Chatting up the Lovely

Cindy Cook

The Love, Deming runway show at Montreal Fashion Week was as sweet as the name with bursts of colour and detail fit for any fashion-worshiping sweetheart. Most notable was an expression of colour and pretty spring prints in this Spring/Summer ’08 collection. Short, flirty dresses cinched at the waist with a wide ribbon tied in a bow paired with colourful opaque tights in splashes of turquoise and bright pink. The entire collection can be summed up in a word – fresh!

When I sat down with Melissa Taylor of Love, Deming, I immediately saw the parallels in her creative vision and her sunny disposition.

GLOSS: How did you come up with the name Love, Deming?
MT: I’m from Deming, Washington; a very small town with a population of about 200. The name Love, Deming is my way of saying ‘from’ Deming.

GLOSS:  Your designs are not only a creative expression but also a conscious expression. Your fabrics have been describes as “eco-friendly.” What is your favorite fabric to work with?
MT: My favorite is vegetable cashmere. It comes from soy fibers and is durable and extremely soft. It’s fun to work with (touches her dress and offers me a feel) it looks quality and luxurious and has positive effects on the skin. I work with many organic cottons as well as bamboo and hemp, but vegetable cashmere is the softest.

GLOSS: Other than eco-friendly fabrics, what other details and materials are signature Love, Deming?
MT: Cuts such as old vintage patterns, darting in interesting areas, wooden details and old style with a new twist. I’m often inspired by vintage.

GLOSS: Your motto, or phrase for your Spring/Summer 08 collection is “Be Engaging.” Can you tell me what that means to you?
MT: Be Engaging to me means allowing yourself to be understood by another person.

GLOSS: What is your most engaging piece from this collection?
MT: Definitely the Sophia dress; it’s a party dress. I love it and I come alive when I wear it. When you feel that way, you are engaging.

GLOSS: What is your creative process; for example, what was the longest you have ever spent on a collection?
MT: Typically a collection is in my head for months. The sketching comes together in the end and very quickly after I have worked it out in my mind for a while. When preparing for a show, I have to tell myself to make decisions and stick with them. For example, I was away [in another country] and saw a girl wearing very high waist short shorts. I thought she looked great so I incorporated my version of that look into this collection. But once I designed it I thought uh oh, what am I doing? But I have to remember that I liked it initially so there is no reason to second guess myself. I have learned to trust my instincts. I just want it to be good.

GLOSS: Is this your first fashion week and what are your hopes and expectations following the show?
MT: This is my first year of shows.  My goal for Montreal Fashion Week is to interest buyers.

GLOSS: Ideally, as Love, Deming grows, where can we expect to find your lines?
MT: In classy boutiques.

GLOSS: Who do you envision as your customer?
MT: My customer ranges in age from early twenties to late forties. She is a successful woman who loves life and wants her wardrobe to express who she is. She wants to be engaging.

Love, Deming: www.lovedeming.com