44.

i found this interview with the designer of one of my favorite labels


miss lawn, for hellz bellz

PERSONALLY i like their 07& 08 lines better than what they have out right now.
but hey. maybe they'll drop some new BETTER shit for summer.

anyways, i found this interesting, u might also.





TBA: How did you come up with the name Hellz - Bellz

Miss Lawn: Well, it took me a while to come up with a name that I felt best represented me and my brand…

Miss Lawn: I played with a bunch of names.

Miss Lawn: One being, Violet Fury… yup, violet, not violent.

Miss Lawn: But that didn’t last very long! But the name that kept coming up was Hell’s Bells.

Miss Lawn: First I saw it from an old movie I watched called Hell’s Belles.

Miss Lawn: Then one day I was listening to the radio.

Miss Lawn: And the ACDC Hell’s Bell’s song came on.

Miss Lawn: There’s a lyric in the song that goes… “if goods to the left, i’m sticking to the right”.

Miss Lawn: Which was a PERFECT representation of what I wanted for my brand. A lot of women’s brands that were out at the time were pretty much your typical cutesy brand, and I’m totally not like that. I’m pretty much left field when it comes to my graphic style and aesthetics. So yeah… Hellz- Bellz (my twist on the words) it was!!!

TBA: You picked the perfect name for your brand. When was the day you realized it was time to leave you mark on the world?

Miss Lawn: I never thought of it that way…it was more like, me needing an outlet for my creativity and rolling with it. It really started out as a hobby! I was at a working environment that didn’t allow me to really show my full capabilities so I’d just let it all out once I got home on my computer.

Miss Lawn: Eventually I had enough graphics to launch 2 collections.

TBA: Wow…girl you know that you have serious talent! Especially for it being just a hobby!

Miss Lawn: Who me? Nooooooooo, lol

Miss Lawn: I’m ‘ight…thanks girl!

TBA: Yes you…girl please! Your skills are crazy tight!

Miss Lawn: Thank you… but what about you girl? you’re mad talented too!

TBA: Awww… you are so romantic…lol

Miss Lawn: I can’t do what you do…. a lot of people can’t do what you do.

Miss Lawn: For real tho’

Miss Lawn: I love what you’ve done with your blog and Mobliving.

Miss Lawn: You’re definitely killin’ it.

TBA: Awwwwww…thank you darling! I try [brushing off my left shoulder]. Nah on the real I thank Leah for the putting me on Mobliving for real! I love doing both jobs..I can’t front sometimes it’s hard to run around doing two things at once. Thank god Tabatha locks it down for the most part!

TBA: On the real though - Lanie…I definitely couldn’t do what you do! Break down seasons of clothing…primp & prepping…busting out warehouse sales…and still managing to keep shit on lock…I surely couldn’t do it!

Miss Lawn: I don’t even know how I do it sometimes.

Miss Lawn: But luckily i have an awesome team with me (including my awesome husband - Bam) to help me out, so I can focus solely on design. It took me awhile to realize that I couldn’t do everything on my own! I’m still not the very best at delegating duties, but working on being a good boss lady….. hehehe

TBA: That is awesome to have a close knit family based crew in the mix. Has it helped you through the process of keeping your creative juices flowing? Does your family [Mr. Bam] give you a lot of inspiration behind your collection?

Miss Lawn: Oh definitely… I get a lot of inspiration from my surroundings (music, movies, etc…) but a lot of what inspires me is my emotions and how I’m feeling that day… so you can only imagine how much being with my husband 24/7 can drive my emotions on a daily.

TBA: Hahaha…true!

Miss Lawn: He’s [Bam] awesome tho… super talented!!! although he can drive me crazy at times, I really do respect his opinions and critique’s on my work. Even if I hate to hear it sometimes, majority of the time he’s right and it just makes me grow as a designer.

