US Trendy Interview

About LamanBlu:
Cute fashionable kidswear by Holli Gibson! Each piece, bold in color and design, are perfect for children! Dresses, tops, pants, and backpacks- there's something for every free-spirited kid out there!

What is your inspiration for the season?

My inspiration for Fall 2010 began with "Reflection". I spent a lot of time reflecting on what some of the important messages in our world are that we should be paying attention to. As I reflected on our world, I firmly believe that God has given us such a wonderful place to live that we should be caretakers of it and live our lives as eco-friendly as possible. Many of the pieces in the fall collection are in an eco-friendly bamboo knit. I also spent time reflecting on our past. The cotton waffle knits in the collection are a result of that reflection and are vintage inspired with beautiful silhouettes and velvet and lace trim. The other major area of reflection is our world as a whole. A trip to India inspired the fact that we are one world and the cotton print peacock pieces are a result of that. India offers such a deep culture that affects us no matter where we live on the planet. I was also drawn to light inspired colors, as seen reflected in water or ice. The resulting color palette, which works across all the pieces in the collection is Prussian Blu, Lotus, Hyacinth, Sky Blu and Ombre Purple.


Education/Experience:
I graduated in 1990 from college with a Bachelor of Science in Apparel Design. I worked in Dallas as a designer in women's dresses and sportswear for about 15 years. After taking a time to start a family (and relocating to the Rocky Mountains) I went back to work in the industry, this time with my focus on children.

What drove you to choose fashion design and specifically starting your own design?
I've always been interested in fashion - my mother was a very fashionable lady - I always loved dressing fashionably and always wanted to put my own twist on things. I was drawn to starting my own fashion business because I saw an emerging niche of eco-friendly designer clothing for children, which I wanted to fill. Children are so much fun to work with, they embody not taking anything too seriously. They are unencumbered and free spirited... A perfect descriptive of the spirit of fashion.


What has prepared you to enter the world as a fashion designer?
Beyond my educational experience, I spent a number of years working in the industry for both small startup companies and large established manufacturers. I've done both domestic and international production and sourcing and have worked with many types of stores from small boutiques to large retailers including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Victoria's Secret. My father was a business entrepreneur as well, though not in the fashion industry. Growing up in an entrepreneurial environment is definitely a catalyst in my desire to launch my own business.


What has been your biggest struggle breaking into the world as an independent fashion designer? There are so many struggles in breaking into this business from supply chain to the challenges of doing small scale production to sales channels. I've been fortunate to have known about some of the hurdles from the get go and so have been at least somewhat prepared to tackle them. I'm also very lucky to have a great support team to help me tackle these challenges and overcome them.


Describe your style:
My personal style is very eclectic. I have a lot of different moods, so my closet represents that. I go from very casual - jeans and a t shirt to very modern - sequin dress and ruffle jacket with over the knee patent leather boots.


Your 3 wardrobe staples:
Well, I live in the mountains of Colorado so I guess my 3 staples would be jeans, snow boots and a fleece jacket. Doesn't sound very fashionable does it? Of course, we have snow on the ground from October through May so practicality rules for 8 months of the year. I am known to wear my snow boots with everything and carry my dress shoes around with me to change into at the last moment!


Favorite fashion decade:
That's a tough question! Can I list 3? The 80's has to be one of my favorite fashion decades because that's when I came into my own in terms of style, so it holds fond memories for me. Then I remember discovering the 60's - which is another favorite fashion decade. Such individualism! My other favorite fashion decade is the 40's - beautifully cut garments which were very body conscious but not revealing - very sexy while being totally elegant!


What are you most excited to wear this season?
I think I'm most excited to wear capes this season. A great way to layer in some warmth and you can dress them up or down. I've added a few to my wardrobe - a couple of cashmere ones in black and red and a fabulous faux fur one for drama.


One thing you couldn’t live without:
My family!


Favorite Celebrity Fashion Icon:
I think Gwen Stefani has to be my favorite. She's really a beautiful girl and I love her eclectic style - she can go from classic beauty to rock and roll to absolute glamour - and does it all well.


Perfect night on the town outfit:
My perfect night on the town is a night out with my husband, so the outfit would be a flirty dress that he likes and some sassy high heel shoes!

What are other activities you enjoy doing besides designing (art, music, etc)?
I'm very into the outdoors. We live in the mountains so we spend a lot of time horseback riding and hiking and snow skiing. I'm also a water baby so we head to the beach as often as possible to scuba dive, snorkel and sail.


What do you wish people understood about being in the fashion industry?
The fashion industry is a creative industry, but it's also a business. Fashion (as a business) is not about art. It's about delivering an exciting, high quality product which is saleable.


What is some advice that you would give to aspiring independent designers?
Be prepared to work harder than you think possible to succeed. This is a tough business, so prepare yourself. Listen to all the criticism you will get, decide what you can learn from and keep that....discard the rest. Stay positive, and stay true to yourself. You need to find a way to stay centered. Being too confident or not confident enough are both killers!


What is favorite Part about being a Fashion Designer?
It's the creative outlet really. My favorite part of being a children's fashion designer is working with the little girls. We did a large fashion show recently and there were a couple of things that really stood out to me and reinforced how much I love what I do. Afterwards, all the little girls ran up and hugged me and wanted their pictures taken with me - it was so much fun. Then one of the mom's called me later and told me how special it all made her daughter feel. It was the best feeling in the world!