California Apparel News

Apparel designer Deborah Drucker grew up in the apparel industry. Her father, Severin Wunderman, designed accessories and watches for Gucci, three uncles worked in Los Angeles’ garment district as manufacturers and importers, and her best friend’s father was the owner of Chemin de Fer jeans.

“I grew up hanging out in downtown LA,” Drucker said. “I live for fashion—always have.”

Drucker recently debuted her Fall/Winter 2013–2014 collection and a smaller Spring 2014 diffusion line at A’Maree’s boutique in Newport Beach, Calif.

The Laguna Beach, Calif.–based collection combines upscale, urban chic with Southern California coastal breeziness—and a bit of rock glam, no doubt inspired by Drucker’s husband, Stray Cats bass player Lee Rocker.

The collection includes tailored equestrian-style coats, mid-waist vested jackets, leather pants, bell-sleeve tops, pencil skirts and flowy styles. Eveningwear styles are non-traditional, including floor-length gowns and cocktail styles with edgy cutouts, draped backs and leather trim. Drucker’s fabrics range from multi-colored, sheer leopard prints and alligator to ikat wools, silk chiffon, and jerseys in a palette of gray, mustard, turquoise, plum and green offset with deep black. Styles are trimmed with custom-made skull buttons and zipper details.

Drucker collaborated with her daughter, Sadie, a 21-year-old painter trained at Parsons School of Design. Sadie Drucker’s pop-art illustrations appear on a silk/leather/spandex skirt in the Deborah Drucker line.

“I use [Sadie’s] canvas art for some of the more limited and elaborate prints,” Deborah Drucker said. “I wish she gave me more artwork, but her work is very detailed, and she does not just crank paintings out by the dozens.”

The Spring/Summer collection adds a nautical theme to the rock-inspired collection. Drucker mixes stripes with muted leopard prints and trims garments with yacht cord printed with the skull motif.

Retail prices range from $750 to $3,500.

“The Fall is complex and deep, much like the city of Manhattan,” Drucker said. “Fall is for the fog and the moist and the cool air that winter brings. The Spring/Summer is light, feminine and airy, like Southern California. It is for the sunshine and the beach boardwalks.”

The designer works with a small team to produce the American-made collection. There is a director of operations, who handles sourcing and development; a graphic designer; a patternmaker; and an artist who works with Drucker to create custom prints and trim.

In addition to A’maree’s, the Deborah Drucker collection sells at Shari’s Place in Long Island, N.Y. Celebrity fans include Perry Reeves, Catt Sadler and Alexis Knapp, Drucker said.

“My dear friend Amy Nelson said that if she gets to go to any awards shows with her dad, Willie, she will definitely be wearing DD as well,” Drucker added.

For sales information, contact Aida Khourseed at aida@estarise.com or (646) 286-0222.