CLAD's Accessories to Design
The Coalition of Los Angeles Designers (CLAD) is putting an accent on accessories and the accessories designers who have given the group a whole new dimension.
CLAD clothing designers Mhope, Eisbar and Mona & Co. get a lot of attention, but the 4-year-old group also includes accessories designers Linda Weng, Suzi Click, Kimberly Yu, Em’ Lala and Jessica Elliot.
“Having accessories designers is a huge benefit to all of us at CLAD,” said President Darren Gold, who added that having an accessories team helps the 20-member group give a well-rounded representation of Los Angeles’ diverse fashion scene.
CLAD showcased its accessories in its fashion show during Los Angeles Fashion Week in April. The apparel and accessories designers worked closely to present polished, complete looks on the runway, Gold said.
Currently, designers from CLAD’s accessories team create styles that range from ’80s-inspired purses to scarves and shawls made from vintage sari and kimono fabrics to jewelry designs that tap into Middle Eastern themes.
bull; Suzi Click’s scarves and shawls start at $60 wholesale and feature rich colors and patterns. The line mixes embellished silk and velvet fabrications with vintage sari and kimono fabrics trimmed with beaded fringes, tassels or feathers. The look is bohemian, eclectic, artisan and feminine. The 2-year-old line is sold at high-end specialty boutiques in Los Angeles, such as M. Cole and Harari, as well as in the Peruvian Connection catalog.
bull; Linda Weng’s collection features several groups. Included are disco ball–shaped silver disk pendants on silver chains, leather flower appliqueacute;s and feathers hung on rhinestone- embellished leather cords. A Middle Eastern–themed group uses 14-karat-gold filling and semiprecious stones, such as jade, mother-of-pearl and amethyst. Wholesale prices start at $5.
bull; Em’ Lala’s Emilie Pereira and Lalaina Edwards create nontraditional handbags for unconventional people. Pieces from their ’80s-inspired leather bag collection, which debuted last year, come in geometric shapes with names such as Wedge, V, Keyboard and Tuxedo. Each bag comes in metallic teal, gold, white, fuchsia and yellow and wholesales for $125.
“We wanted handbags that would bring life to our clothes—something that would give us that extra flair and that would make us stand out from the crowd on a night out with the girls,” Pereira said.
bull; A few years ago, designer Kimberly Yu worked at a high-end furniture company, where she came to appreciate vintage upholstery fabrics. She began to use leftover fabrics to create a cute, sophisticated handbag collection called U, which she launched last year.
“I reached a point in my life where I needed to take that leap of faith and just pursue it full time,” she said.
The 10-piece collection is durable and has a preppy feel with simple designs ranging from floral prints to bold color blocks. Specialty stores—including Jacqueline Jarrot, Matti D., Villa Moda and Tatiana—sell the collection. Pieces wholesale from $63 to $120.
bull; Jessica Elliot is an actress who started her metal jewelry collection a year ago to keep busy in between jobs. Her collection of handcarved sterling silver bracelets and pendants shows hints of mystic, ancient philosophies combined with urban styles. Pieces from the line, which wholesale from $25 to $250, are currently selling at Bergdorf Goodman in New York, Jennifer Kaufman and On Beverly in Los Angeles, and LuLu Brandt in Pasadena, Calif.
CLAD’s accessories designers say being part of an established design group has helped bolster their presence in the industry. They take part in CLAD activities, such as meet-and-greet events with stylists and the press, and Fashion Week runway shows.
“I’ve had a lot of stylists that I’ve met through CLAD pull my stuff for photo spreads in magazines and place them on celebrities at events,” said Elliot. “One of the best benefits, though, is meeting and interacting with people who are dealing with the same ups and downs in the industry and helping each other work through them to better our product.”
For more information on CLAD’s accessories designers, call Darren Gold at (323) 883-0878. —Claudia Figueroa
