Indie Designers: SWANClothing

You might be living in a hole if you haven’t seen Tara from SWANClothing‘s delicious designs all over the internet– she’s even been featured here before, when Michelle wrote a great gift guide this past Christmas season.

But lately I’ve been thinking, and coveting, Tara’s great thigh & sock garter designs–imagining the ways I could wear them out and about (not that I’ll be getting to do much of that, as Festival season is starting soon!).  I love the androgyny of the sock garters, and the femininity of her whole collection.

Could the right man wear the lace sock garters? I think so.

Her indie icon garters aren’t the only great piece in her shop though– girl makes fabulous bags, and I’m especially loving the ruffled bumbag– it’s got Halloween & Mardi Gras practicality and fanciful-ness written all over it.  Frillier and more playful than a fanny pack, but with the same delicious storage sensibilities… I’m loving it.

Describe the girl who wears SWANclothing: People who wear SWANclothing are definitely into the details. My sock garters are about that one special touch for your outfit. SWANclothing is worn by sweet dressers but also darker, serious dressers too. It has range. I also find a lot of my clients like something they can wear or carry for a long time.

What are the inspirations for SWANclothing? I don’t know how to describe it very well but very particular things register with me as a “real” design. Even though authenticity isn’t really attainable, I keep grooming ideas until they feel real to me, like that object was just waiting to exist. I really enjoy intersections of opposites. Opposites like the Ruffle Bustle Bumbag being Victorian combined with a harder, slightly sport feeling. Or women wearing sock garters that back in the day were for men. I collect endless images and focus in on a detail and make the object all about that really.

If you could put any piece from your collection on the body of any person, which piece on who, and why? Oh no, I think I am failing drastically at answering. But I really just love to see how my clients include my work in their lives and outfits. Really really. I love to watch the story of what I make unfold on the internet in that way. There is NOTHING more flattering. To hear that someone is carrying a tote of mine for a long time makes me really happy, or to hear events someone wants to wear their sock garters to is pretty much a big thrill for me. It’s all about seeing their interpretation.

If you could create a collection, without cost, supplies, and inspiration holding you back, what elements would we see in it? Oh yummy. Well, I actually love wood. But there is only so much wood you can put on a tote much less garters. But I love carved wood and there is some coming to my work soon. What really limits me is time, I am always fighting the clock. If I had time to hunt for gorgeous vintage fabric more I would, or vintage hardware. And also just be able to really take endless gobs of time to create my SWANclothing universe.

What can we expect in upcoming collections from SWANclothing? Wood! And honestly nothing drastically off course. My bags need to come out for summer soon or else! Expect softness, florals of course, but a bit of softly wilted elegant simplicity. I have piles of legwear ideas too.