Miss Lawn: Urggh, I can’t believe I just admitted that he’s right most of the time. I hope he’s not gonna read this, hahahha

TBA: HAHAHAHAHA….

Miss Lawn: If he does… “I love you boo”…hahaha!

TBA: Oh my God! We are horrible. I do the same thing with my boo-boo….I hate to admit when he is right! I usually just smile and say DAMN IT!

Miss Lawn: Exactly…I say just that.. but in my head!

TBA: Now for those who don’t know how to pronounce your ‘government’ name…can you please break down the program for those who don’t know? Hence - Lay - knee…lol

Miss Lawn: Oh Hahaha…I took awhile to answer.. I was like, huh? Hahaha, no girl.. it’s soooo not Lay-nee!

TBA: I know…lol

Miss Lawn: I always get that, I can’t stand it!!!

TBA: That is why I said break it down to those who don’t know.

Miss Lawn: It’s Law-Knee!

TBA: PREACH…take it to CHURCH!!! Miss Lawn!

Miss Lawn: Hahaha…sometimes, I’ll say… Lanie, like Lani Anderson.

Miss Lawn: But I feel like people nowadays have no clue who that is. They just say, “who?”

TBA: Obviously no one watches television…

Miss Lawn: Exactly or everyone around me is just too young… so sad! For me that is, lol.

TBA: Girl…tell me about it! Before Hellz-Bellz you have really worked hard for “the man”….how did you decide to take your destiny into your own hands.

Miss Lawn: Hahaha… I just asked my intern if she knew who Lani Anderson was.. and she didn’t know….Hahahah

TBA: [Cracking up]

TBA: Oh My Goodness…How did she [your intern] not know? I am going to have to slam a picture of Lani Anderson on the blog.

Miss Lawn: Yes, please!! lol

Miss Lawn: Oh so back to my answer, lol I actually worked on Hellz and for “the man” for a year prior to me parting ways with them…It was hard but it was an important decision I had to make.

Miss Lawn: All I had to say to myself was to do me, after I said that to myself it was easy!!!

Miss Lawn: and i was like, “I’M OUT!!!”

TBA: AMEN….CHURCH!!!!

Miss Lawn: Hahaha… And I haven’t looked back since!

TBA: I have to commend you! Breaking away from “the man” is a hard feat! And I am quite sure that working for yourself gets rough at times. With all of the other brands out on the market right now…how would you rate Hell-Bellz from the rest? Rating from 1 to 10? I say INFINITY times Ten!

Miss Lawn: Easy… TEN!!!…Haha

TBA: Click..Clack..KA-BOOM! Good answer!

Miss Lawn: Hahaha…

TBA: Do you find biters on the prowl? Have you ever noticed copies of your work floating around? If so…how did you deal it?

Miss Lawn: Oh hell yeah!

Miss Lawn: As a matter of fact, the last time we were in Hong Kong Bam and I saw a straight bootleg of my ‘Shit List tee… exactly the same!!!

Miss Lawn: Except it was called Hellz - Black….. Hahahhaha

TBA: OH SHIT…for real?

Miss Lawn: I was actually hyped

Miss Lawn: I felt so honored to be bootlegged!

TBA: You already have bootleggers copping your shit!

Miss Lawn: Lol

TBA: Did you get a picture?

Miss Lawn: Yeah, I’ll find the picture and send to you, it’s hilarious!

TBA: I so have to see this!

Miss Lawn: Bam’s looking for it right now, lol



(the bootleg)

TBA: As far as collaborations go…who would you like to do a collabo with that you have yet to work with?

Miss Lawn: Dead or alive? does it matter?

TBA: Doesn’t matter…lol. Alive would be good though!

Miss Lawn: Awww, ok hmmm… i’m gonna aim big and say Vivienne Westwood. I love her!!!

TBA: Isn’t she dope? My God, her eye is crazy…not to mention she is crafty with color & tons of bold variation & textiles.

