Indie Style: DIYthing Interviews Designer Holly Stalder - Stylehive

In case you aren't privy to Portland's secret, we thought we would share with you one of our favorite independent designers- Holly Stalder. Holly is not only a designer, but has also co-owned the indie boutique Seaplane for the past eight years. Holly and her business partner, Kate Towers, just sold the business this past month in order to make more time to develop their own personal lines. Seaplane carries lines from local Portland designers as well as other designers who offer small handmade lines. When viewing Holly's gorgeous designs you may not realize that her design process is deeply rooted in environmentally friendly practices.

Holly's design process involves serious work. Holly often uses vintage pieces and salvaged fabrics in her handmade designs, taking time on the weekends to scout out vintage textiles. She spends time going to estate sales and meeting with shop owners in the resale clothing business who sell her damaged pieces that they can't sell. When designing, she usually finds the fabric first and then design something for it. Holly is somewhat of a DIY when it comes to sewing- she was taught to sew by her mom, but she has also taken pattern making and sewing lessons.

Holly is very motivated by the one of kind nature of vintage pieces and salvaged fabrics and trims. We took a moment to ask her about how this motivation fits in with green design.

Holly: When lace is still around after 100 years, it is priceless. I love the history and the craftsmanship of the pieces, which always keep my work new and interesting because I never know what I am going to source next. It is tricky business to label oneself as "green" when there isn't a standard for it, like there is for, say organic produce. My business is small and I am not trying to go mainstream. I try to be sustainable, I use recycled materials when I can and most importantly, I produce my line locally to where I live. I believe in the "less is more" ethic. I feel like people are really focused on the materials that are used in green design, but they aren't as concerned with where or how their products are made. I feel like giving back to your local economy, not mass producing and knowing that you are paying a living wage for someone is just as important.

DIYthing: The designers at Seaplane seem to take being green as a given, - what about the rest of the fashion world - is being green important for fashion designers today?

Holly: There are people in the fashion world who take being green very seriously and I have a lot of respect for them. They are educating people and making a difference and that is important. Even just getting people to talk about it is a big step. Sometimes I think that "green" and "fashion" are a difficult combination together because I think that the high end fashion industry is a frivolous extra for people with disposable incomes. The greenest thing to do is not buy anything. That being said, when small designers get attention for being green I think that the huge global companies that are causing the most havoc on the environment take notice of the trend and hopefully make changes. I think that right now we are on the tip of a huge green movement in everything, not just fashion. I think one of the biggest things you can do to be green is to only buy recyclable plastic, or no plastic. Plastics are filling up our oceans and landfills and are turning out toxins into the food chain, poisoning everything that is living.

DIYthing: Your designs often have very feminine details, is this your personal aesthetic, or do you see a trend forming?

Holly: It comes and goes as a trend- but I am always drawn to it in my personal designs. I remember watching one of the old The Thin Man movies with actress Myrna Loy and she is walking about her apartment in the jaw dropping silk satin bathrobe gown with huge bell sleeves and I thought to myself you could never buy that now- you would have to make it.

DIYthing: Do you wear your own designs?
Holly: I do sometimes, but my designs are very dressy and I don't always have the occasion. I always design for myself though, but a lot of times it is like cooking- you aren't hungry for it after you have spent so much time in the kitchen.

DIYthing: Owning an indie boutique in Portland sounds like a dream job for a creative like you - everyone knows what a creative city Portland is. It is such a progressive design collective, how is that going?

Holly: After 8 years we sold our business last month. My business partner and I wanted to focus on the development of our personal lines and have more family time. It was an amazing experience though and I loved it. It is great to still be part of a community of designers in Portland, it is a very supportive place to be.

DIYthing: Would you say that Seaplane's customer base is bored with mass-produced clothing? Do they even bother to shop at the mall?

Holly: People in Portland aren't as label conscious as they are in other cities. I see a lot people wearing locally made clothing and vintage too.

DIYthing: We see one of the Seaplane designers, Leanne Marshall of Leanimal, has made it to Project Runway. Will she make it to the final three?

Holly: I am a huge fan of hers! She is going to win- I know it! If she doesn't she should!