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The dish with … Tricia Hoke, fashion designer

By Lesley Kennedy

Denver designer Tricia Hoke

Independent Denver fashion designer Tricia Hoke grew up in Winter Park, moved to Denver after high school, and, instead of going to college as planned in New York, decided to stay in the Mile High City. She attended the Emily Griffith Opportunity School, where she says she received a great foundation when it comes to learning all things technical for fashion and business. She talked to us about her “out there” design style, how she finds inspiration online and why its fulfilling to live her dream every day.
 
On becoming a designer: I have always been interested in fashion. My father taught me how to sew on a machine when I was 5. I made dolls, clothes for myself and drew collections for my paper dolls. I would style outlandish vintage outfits for high school. I would call it a passion, or a distraction, that I refuse to let go of.  

On her describing her design style: Umm … out there? I am a person who likes to push boundaries.  I don’t get too caught up in who is going to wear it.  I mean, I  guess I should be, but I always giveinto my more wild and creative tendencies. When I design, I am creating a sculpture that also happens to be clothing.  I guess I have an edgy thing going for me. People who like my designs need to dig a little deeper … they are not just something to wear out on the town. They are pieces with a purpose and a lot of thought behind them. 

I know I am still growing … I am very interested now in design that is “acceptable,” but not boring. I forced myself into designing with a neutral color palette for my debut signature collection for 2009, and couldn’t be happier with the results. People have been really supportive, and I think my ideas are easier on the eyes when they are made in black and beige.
 
On fabrics she’s drawn to: I love jersey knit. I love it sooo much.  It is so comfortable.  I like linens, hemps, cottons and silks. But jerseys and other knits are for sure my favorite things to design with. I mostly design by “moulage” — I think that is the correct term. No flat drafting, mostly pinning and tucking on the mannequin out of garment fabric. So, I feel that, for me, knits work the best with this technique, and they are so easy to fit and wear.

On finding inspiration: My favorite place to find inspiration is using Google image search. I follow fashion magazines, art, trends and designers as much as the next guy. But the things I love the most come from weird ideas that strike me as I am perusing stream of conscience images at 4 a.m.  It sounds strange, and it is a little bit, but it is very inspiring to me to have so much information right at my fingertips.
 
About her new Web site, triciahoke.com: This is where I will be placing my signature collections. I will produce one collection per year, and it will be a multi-season collection, covering all seasons at the same time. Each yearly collection will be visible and for sale (most are made to custom order) for three years on the site. I want to have the freedom to explore as a designer, but the ability to give customers a reference of where I’ve been and where I might be going in the future.

On where to find her clothes: My Web site, Etsy.com and select pieces at The Fabric Lab and Mona Lucero for now. I hope to add many more places in the future.
 
On the best thing about being a designer: It’s very fulfilling. I get to live my dream every day, and for that I am thankful. I love being creative and connecting with other creative people.  Also, when I see women on the street wearing something I designed – that is an awesome feeling.
 
On the worst thing: Man, it is tiring being everything all of the time. People do not understand just how much work it is. I work all of the time. I also get all sorts of weird requests — a lot of alteration requests. ”Oh, you design clothes? You know how to sew? Do you want to sew a zipper into a cover for my RV cushion?”  RV cushions are not my thing by the way, in case you were wondering. 
 
On what’s next: Taking it one day at a time. I will do my signature collections once a year and build up that business. I have some ideas for more commercial clothing lines, and I am freelancing at smallish companies right now. I am looking toward the future more and more. I really want more training and want to develop my skills in the high fashion world, so, should I say it out loud?  Europe?
 
20 QUESTIONS WITH TRICIA HOKE

1. My go-to outfit:  pattern leggings or skinny jeans, a ruched jersey dress on top from the Velvet clothing line, shell earrings and a natural funky pair of comfortable leather wedge sandals

2. Guilty pleasure: I always buy expensive jeans. I can’t help myself. They’re worth it.

3. My theme song would be: I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl by Nina Simone

4. Beauty products I can’t live without: Dove soap, toothpaste and lip gloss. Yep, that’s pretty much it.

5. I get my hair cut by:Molly Haviland (freelance) and The Parlour.

6. Hidden talent: I can drive for a really long time. I would make a great truck-driver.

7. Must-see TV:  SpongeBob Square Pants

8. Best advice my mother ever gave me: Stop squirming! She gave me a lot of basic advice that was just life training.

9. I’m now reading: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Zombies by Seth Graham-Smith. I just ordered The Steampunk Trilogy by Paul Di Filippo

10. My perfect meal:venison, sushi, homegrown tomatoes, Syrah and chocolate mousse

11. My best vacation: my honeymoon – Mazatlan

12. I wish I had more time to: Read and/or hang out with my family in nature. We don’t get into the mountains as much as I would like. I’ve become a city mouse.

13. I can’t start my day without: two cups of coffee and checking my email

14. Favorite jeans:Joe’s Jeans, Earl Jeans, DKNY high waisters

15. Must-have accessory: Comfortable but creative shoes and hip glasses (mostly because I need them to see — but still, they need to be hip). I also have a fascination with really super ugly shoes. It’s pretty bad. I can’t help myself. It’s like staring at an accident when you drive by, you just have to do it.

16. Favorite designer: Madeline Vionnet, Maison Martin Margiela, Wolfgang Joop for Wunderkind, Issey Miyake,  Carol Young,  Miuccia Prada, Alexandre Herchcovitch, the ladies behind Velvet and Graham and Spencer, Sonia Rykiel, Rosella Jardini.  This list goes on, and changes daily.

17. Best bargain I’ve ever scored: Perfect condition, bright yellow and white chenille floral couch circa 1965 for $100. Love Craigslist.

18. Favorite movie: Up, Stranger than Fiction, Coralline, Girl on a Bridge, Me and You and Everyone We Know, Being Jon Malkovich

19. Favorite color: yellow

20. Signature scent: Don’t laugh, but I still wear Sunflowers. I adore it, it smells really nice on me and everyone always says that I smell great  and familiar.

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4. The dish with … Gino Velardi, fashion designer
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