Los Angeles fashion designer Evey knows no boundaries when it comes to creating custom dresses and her collection is ready for the runway. This Friday, August 23rd at 2:00 pm dancers adorned in Evey’s one-of-a-kind designs will surprise shoppers and spectators on the 100 block of Robertson Boulevard between Beverly Boulevard and Alden Drive with a spontaneous flash mob runway show!
Watch as a parade of dancers and models astonish witnesses with a professionally choreographed piece that will travel up Roberston. From a Wizard of Oz®-themed dress, to another made from upcycled men’s suits and ties, to a gown made from the pages of vintage romance novels, Evey is fearless in her work and the flash mob will showcases why her dresses know no boundaries. If you can dream it, Evey can create it. Please visit eveyclothing.com.
Who is Evey?
The definition of bold in the dictionary is “courageous and daring.” Those who are bold do not hesitate to breach the rules of propriety; they are imaginative beyond the usual limits of conventional thought or action, and they are fearless. (Random House Dictionary, 1975).
These are the qualities that characterize Evey, an innovative fashion designer in Los Angeles who is not afraid to break rules or push boundaries. She employs an arsenal of tools, techniques and untraditional materials to create ethical, sustainable clothing that turns both heads and minds. Evey describes her one-of-a-kind aesthetic as “wearable art,” which captures her innate ability to make anything beautiful and leave a lasting impression.
Evey transforms each client’s unique vision into reality by breathing life into inanimate objects without harming animals or using the earth’s precious resources. Her work is completely ethical and sustainable. No silk or leather here.
Evey shares!
Evey: Before creating a new design, I meet with each client to discuss their needs for the dress, such as the occasion, amount of time the gown will be worn and how intricate it will be. Then, I determine the best possible way to get them in and out of the garment that is as easy, secure, and hidden as possible.
Every project is completely different, so the closures vary depending on the style. I have used zippers, buttons, ties, snaps, Velcro and clasps; it all depends on the function the garment will need to perform and how sturdy the closure needs to be. For some of the performers I work with, they need an easy way to take the garment on and off, so I use Velcro so they can quickly change between sets. For brides, I make sure the gown is easy to pull over hair and makeup without damaging her look or the dress.
To create a mermaid tail for an underwater performance artist who swims 100 feet below the surface with sharks, I used a zipper on the side of the body that ran from under her arm to the widest part of her calf muscles. This was the most effective way to make the tail easy put it on and to ensure that it fit her like a glove.
Each garment I design is constructed to be wearable, but I also want it to be comfortable. If I’m making a headpiece, I line it with plush foam. If I’m making shoes, I make sure they are comfortable so my clients can walk, dance and stand in them for hours.
When I use more creative materials such as paper, metal, toys, wood, and broken glass, I make sure that all of the hard edges are softened with an invisible epoxy, or are filed down, and that any parts that touch the body are lined with comfortable fabrics.
Some of my performance pieces, such as the carousel dress that spins from the knee down, are used more as art installations than everyday clothing, so one can stand and dance in them, but it is difficult to sit or lay down due to the delicate nature of the materials. This usually isn’t a problem because performers only wear their pieces while on stage, but if someone does want a motorized dress that they can sit in, I can develop a creative solution and design it for this purpose. If my clients can dream it, I can create it.
Paperback Dress: This piece was created using pages from romance novels. It has an opening in the back so someone can easily slip into it. There is also enough fabric for someone to sit down in this gown and not crush the delicate, individually hand-folded vintage pages.
Fiber Optic Dress (how long do the batteries last?): The fiber optics use AA batteries. I once left the lights on in a display for over a week, and they never burned out.
Pink Patch Bridal Dress: This dress opens in the back with a zipper.
Flower Girl Dress: It slips over the head with an adjustable waist tie.
Upcycled Wedding Dress: This gown has a very interesting back that combines buttons and clasps.
Emerald City Dress: This piece zips up on the side.
Sheer Textured Pants: The waistband on these pants is elastic so they can easily be slipped on and off.
