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Interview with Shelly Miller
(Designer of the Month-Female)
By:
Teronce Styyles
mrstyyles@excapthematrix.com
TS: I’m here with Shelly Miller-Designer of Retro Ragtime Couture. Good Evening, Shelly. How are you?
SM: I’m wonderful and excited to be here this evening having this interview with you, Mr. Styyles.
TS: It’s my pleasure. I’m just honored that you could take the time to do this interview for eXcape the matriX.
SM: I’m just excited to be apart of this project.
TS: That’s great; I just have a few questions to ask you about Shelly Miller, the designer.
SM: Okay, ask away.
TS: First question, what does being a designer mean
to you?
SM: Basically, it means using fashion more so as an art to express whatever inspiration you may have. It’s using the model as a canvas in whatever artistic vision or inspiration you may have; in terms of creating an illusion for that model and then let them be that walking statement for your design.
TS: What makes your designs different from every other designer in the area?
SM: (Laughs) I like this question. What separates Retro Ragtime from other designers would be the fact that we use a lot of prints and fabrics. We take all types of prints, textures and colors that you would never think would go together. We like to do things that are way out there; you really have to be in the mind of the artist to understand the concept.
TS: Have you always known that you wanted to be a designer?
SM: Since I was eight years old I used to make
clothes for my Barbie dolls, so I knew early on that this was what I
wanted to do.
"People need to come to the understanding that
everyone has a season and what GOD has for you is for you."
TS: Who or what inspires you to design?
SM: I have to say a lot has to do with my faith in God because I never went to school to be a designer. My mother just showed me how to thread a machine and the next thing I knew I was designing dresses and prom gowns.
TS: How long have you been a designer?
SM: I will have to say since 1997. I started doing garment reconstruction, which is like taking old clothes and changing the whole look such as taking jeans and making it into a skirt. Reconstructing clothes came from my handcraft in jewelry because I’ve always made jewelry. In 2003, I took a serious approach to make it my profession by designing clothes, jewelry and make up.
TS: You design jewelry, so is that your first love and then designing clothes?
SM: Yes, jewelry is my first love. I always loved accessories, long earrings, long necklaces but what I noticed was that when I would go in different stores, they didn’t have what I liked. So believe it or not, that’s the way I started getting into the craft of making jewelry.
TS: When was your first project that put your name out there?
SM: Oh, I remember that very well. It was July 15, 2004. It was the model of the year contest hosted by Travis Winkey Model Studio. A few of the models needed outfits for different scenes to help them possibly win the competition. A friend of Travis Winkey saw me in the mall with one of my designs and he was so amazed at the craft of the garment that he referred me to Travis and then he invited me to assist him with his show.
TS: Wow, well kudos to Mr. Travis Winkey for acknowledging your talent as a designer. Where do you see yourself in the fashion industry in the next few years?
SM: Hopefully in Paris or New York and the reason for those two is because they are the main fashion capitals of the industry.
TS: Sounds good. Why be a designer, you could be anything in the world?
SM: I like to work with my hands, I’ve always been artistic, I love to draw and make different things with my hands. I always loved arts and crafts, I love the freedom. It’s not so much the designing that draws me to it but the freedom of artistic expression.
TS: That’s wonderful. Do you feel the fashion industry is competitive? Why or why not?
SM: Yes, it’s too competitive and it’s so competitive that there’s not enough collaborative effort and not enough cohesiveness. So I try to gravitate to people who pull resources and network so we can build an empire but do it on a collective effort.
TS: I agree that the fashion industry is very competitive. I think there are a lot of designers in the Baltimore area…if they just put their pride aside the fashion industry in this area would be so powerful. Why do you think the pride of the designers is getting in the way of not allowing them to reach out to one another?
SM:
It’s always that fear that one is going to get ahead of the other;
especially between a designer that’s a veteran and a newcomer. People
need to come to the understanding that everyone has a season and what
God has for you is for you.
TS: This is the last question I have for you; what advice do you give for the upcoming designers that are trying to get into the industry?
SM: First, know that this is really your passion
and this is what you want to do because for anything you feel you have a
drive to do, there are some sacrifices that you have to make.
"[Being a designer] means using fashion more so as an art to express whatever inspiration you may have."
TS: I know I said this was going to be the last question but just going back to your inspirations, outside of God giving you that inspiration for your designs, is there anyone that you want to give praise to for getting you where you are today?
SM: Yes, of course my father and mother. I really want to acknowledge both of my grandmothers because they are both dressmakers and seamstresses. They did this for a living and passed the talent on to me. It’s been in the family for so long, so my only hope is to carry it on.
TS: Outside of your parents and grandmothers, you have a brother that’s also a designer. Give a brief synopsis of your growing up and collaborating with one another.
SM: We have a very unique relationship as brother and sister, we are very close. People know that we are each other’s shadow. We work together on various projects, giving each other ideas and critiques. We both respect each other’s opinions. I’m a free spirit and he is more reserved.
TS: Where can people find your collection?
SM: Actually, we have a website which is www.retroragtime.com and we are on myspace at www.myspace.com/retroragtime. We also have an online boutique, which is Image 7 Fashion Studio where you can actually buy some of the garments. Rags 2 Riches, which is a boutique in Baltimore that is located on 2441 St. Paul Street along with Exclusively Yours Boutique on 827 N. Charles Street, both market designs and custom jewelry.
TS: Well, Shelly thanks you for your time with this interview.
SM: Thank you for considering me for the interview. It’s definitely a pleasure and I’m humbled by the experience.