All Photography & Managing Editor : Cheryl Gorski
Makeup : Dani Weiser
Hair: Andrew Brown
Prop Stylist : Todd Warfield, Lucy Mancuso, Michael Merisola
Executive Producer / Video Journalist : Richard Renda
Morgen Love (lead photo) interview By Cassie Elsaesser:
Fashion Maniac: How long have you been designing?
Morgen Love: Since I was 14. I started sewing because my family didn’t have much money. My designs then started to evolve over time, I sewed all through college and would repurpose old materials. I attended Pratt College originally for graphic design but soon switched because I wanted to do something more hands on.
I originally went for graphic design because I wanted to design album artwork for bands, Pratt wasn’t conducive to what I wanted to do with my art, so I switched my major. I wanted to start making clothing for people who move, I like to dress people for performance and movement its what inspires me. I don’t like clothes that you cant be free in and that restrict you, I would never wear something I couldn’t dance in and my creations reflect that.
Fashion maniac: How long does it usually take to design and make your jewelry pieces?
Morgen Love: it depends really on how crazy the pieces are, most earrings will take a half hour or so but some of my more intricate pieces can take up to 20 hours. I like to have a balance of super specialty pieces and a little bit simpler pieces; it’s a good balance of both.
FM: What about clothing? How long would that usually take?
ML: Some pieces can take me weeks, sometimes months. I have to balance my high-end clothing pieces with more affordable ones. It all depends on how intricate the piece is, for instance my hand dyed tank tanks I sell on Etsy for $35 but some of my intricate higher end skirts can sell for up to $600. I like to generate the money for my higher end things by selling more affordable pieces. I want to start having my yoga clothing produced to sell, that is my plan now, I want to make it affordable for people and start really getting it out there.
FM: Depending on the success you have as a designer would you always use Etsy?
ML:
Yes I would. As a designer Etsy really changed my life. I was able to
reach such a broad market I would have otherwise not have been able to
reach. Women in Sweden can ask for my custom made jewelry, and they do!
Even if I ever start to produce my clothing, my jewelry would always be
handmade no matter what and I would always have my Etsy shop.
FM: Where do you find the pieces for your jewelry?
ML: A few different places. There is a store in NYC that imports art from different countries such as Southeast Asia and Africa, so I like to use unique pieces from there. I also find a lot of pieces at Flea Markets and thrift stores, rescuing something from thrift store purgatory lets you know the animal wont be going to waste. The leathers I use are mostly scrap from NYC it reduces the amount of waste and the amount of waste in the fashion industry is unbelievable. I also have gotten dear hide from certain tribes, they are very good about the way they use the animal, being sure that every single part of the animal is used and not wasted, that’s important to me.
FM: How would the everyday women wear your pieces?
ML: A lot of the stuff I make is aimed for a specific demographic who love my pieces and would wear them together as I design and style them but then there is a whole other group of women who love my jewelry and wear it as statement pieces. They wear a simple black dress and one of my necklaces and it really stands out. My stuff id definitely not for everyone, I know that. But I feel that when my stuff does get worn with a simpler outfit it gets notices more and this city has really helped me with its support for me and for local business.
^Models: Ashley Harrington, Alicia Harrington, Janis Johnson
Morgen Loves jewelry and accessories are available on her Etsy
Custom knitwear and vagabond couture MorgenLove
Locally can be purchased at Wild Things
Any custom orders can be made at morgenlove@gmail.com
Leave it to the Fashion Maniac team to show that Buffalo has what it
takes when it comes to fashion trends and models who like to showcase
the latest and greatest. Check out the other shoots to see the national
trends and where to find them locally: United We Stand @ Tifft Nature Preserve, bathing suits on the Spirit of Buffalo, Black Velvet, James Scissorhands, kicks and handbags at Niagara Square, bowling, blue jeans on tracks, 1950’s, rocking scarves, the workplace can be sexy, raingear and the twins, Li’l Black Dress, Lingering Nights, concrete jungle, Hay Fever, the custom hatter, night moves in Allentown, Love Never Dies, Buff Designs, and the sultry bridesmaid.
Contact info:
Cheryl Gorski | Photographer & Creative Director | 716-895-1689 | 716-903-0600 | info@cherylgorski.com
| Also on Facebook specializing in: Fashion, Headshots/modeling/acting,
Editorial, Portraits, Bands/ CD/ Press Kits, Corporate events, Web
photography, Run-way
Cassie Rose | Specializing in Visual Merchandising, Styling, Fashion Editorial and Media arts, personal shopper, and blogger. E-mail Cassandraelsaesser@yahoo.com | Facebook – Cassie Rose | Twitter – CassieRosee
Dani Weiser | Makeup Artist www.hollywoodmakeupartist.net | 716-348-1239 | Makeup teacher, weddings, TV, Film, Print and SFX. Hollywood Sunless Tanning, for appointments | Website www.hollywoodsunlesstanning.com | Please call for any questions.
James Hickey | Hair Stylist & Painter | jameshickey@buffalo.com & www.mchezannsalon.com
| 716-901- 4499 | Specializing in: Cut/Color, fashion photo shoots,
run-way, weddings & social events, oil paintings/ custom interior
design paintings
Lucy Perrone-Mancuso | Prop Stylist |
Owner of Moda 1509 Hertel Ave | 716-725-6636 | Specializing in
accessories, antiques, jewelry, furnishings, buy & sell, motion
pictures/films, photo shoots
Todd Warfield | Prop Stylist
Extraordinaire | 716-289-1078 | Specializing in special effects,
production of designing and building sets, theatre and photo shoots
Andrew Brown | Hair & Makeup Stylist : Owner Salon Rouge | 700 Elmwood Ave | 716-884-1010 | Specializing in: Cuts, Up-do’s, Weddings, Events, Halloween Costumes, Runway, Photo shoots
Whitney Curry | Hair stylist for shoots, films, bridal, personal | Whitfemale@gmail.com | Chezannsalon.com
Richard Renda |
Executive Producer / Video Journalist specializing in: Runway , T.V.
Production, Fashion Stylist, Production Coordinator | email totallycool@totallycool.net
Cameron Richard
| Stylist specializing in : personal shopper, aspiring designer,
blogger | Facebook – Cameron Richard | Twitter – camronrichard | email camron-smith@hotmail.com
Michael Merisola
| Owner of Coo Coo U (modern antique store) | 1478 Hertel Ave | 716-
837-3385 or 716-432-6216. Specializes in: appraisals, special event/
prop stylist, liquidations, 1950’s,1960’s,1970’s furniture.