The Newspaper Dress, Strapless Corset with Short Skirt, Crystal Wedding Dress and Black Lace & Metal Dress
all open in the back to allow their wearer to get into them.
Questions:
1) SW:How did you get started in fashion and how did you decide to walk the true creative part of the fashion designer?
EVEY:
My grandmother, who passed away a few weeks ago, was a seamstress. I was very close with her, and growing up, I would sit with her by the sewing machine to patch, mend and embellish my old clothes. I thought the machine was magical. It would turn boring things into beautiful ones. It was my favorite thing to do. And I was always amazed that she could fix anything that broke.
I learned how to use the machine by watching her work and I later interned for Betsey Johnson, who inspired me to learn everything I could about how to design.
I love the hands-on, “getting dirty” part of fashion, from sketching and dying fabrics; to digging through scraps of vintage garments and finding treasures; to inventing new designs and sculpting the fabric or materials into an amazing, flattering, functional shape; to mindfully sewing and embellishing every last detail.
I am always looking to learn new techniques and ways to do things better, cooler, and faster.
2 )SW: What are your inspirations and how do you work around the vision to make it?
Evey:
I am inspired by everything around me, such as nature, people, existing fashion designs, colors, etc. Each client comes to me with a unique vision of what they’re looking for and I am truly inspired by each and every one of them. I am always thrilled to design something that is exactly what they had in mind.
3)SW: How can you tell when it’s “just enough” or “too much”?
Evey: I know a look is perfect when the client is really happy with it. When they put on a dress and I see tears of joy, I know it’s done finished.
4) SW: Where do you find your materials?
Evey:
It depends on the project. If I’m looking for fabric, I like to go downtown. For toys, I will go to toy fairs. Sometimes, I go to junkyards, yard sales, thrift stores or flea markets to find more creative or interesting materials.
5) SW: What was truly the most unusual pieces you have ever done?
Evey: One of the more interesting pieces I made was a wedding dress created out of men’s suits and ties. I went to a thrift store and got all of the materials for under $10, and to this day, it is one of my favorite creations.
6)SW: Do you have a way of working, a particular way of creating things– a procedure or method?
Evey:
I like to think of the way I create as similar to a sculptor, adding material to a body until it takes a shape that fits my client’s needs and exceeds their expectations. I try to be mindful while I create. I enjoy the process and try not to judge it too much. I believe that I am just a vessel, channeling this creation into existence.
7) SW: What would be the most amazing thing you would like to create?
Evey:
I have always wanted to design an Alice in Wonderland themed wedding dress and a Tim Burton inspired wedding dress. Actually, just this week at the BrideWorld Expo, I met a few brides that want me to make these dresses for them! I can’t wait to start.
8)SW: Anyone special you would like to dress?
Evey:
I would love to dress Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj.
9) SW: I loved the idea of the LED lights.. have you thought about that for accessories?
Evey:
I am actually making myself a pair of LED converse right now and I will be goin to an LED specialty store in Oakland soon. If you check my website (eveyclothing.com) in a few weeks, there will be some great new light-up accessories.
10)SW: What about accessories, though with most of your dresses one doesn’t NEED accessories…
Evey:
I have made awesome purses out of men’s ties, and I love decorating shoes to match the dresses I make.
If you can dream it, I can create it,” says Evey. “Every woman has her own fairytale vision of the perfect dress. My job is to make it real.”
Her can-do attitude has inspired a collection that uses recycled materials. From pages out of romance novels and exquisite crystals to fiber optic filaments sewn into gorgeous fabrics, Evey employs any material that will add to her vision, except leather, silk or other animal by-products. Throughout her career, Evey has customized stunning wedding dresses, avant-garde performance garments, beautiful couture gowns and countless themed looks without ever leaving a mark on our environment. Evey has been approved by PETA as a vegan designer.
Stevie Wilson,
LA-Story.com
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This is funny. I just today discovered these designs and pinned a few on Pinterest….completely my style. Great work!!
great collection dear…. people are very keen to buy on the spot.