NEW collaborations with old friends: zagb in Mellina+Co's Spring '12 lookbook

 Zaida Adriana Goveo Balmaseda featured in Mellina + Co's Spring '12 lookbook! Yes, that is right!

Mellina+Co & Duccio Cambi's Jewels layed out before the shoot!

After The Green Fashion Competition -in Amsterdam- I went back to Florence for one more week.  I was trying to catch up with all my friends, as I knew I wouldn't be seeing them until I went back to Europe.

I had been planning to meet up with my friend Melanie Guardino who I met 08'-09' while we were both studying abroad in Florence, IT through FIT.  Melanie is the CEO/Founder of Mellina + Co, "a bijoux jewelry company that was created to fuse classic sensibility with cutting edge contemporary style. All the pieces are hand-made in Florence, Italy and shipped right here to New York."

After graduating from  The Fashion Institute of Technology (majored in Fashion Merchandising Management) Melanie decided to start her own company... she currently goes back and forth between The Big Apple and Florence, Italy- and whenever we happen to be in Florence at the same time, we try to meet up and reminisce!
Melanie was super supportive during my participation at TGFC, and when she saw the pictures of the collection on the runway she said she had an idea for a collaboration. I got super excited, as I am a firm believer that we young entrepreneurs and creatives need to work together and help each other... PLUS; Melanie is a doll, and I knew this had to be something good!

The lovely Melanie sporting my CEMENTATION_dress (bottom panel worn as SCARF) she was really loving it!

She was planning a photo-shoot for her latest collection of jewels and asked if I'd be up for lending some pieces from my CALAFURIA collection; I immediately said yes!


Mellina + Co is collaborating with Duccio Cambi a Florentine Designer who makes handcrafted, pieces ranging from Bracelets, Earrings,  and Necklaces to Rings. She sent me the "line-sheet" and I immediately fell in LOVE!

Mellina+Co & Duccio Cambi's Jewels I want them ALL!

We were incredibly lucky to find a model (Veronica Bellandi Bulgari), a photographer and a location and plan the shoot right before I returned to NY!

I ended up being the hairstylist for this shoot... just fixing a few things, we wanted it to be as close to PERFECT!

The shoot took place at the famous REX Café, an awesome location with a decor that evokes Barcelona+Gaudí: the central wall, covered with a large mosaic of rich colors, reminiscent of the motion of the ocean, the curved-shaped bar, copper back-lit wall ... just perfect for Mellina's Jewels + my Knits!

Below some pics of the shoot we had with the amazing Riccardo Polcaro. 

Make sure you also check out his blog!

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants + Bamboo Ring Gold 2 + Dangling Bamboo Gold

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants + Bamboo Ring Gold 2 + Dangling Bamboo Gold

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants + Bamboo Ring Gold 2 + Dangling Bamboo Gold

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants +Rocky Situation + Rock Combo + Pizzo Earrings

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants +Rocky Situation + Rock Combo + Pizzo Earrings

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants +Rocky Situation + Rock Combo + Pizzo Earrings

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_jkt +TAFONI_pants +Rocky Situation + Rock Combo + Pizzo Earrings

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_cape/skirt+ TAFONI_pants + Mystique Spheres Silver necklace +Glitz Me+ Dazzle My Flow

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_cape/skirt+ TAFONI_pants + Mystique Spheres Silver necklace +Glitz Me+ Dazzle My Flow

Veronica is wearing the TAFONI_cape/skirt+ TAFONI_pants + Mystique Spheres Silver necklace +Glitz Me+ Dazzle My Flow

Veronica is wearing the CEMENTATION_dress + Neon Flow Circle+ Got Flow Circlebracelets + My Circle Girlearrings

Veronica is wearing the CEMENTATION_dress + Neon Flow Circle+ Got Flow Circlebracelets + My Circle Girlearrings

Veronica is wearing the CEMENTATION_dress + Neon Flow Circle+ Got Flow Circlebracelets + Ms. Argy's Balancenecklace

Auralis + Zaida Adriana Goveo Balmaseda: knitwear accessories for Fall'12

Last Fall when I returned to NYC after my Euro-trip (the Mittelmoda competition, and the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris) I re-connected with my ex-boss, fellow puertorrican eco-designer, and friend Auralis Herrero Lugo; the designer behind Auralis (an eco-friendly label of exquisite clothes with an "Urban-Tropical" flair) .

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I interned with Auralis in the Fall of 2010 during my senior year of college, and helped with the preparation for the launch of her line during The Green Shows. It was an amazing experience, and I felt very connected to her vision and her line. It was super heartwarming to work with/for someone who comes from my beautiful little island but is out here trying to make a difference. 

