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| Wednesday, June 10, 2009 |
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Inspired Attire: Blood Sugar Fashions
By Orange Peel Moses @ 10:32 PM :: 1430 Views ::
1 Comments ::  :: Style, Art
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queries: George Peele
Stephanie Bemis has probably poured you a drink before. Having bartended for both Vinyl and The Church for half a decade, her highly fashionable presence is a familiar sight indeed. If you somehow imagined that mere tips afforded her a personal stylist, think again. Bemis has been sewing her own clothing for years. Custom Halloween costumes are a particular specialty. Until May's First Friday, nearly everything she made was designed to hug her own voluptuous curves exclusively. At a wearable art opening that night, she started hawking her babies to strangers for the first time. Several fashion shows soon followed suit. Bemis recently opened up to ImageMag.com about combat boots, stabbing herself, utilizing recycled materials and her tragic family tree.
How long have you been sewing?
I’ve been sewing for many years, but have not gotten serious until now. I've sewn for myself mostly--especially the Halloween costumes! Halloween is my favorite holiday. How many times do you get to dress up and act silly? Fun and silliness!
Is sewing in your genes? Does anyone else in your family sew?
My mother’s side of the family is very creative and inventive. My late Aunt Teresa sewed for the family and her daughter, my cousin Sylvia makes all the Halloween costumes for the little ones. Also, my late father was a poet and a landscaper as well as a singer. He would build interesting sculptures out of recycled materials. I will never forget the small airplane fan that he made into a bird feeder, as I still have a scar from running into it as a child. My cousin “Tiger” (real name Augustine) is a wonderful freehand artist. Sadly, he was shot both in the head and in his right shoulder (wrong place, wrong time). He got gangrene and they cut off his drawing hand after he had just started school for art. He had to learn how to speak and walk again -still broken speech, but has learned how to draw with his left hand.
Self-taught or semi-formal education?
I took classes at Emily Griffith Opportunity School for many years and completed their seamstress program. I still take classes on occasion, as there is still so much to learn. For example: you’ve gotta make a lot of mistakes to get things right. I had no idea when I started sewing exactly how much time it would take. Mary Beth Davis was my favorite teacher there, but is now retired.
Where did the name Blood Sugar come from?
Blood Sugar is edgy and sweet at the same time. I've always been the girly-girl who wears combat boots. I love fun and eccentric clothing! My clothing is mostly geared towards young, adventurous and fearless girls. Bold and daring. Sexy and sweet.
How much time (blood, sweat & tears) goes into an average garment?
Well, there certainly has been blood, as I'm accident prone and stab myself with pins all the time! I have yet to sew through my finger--knock on wood! A few tears...making my friend’s wedding dress, realizing that time was short and sewing for 10 hours at a time. I lost five pounds that day--didn't make time for food! As for the time it takes in general, it really depends on the garment. If it’s a corset, there are many pieces to sew, grommets to hammer in, and cutting and tipping the boning (which I wear safety goggles for, to protect my eyes from the cut metal). I love making clothing with odd materials. Faux fur, vinyl, netting, feathers etc... And, I always end up adding extra details. I am also fond of using recycled materials--old t-shirts and ties from the thrift stores.
How do you go about recruiting models for fashion shows?
I'm such a lucky girl because girls offer to model for me--I didn't even have to ask for my recent Owsley’s show! After May’s First Friday Art Walk where I displayed and sold my clothing at a friend’s store (Mike Romoth Designs, 802 Santa Fe), another designer named Joie Delores loved my stuff so much she threw me into the Owsley’s fashion show on May 13th. My friend Clarice came in wearing the skirt she'd bought and happily strutted down the runway for me. A model saw my clothing at Owsley’s and invited me to a fashion shoot at Suite 200 two days later on the 15th. Jay Paul Apodaca, the painter, contacted me for this show. Jonathan from the Meadowlark messaged me on Facebook and asked if I would do a show there. Earier tonight, I did a photo shoot with DJ MLE for her personal photos and another shoot featuring her for a potential tattoo magazine spread (either Status Ink or Rebel Ink).
Horizon goals?
Ultimately, I will have a website up and a team of seamstresses working for me. I recently purchased the domain BloodSugarFashions.com (along with .net. and .org variations). Unfortunately, the website won't be up just yet. Also, I plan on participating in the fashion markets that Brandi Shigley (FashionDenver.com) puts on and selling some clothing in the Denver stores that carry independent designers. There will be a mens' clothing line eventually, as I hear it’s in high demand. I will also be adding jewelry using large stones.
Can interested customers commission custom designs?
Absolutely. I find it easier to pick out a pattern from a fabric store and alter it to their liking. I will eventually buy a pattern-making computer program. That's another class. If a customer is interested in a custom design, I'll take measurements then we'll take a trip to the fabric store and go from there.
MySpace
BloodSugarFashions.ComingSoon
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