bit fantastical. I want my designs to inspire women to frolic in fields of poppies, have an afternoon tea, and then pull an all-nighter at the disco—all in one day.
I started sewing seven years ago but didn’t start designing pieces until three years ago. I have just put my first collection together for a couple of local runway shows.

Being completely self-taught, my technique is somewhat unconventional. This makes for fresh and innovative clothes. My inspiration comes from European couture and Japanese streetwear like Alexander McQueen, Fornarina, Hysteric Glamour and Moschino. The name “Oishii Momo” comes from my love of Japanese pop culture and all things girly and sexy. It means “Yummy Peach.”

Fashion is my way of putting light into the world. I feel that people take their clothing too seriously and I’m hoping that I can encourage and inspire women to be more confident and daring in their expression. I’m planning a street wear collection that I hope to have available to local boutiques by fall. ||

This year’s “Voltage: Fashion Amplified” happens Wed. May 25 at First Avenue featuring music from Melodious Owl, The Violettes, The TV Sound, The Deaths, Ouija Radio, Mike Gunther & His Restless Souls and Olympic Hopefuls plus the work of over 20 local fashion designers. 7 p.m. 21+. $8 adv/ $10 door. This event is expected to sell out so get your tickets ahead of time! 701 First Ave. N., Mpls. 612-338-8388. Find out more about this year’s event at VoltageFashionAmplified.com.