Miss Lawn: I just love everything her and Malcolm Mclaren did for fashion and music.

Miss Lawn: Speaking of them and collaborations… my dream has always been for me and Bam to do collaborations with other couples.

TBA: For real…like whom?

Miss Lawn: Like, Perks and Mini & Kozyndan!

Miss Lawn: I’m drawn to dynamic duo’s.

Miss Lawn: Like John Lennon & Yoko Ono…. Charles & Rae Eames.

Miss Lawn: It’s inspiring!

TBA: You know that would be cool….wow! You know what…that is something that I would definitely like to see! Now let me ask you something…..since Hellz-Bellz has such a large cult following…would you ever “buy out to the man” and have your collection[s] ever in a ….let’s say Saks Fifth Ave…or Barney’s perhaps?

TBA: Shit…I can’t front…I love Saks & especially Barneys New York!

Miss Lawn: Haha, me too!

Miss Lawn: I would love to be in Barney’s Co-op.

Miss Lawn: I don’t see it as selling it… at the end of the day I need to grow my business, it’s just a matter of doing it slowly and smart.

Miss Lawn: You won’t ever see Hellz in JCPenny… lol

TBA: OH HELL NO!

Miss Lawn: (FYI, I meant selling out, not selling it) Haha

TBA: The reason why I asked…is because so many large corporations dig deep in ripping apart beautiful companies. Sorry to say it…but it’s some what the truth. And with your vision…and talent…I can see Hellz doing crazy big things…I just needed to know your outlook on the situation…you know what I mean?

Miss Lawn: Of course… believe me girl, I worked for those big corporations… I don’t ever wanna go back there! Especially with my own shit!

TBA: Can a bitch get a….AMEN?

Miss Lawn: AMEN!!!

TBA: Ok…now for the fun stuff!

Miss Lawn: Woo - Hoo

TBA: Favorite Movies..

Miss Lawn: Sixteen Candles, Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, Departed, A Guide To Recognizing Your saints, Titanic (don’t laugh, lol), Life Is Beautiful, Battle royale…. there’s so many!

TBA: I love 80’s flicks… Ferris Beuller’s Day Off was on last night girl!

Miss Lawn: Yes girl, me too.. my other favorites are: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, Mannequin, Heathers, Can’t Buy Me Love. Love..love…love Dirty Dancing!

TBA: OH yes….Patrick Swayze…Oh My!

Miss Lawn: Ummm Hmmmmm!

TBA: Favorite Foods?

Miss Lawn: Japanese, Filipino & Italian… yummy!

TBA: Oh yes girl…I love it…never had Filipino food though!

Miss Lawn: And I’ve grown to love Korean food too as of lately!

Miss Lawn: I’ll give you my recipe’s… Filipino food is very similar to Cuban food..Saucy!

Miss Lawn: I’m salivating now… Haha!

TBA: What’s your favorite past time outside the office?

Miss Lawn: Riding my bike with Bam & our dog Marley. And catching up with family and friends.

TBA: I have to put Marley on the blog….

Miss Lawn: Yes, the world needs to see how awesome he is !

TBA: What is your favorite possession in the world…other than Marley the wonder pooch?

Miss Lawn: Haha…probably my laptop!

Miss Lawn: Although it’s old as fuck… I still can’t live without it!

TBA: Dang girl…how old is your laptop?

Miss Lawn: Hmmm, almost 5 years old I think! I have no clue how it’s able to run sometimes.

Miss Lawn: It takes 10 years to turn on!

TBA: Lol… You might want to upgrade woman!

Miss Lawn: Yeah, so I don’t even shut it off anymore! I will someday…..that’s why i gotta work hard!

TBA: Awww…What’s your sign Lanie? You hold on to things as a Scorpio would!

Miss Lawn: Lanie the Libra

TBA: OH MY…Libra’s are good people!

Miss Lawn: We are good people!




random:

she used to work for jay...
she was the creative director over at rocawear