After graduating from the MIT program here at Western, Erin sort of fell into the fashion industry. She says, “it sort of happened by default--I always loved my great grandmothers vintage scarf collection, and I started making kimono tops out of them 5 years ago, when I ran into Mischa Barton at an H&M in Toronto and spoke to her about sending her a few tops, and a couple weeks later she was photographed in one! Soon after the capsule collection was picked up by Holt Renfrew and TNT in Canada. Ever since then I have toyed with the idea of developing a line, but it didn't really happen until I came back from living in NYC in April 2008.”
Before launching the label she started at W Magazine. She worked directly with Alex White, Fashion Director. “Best experience of life. She honestly taught me what it means to work. I became so efficient there, it was nuts!”
What was her inspiration for the Fall '10 collection?
“My mom's vintage dusty rose velvet jewelry case she got as a 16th birthday gift.”
If she had the choice of any famous designer she would want to work with Proenza Schouler. “I just would love to see what goes down there in a day. Would learn so much, those boys are geniuses.”
Erin’s all-time favorite designer is Nicholas Ghesquiere. She also uses Balenciaga for inspiration, “they are the new, the fresh, the future! I always look to them to find what no one else is doing. And to be able to carry on an ‘it’ bag like the motorcycle bag and have it be the coolest bag still after like 10 or 15 years since its inception is baffling to me! They are, to me, the most innovative house, but at the same time are insanely commercially successful...lets just say I die for balenc!”
What’s her favorite album to listen to while designing? “The Smiths.”
Her favorite accomplishments include “getting picked up by Barneys New York and Holt Renfrew in my first season! Being honored by Flare Magazine in their 30th anniversary issue for 30 of Canada's most influential and talented women to watch for.....being featured in ELLE/Women'sWearDaily as a new designer.”
Sneak preview of her fall collection: “It has an eclectic boho Russian feel this season, but there are always elements of military inspiration done in a feminine way. I have always been obsessed with hardware and the idea of armor. I think that always shows through in my collections.”
Our local star was just written up in Nylon Magazine. To read the article and check out pixs click here.
Good job, OHM. Glad to know you're out there. And thanks for the tip to this designer.
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