Nora Minas: Beginning With Jackets
After 15 years of working behind the scenes in the apparel industry as a private-label designer and designing for companies such as Johnny Was and Cynthia Max, Nora Minassian was ready to step into the limelight with the launch of her own line for Spring 2006, Nora Minas.
“I think now is a great time in Los Angeles,” said Minassian about starting a new contemporary line. She credited the denim market for bringing more attention to the West Coast. “There is a lot of talent in Los Angeles hellip; especially with the contemporary lines—that is a strong area. The vibe and the energy here feel right now.”
Minassian’s business partner Linette Gregorian likewise knows the fashion industry from the inside as the wife of Armen Gregorian— the business partner in Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent. Aside from the close relationship between the partners of Nora Minas and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, the two companies are not related.
Minassian originally envisioned her line as solely a jacket collection but now uses the variety of coats as the anchor and inspiration for each group. Each jacket is cut in texture-rich fabric, and styles satisfy every shape. A dark denim military blazer is a sophisticated twist on the military trend, and a quilted jacquard painter coat with a rounded collar can transition to a California winter coat. Casual meets dressy with a short gold rayon/polyester and nylon trench jacket and a cotton stretch twill cropped jacket with a silver paint-like coating.
“I’ve always loved jackets. For a long time, jackets were dead. It was all about T-shirts and sweaters,” Minassian said. “In the last few years jackets have had their revamp.”
Although jackets are the strongest items, the collection is rounded out with complementing pieces, including bubble, pleated and pencil skirts; and classic blouses in novelty fabrics. Wholesale price points range from $65 for a nylon beaded tank to $135 for a short quilted trapeze jacket and $225 for a sleeveless metallic duster.
“Hopefully, people are buying it, mixing it together and making it look funky and not outfit-y,” Minassian said. “I think that’s what collections have to be now anyways. Even if you show a collection, stores buy it as items and mix it with other designers.” For more information, contact the Elizabeth French showroom in The New Mart, Suite 1008, at (213) 488-5115. —Rhea Cortado
