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Fashion Friday: Tennille McMillan of @naKIMuliinc & shanae
It’s the first official Fashion Friday here @ Curvatude and I am starting off with a treat.
{yes i know its tuesday but i did begin and have this post planned for friday and ran into technical difficulties..so here ya go!}
A few weeks back I spent a little time chatting with Tennille McMillan the fabulous trailblazing woman behind the naKIMuli and shanae lines.
{yes i know its tuesday but i did begin and have this post planned for friday and ran into technical difficulties..so here ya go!}
A few weeks back I spent a little time chatting with Tennille McMillan the fabulous trailblazing woman behind the naKIMuli and shanae lines.
I was geeked to interview her because I love her work and I love it even more that she offers a lot of her pieces in plus size and is more than willing to create custom plus size pieces.
{note: this interview was conducted 12/10/09 so any references to additions, etc should already be available or in the works in the shops}
Curvatude: Can you tell me how you got started?
Tennille: I taught myself how to sew in 1998/99. First hand sewing, then my mom got a sewing machine for me for Christmas that yr + I’ve been designing since then.
Curvatude: Your designs are very laid back and flowy. What influences your style?
Tennille I think being a dancer for most of life definitely has influenced how I design
Curvatude: Yeah, I can see that. Everything is very free flowing.
Tennille: LOL. And I use jersey fabrics, which is very much a dance fabric
Curvatude: I love the Ice Mambo Dress and the True Essence Dress is such a great combination of fabrics.
Tennille: Thanks.
Curvatude: I know that certain styles on your sites note that you can do plus sizes, does that include these great dresses? Plus size girls are always looking for funky pieces.
Tennille: Yes. I actually just did the Ice Mambo Dress in plus size for a customer.
Curvatude: So how would a plus size girl go about requesting one of your pieces that do not automatically come in plus sizes and is there a price differential?
Tennille: There is a price difference for plus size. They can just email me and I can give them more info. I will soon have a section in my shop for plus size but I just wanna get a plus size model to wear the items. That’s coming in the new yr.
Tennille: Yay!
Curvatude: Now the Brooch! It is so fun and wild. I love it. How did that come about?
Tennille: The week of Thanksgiving, I made myself a tulle bow headband. I always wanted to make a bow headband but just never got around to doing it. I had so much fun wearing the headband that I wanted to make more in different colors and fabrics. I made one and I did not like how it looked on my head. It looked floppy. So i was like ummm…how would it look here? Placing it on my body and that is how the brooch was born.
Curvatude: LOL. Cool…now the Erica Belts, those are fun. Where did the name come from?
Tennille: The Erica Belt, the name came from the 1st customer who requested it. Sometimes when a friend or customer or whoever gives me an idea, I may name the garment after them.
Curvatude: Aww…that’s nice. I need to order that in the Smokey and the Spice. I just love the color options.
Tennille: Thanks. I am adding more colors next week.
Curvatude: And the cowl. It’s so perfect for all year round.
Tennille: Yes! It is my best seller by far! And right now, my life is consumed by cowls! People keep ordering them! LOL.
Curvatude: I bet. It’s just perfect. And I am a big ruched fan so the ruched link belt caught my eye. When will the other colors be back in stock?
Tennille: naKIMuli is gonna be edited soon so it will be easier to navigate and most of them will be back but the fabric place I frequent ran out of the plum, leopard and brick, so those won’t be back.
Curvatude: Ohh..
Tennille: And the leopard is coming back in a different color; black and grey.
Curvatude: Well that should be nice. I also saw the “Mishmash Dress” on your blog. Tell me about that.
Tennille: I got the idea from a dress I saw in an old Vogue mag. So I just put my spin on it. It’s called the Goin’ on a Holiday Dress and it will come in that white print w/red and red print w/black.
Curvatude: I love it. Will it be available in plus size also?
Tennille: Yes, though the white one is limited edition. Only two will be made unless I can get my hands on more of that fabric! I am gonna check on it tomorrow and the dresses SHOULD be available tomorrow {remember this interview was conducted 12/10/09}
Curvatude: Sweet! That should be a huge seller. Now other than dance, what or who are your influences?
Tennille: I hate this question because I never know what to say LOL I am influenced by everything! I like to design from a place of comfort and fun and daring. I really love McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Vivenne Westwood, Balenciaga, Mui Mui, those are some of my favs.
Another influence is MUSIC. I listen to a lot of music. Different music makes me wanna design and wear different things…so dance, comfort, fun and different music influence me the most. And some say brooklyn, that my style is very brooklyn. LOL.
Curvatude: LOL. Yes, I would agree to an extent.
Tennille: LOL. That always makes me laugh
Curvatude: But one last question and then I will let you go. And yes, it’s that other question that most people have a hard time answering.
Tennille: Ok.
Curvatude: What’s next for your business?
Tennille: Oh goodness!
Curvatude: LOL.
Tennille: How long do u have? LOL.
Curvatude: LOL. As long as you need.
Tennille: LOL. We will be here until tomorrow. LOL.
Curvatude: LOL.
Tennille: But seriously, I will try to condense it.
Curvatude: Ok.
Tennille: So I just introduced the new label shanae, so I plan on building that brand. So far I have gotten a great response, so…1-build up shanae, 2-polish naKIMuli and keep bringing more new things, 3-open up my own online megastore (away from etsy), 4-work/continue to work with emerging artists/singers/etc including celebs, 5-take over the world!
LOL.
Curvatude: LOL. I love #5.
Tennille: LOL. Thanks. The plan also includes adding more plus sizes. Because you ladies have been showing me a lot of love lately.
Curvatude: We show love where we get it! Do you have any shows in the works?
Tennille: Shows? I may do one for next fashion week but shows cost money. LOL. But I must say that I am getting to a point where I will be ok to spend money on a show. Just have to make sure that I can benefit from it. You know?
Tennille: Yeah me and a friend of mine may do one together I just have to evaluate when and how to do it that makes sense to me. But I am looking to MAYBE do one in February for fashion week. I already have a venue, just gotta figure stuff out.
Curvatude: Great. Glad to hear it. On that note, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me. Continued success to you and I will be placing an order soon!
Tennille: Cool! Thanks for the interview/chat.
{I am sure it’s gonna be something fabulous to witness, so keep your eyes open for Tennille’s ever expanding world take over. Visit her blog and support her shops!}