Meet Designer Tracey Tanner

I've been seeing these sparkly, finely crafted, leather pouches and wallets around town for a while now and I had to look into them. They were just too pretty to forget about. The designer? Tracey Tanner, a 34-year-old woman who lives in Brooklyn and makes a gorgeous collection of leather items including purses, clutches, key chains and more. (Her wallets and clutches are sold at Cameron Marks in Santa Cruz.) I had to catch up with the talented designer (and vegetarian!) to learn more about her. 

How did you get into making leather products? 

It was during my sophomore year in college that a friend made some leather body suits. I thought they were amazing. I started working with it and there was nothing else remotely like it. 

Can you share a little about your business? 

I started it about 10 years ago and have been solidly doing it for seven years. The staff is just me and my assistant, and I do have some ladies who help me sew some items. But everything is cut and branded here. I sew many of the items, too.

What's the aesthetic of your line? I make a minimal utilitarian product. Becuase I offer so many different finishes of leather, the line appeals to many different types of people. My line is made to be used; it lasts. My customer is the everywoman. She's on the go and needs stuff that works.

What’s your favorite item in your line?  The Fatty Pouch and the Sarah Wallet.

What’s your favorite brand of denim?  I mostly wear Uniqlo.

What fashion designer (or beauty brand) are you eyeing right now?  Surface to Air is doing some pretty good stuff at the moment. I'm obsessed with Bryr clogs.

What’s your favorite skin care item?  First Aid Beauty Daily Face Cream.

 Mani or pedi?  Both.

Lip gloss or lip balm?  Neither—maybe chapstick if need be.

Meet Kate Fisher—Co-owner/Fashion Designer of Synergy

Fashion Designer Kate Fisher fleshes out her ethical approach to life in every aspect of her company, Synergy Organic Clothing. She pays fair wages and employs women in Nepal to hand-stitch the applique on her garments that are sold at popular online fashion retail outlets like Shopruche.com and Modcloth.com. The textiles she uses in her extensive line of clothing are all organic, and her cotton is processed using low-impact dyes from India. Likewise, the headquarters for her international company, based in Santa Cruz, Calif., boast a family vibe and have a local focus. Fisher is one of the few "green"designers out there who is genuinely practicing what she preaches. As one of the most influential fashion industry veterans in Santa Cruz, we wanted to catch up with this designer, learn more about what makes her tick, and get some fashion and beauty tips from her.

What first got you into this business?

I travelled to India and Nepal in 1993 when I was 21 and bought some textiles and handicrafts which I sent back to the United States to be sold at Grateful Dead shows. That soon transformed into me designing my own clothing that I had constructed in India and Nepal. We now have our entire Synergy line made in Nepal.

What's the aesthetic of the Synergy brand?

We are a blend of casual, easy-to-wear, and bohemian, and our clothing exudes an organic lifestyle with a nod to the classic woman who never goes out of style.

Photo by Nick Chao for Synergy Fall 2013

What's the message or philosophy of Synergy?

We want people to enjoy wearing our clothing and to feel good about the way our clothing is made and the people behind the brand. We try to maintain integrity and consciousness in every facet of our business, from the way we manufacture our clothing to every small or large business decision we make. 

What's your favorite item from the Spring 13 line and the upcoming Fall 13 line?

My favorites from Spring 13 are the Tank Panelled Dress, The Sleeveless Bella Dress, and the Layla Dress. (I tend to lean heavily toward dresses in spring.) For Fall 13, my favorites are the Organic Fleece Moto Jacket and Cape, and the Turtleneck Dress made from a bamboo organic cotton blend.

Photo/design by Nick Chao for Synergy Fall 2013

How would you describe your personal style?

Urban bohemian with a classic twist.

What’s your favorite brand of denim?

Rag and Bone, and Joe's.

What other fashion designer are you eyeing right now?

I really like Rachel Comey and Isabel Marant. I am always interested in what Tom Ford puts out and I pay attention to Alexander Wang as he has a very current point of view.

What's your fashion and beauty philosophy? 

Be comfortable (yet pulled together) and wear what makes you feel good and highlights your best features. I like pretty, but subtle, eye-catching jewelry and accessories to help pull an outfit together, and I like wearing comfortable yet chic shoes. I like adding unique pieces into my wardrobe and I avoid generic looking corporate labels and looks that have a mall type of sensibility. I am a natural girl when it comes to makeup. I usually do not wear any makeup by day and I wear minimal makeup when going out at night.   

What fashion tip would you give to someone for the upcoming summer and fall seasons?

For summer, I always think you can't go wrong with a feminine dress that can transition from day to night. For fall, I tend to gravitate towards tops in eye-catching colors that can be layered and worn with jeans and other pants. I like to have a cozy yet stylish jacket, and I am a big believer in having a good pair of boots for fall and winter.  

You travel a lot for your work with Synergy. What are your must-have beauty or fashion items that you bring with you?

I can't live without my Cosmedix cleanser, Dr. Hauschka Quince Day Cream, and Alba Kukui Nut Body Cream. When I travel, I always keep a nice pashmina shawl with me, which is perfect on the plane and accessorizes an outfit; a comfortable but stylish pair of shoes, and a top that can be dressed up or down. 

Heels, flats, or boots?

Boots!

Synergy Fall 2013 Catalog

Photo by Nick Chao

Earlier this year, The Penny Rose production team had the pleasure of producing/photographing/styling the Fall 2013 catalog for Synergy Organic Clothing, an international clothing company based in Santa Cruz, Calif. We shared our journey on the blog, and now, here's the final result. Enjoy! Big thanks to our extraordinary team at The Penny Rose: Photograper Nick Chao, Creative Director/Producer Christa Martin, Features Fashion Stylist Missy Schnaps, Hair Stylists Ginger Vaughn and Missy Schnaps, Studio Fashion Stylist Ellie Vilmenay, Makeup Artist Anna Wu, and Graphic Designer Jose Estevez.

Wood You?

Summer rolls around and I gravitate towards accessories made of natural materials a little more frequently than other times of the year. Shell, straw, raffia, etc., and this season I'm especially drawn to wooden jewelry. No, not the standard beads on a string or a dull, chunky bangle. I'm loving the beautiful, architectural pieces that are not necessarily season specific. Especially the jewelry with gold and jewel touches that I see continuing gorgeously into a fall wardrobe or becoming a year round staple. Here are a few favorites that I've found so far, but I'll continue to be on the lookout for stand out pieces that raise the bar.

Shoes by Sophia Webster

 

After lurking late at night on one of my favorite guilty pleasure sites, cocoperez.com, my eyelids were beginning to feel heavy and I was about to call it a night when I spotted a colorful pair of heels on Kourtney Kardashian. (Kind of embarrassing, I know.) They literally took my breath away (my cousin asked me if I was OK because I  I started breathing heavily), which seldom occurs when I spot a colorful shoe. Anyone who knows me is well aware of my crazy shoe fetish, which primarily consists of different shades of black. Or white.

Enter Sophia Webster. A young British shoe designer who debuted her collection for Spring/Summer 2013 after working as a design assistant to Nicholas Kirkwood for two years. She’s been awarded with several promising awards (like Conde Nast Footwear New Emerging Designer of the Year award for 2012) that applauded her keen aesthetic of effortlessly creating shoes that are modern, feminine, and commercially viable, yet creatively fresh. Not many individuals can marry the colors lemon, purple, pastel turquoise, coral, and black together without turning their design into something overly costume-y. For a full look at her collection, check out sophiawebster.co.uk.