Do you have any interns?
We just added a fourth, but she hasn't started yet. I love my interns. They're so much cooler than me. A lot of times I'll ask their opinion when we're trying to decide on something like, "Would you wear this?" It's good!
Do you design for yourself or do you have a muse in mind when you're designing?
I almost always want to wear everything I design. The only thing I have to keep in mind is that I dress a very specific way for my body, and it's important to remember there are lots of different body types. You have to do all different silhouettes.
How do you approach each new collection?
It's starts off with inspiration. It's funny because there's usually a story behind every collection, and by the time it makes it to stores, nobody even knows about it. You can't tell because it's been so developed and there are only select pieces available. I also usually look back at the last couple seasons and see which pieces were strong and try to learn from that. Then it goes into development. We go to the big fabric shows downtown. Most of the collection is produced in downtown L.A., which is nice because we can go see it right away.
Design is obviously only one part of creating a collection. What else goes into it?
Once it's designed, you have to sell it, which is very important. There's a lot of marketing involved. Whether it's doing a cover or planning to add to a boutique, we're constantly working on marketing and sales and developing relationships with different people, deciding where we want the line to be. It's funny, once the line is finished and you're set with samples, you kind of exhale, and then you're like, "We're only halfway done, let's keep going."
Tell us about XO Eco, your line of on-the-go bags.
I partnered with a company called Blue Avocado a couple years ago for a collection of reusable bags—everything from makeup cases to shopping bags to casserole pie carriers. It's run by three very smart women, and I saw endless potential. We work with a fabric called Repreve, which is made from recycled plastic bottles. It's amazing what you can do with recycled fabrics now. I do everything I can to live a green lifestyle, but when you can do it without compromise, that's always ideal.
You just launched The Little Market. Tell us about that.
I launched The Little Market with my friend Hannah Taylor Skvarla. It sells fair trade products made by artisan groups that employ women, and we're focusing on countries where women don't necessarily have the same rights or opportunities as men. We're starting with India, Nepal, Peru, and Bolivia. Our goal is to add four countries every year, and to actually go and visit the groups in these countries. Hannah does a lot of work with human rights organizations, so she's really well-educated about the issues. She and I have been traveling together for years. When we go to different countries, our favorite thing to do is go to marketplaces because you find these amazing things you just can't find anywhere else. So we came up with the idea as a way to combine two things we love—hunting for unique items and supporting the women who make them.
What advice would you give to aspiring designers or entrepreneurs?
Be prepared to work very hard and do something that you love.
What's your favorite part of your job, and what's the hardest?
The hardest part is balance—making sure you devote time to the people in your life as well as your projects. The best part is all of it! It's getting to do something you enjoy.
Do you have any favorite trends for fall? What are you currently obsessed with?
I really love the menswear trend. It used to be a tougher look, but it's gotten more sleek this season with all the tudo details. I've done a couple tudo-inspired jackets for both of my lines. I really like them paired with an ultra-feminine piece or with a simpler outfit. They just sort of elevate it. I'm also a big fan of leather. I'm a year-round leather person, but it's more respectable once fall comes around, so I always get excited.