Every time I went to the studio it felt a bit like going back  home... and thats how I became part of  her eco-venture. We've kept in touch ever since, and she's been incredibly supportive of my creative endeavors... given me advice and even wrote an article about the work I exhibited at the MMXIproject on Elpuntoes!

  __

Anyhow, when we re-connected last September, she told me she was experimenting with natural-dyes at her studio. Since I was very interested in learning more,  I offered to go help her out+learn  for a few days. From that a knitwear collaboration was born. 

Auralis wanted to include a knitwear element in her collection and I got really excited about developing some samples for her. Its the first time I collaborated with someone else and made accessories. It was a challenge, but definitely learned a lot and the pictures look amazing!

3+ months and MANY samples later (we tried various hat, scarf and headband shapes)  we ended up with a turban/headpiece called "chacón headband" and the "iris scarf" all in reference to Iris Chacón. “Iris Chacón was a character I grew up watching in Puerto Rico. She had a variety show in the island for over 12 years. She was a fashion and beauty inspiration to all Puerto Rican women of my generation” 

 "For autumn 2012 Auralís collaborated with fellow sustainable designer, Zaida Adriana Goveo-Balmaseda. The collaboration includes a scarf and a turban, knitted using a blend of organic merino, baby alpaca and silk yarn; luxurious on the skin and beautiful on the eye. All yarns were also dyed naturally at the studio."

 

*pics from Auralis' blog

"In Auralis’s vision Iris Chacón travels from Puerto Rico to Scotland via New York wearing the Autumn 2012 Auralis collection; she leaves all the men in kilts speechless. This Urban Tropical takes her city chic attitude combined with her Caribbean flair everywhere she goes."

The Knitwear accessories I created with/for Auralis which were just shown at MINTfair in Amsterdam and at CAPSULE NYC during their respective FashionWeeks and will also hopefully be up for sale online through Auralis' e-shop.

"Auralís just showed the collection at Amsterdam’s MINT Modefabriek and in Europe for the first time with Origin 23 Showroom, “MINT is a driving force for the eco fashion world which is where the future of fashion lies”. – Eileen Moran, who started Origin 23, brings together talented eco designers and gives their collections a home."*

*from Auralis' Fall 12' press release. 

I'm posting my favorite pictures from her Fall '12 collection below (and some process/behind the scenes pics as always)PLUS a wonderful video by Emerald Gold/Omar King. You can see more looks in her lookbook.

So much talent on that photoshoot! 

Auralís Herrero Lugo for Auralís
Jewelry - Luiny Rivera Gelpi
Talent - Laura Wilson, Collin Tanner
Director - Mónica Félix
Shot/Chop - Omar King
Makeup - Karlo Beau
Hair - George Ortiz
PA - Mayumi Yamada
PA - Jenny Macgregor Dennis
Mario Sweet "Mario" 

new chapter + UPDATES!

Returning to New York has been -as always- a bit strange. 

In the past few years I've been spending some time in Europe, and the more time I spend there, the more It becomes a 3rd home (Puerto Rico my first, NYC my second, and Europe-mostly Italy- my third).

It is always bittersweet, as many of the great opportunities I've been given as an emerging designer have come from initiatives happening in the OLD CONTINENT:

Last year Mittelmoda in Italy, and The Ethical Fashion Show in Paris, and this year The Green Fashion Competition during Amsterdam Fashion Week. Not to mention our latest feature on Mellina+Co's spring look-book which we shot in Florence last month.

I have this never-ending argument with myself, as after graduation I didn't imagine myself being here in NY. I was/am relentlessly searching for opportunities abroad... and every time I go, I want to stay; but this time it was very, very different. 

I realized that although the European mindset is one that I appreciate, and that I admire their respect they have for a lot of things  (like arts+crafts/ personal+family time/quality of life/social programs)... it will take me twice as long to get things done there, to promote my in-the-works brand, and to excel. The fastness of this city is both what I love and hate, its what makes me want to be here and what makes me want to run away.

HOWEVER...Now that I've started building my company,  I think will be here for a bit longer and take advantage of the wonderfully supportive design community I'm part of, the endless and accessible resources and the flexible/versatile/varied- yet intense lifestyle you can have here. If I get tired a few months/years down the line I can always run to my other/adoptive homes in Europe or Puerto Rico for a bit (or a while)...

Anyway, following will be a set of blogposts updating you about the articles where my work has been mentioned, what I've been concocting lately and the very-exciting collaborations we've been a part of.  

Hope you enjoy reading:

xo 

zaida adriana

• The Knitwear Accessories I created with/for Auralis which were at MINTfair in Amsterdam and at CAPSULE NYC during their respective FashionWeeks
•  Zaida Adriana Goveo Balmaseda featured in Mellina+Co's Spring '12 lookbook
• My MANIFESTO_of creativemoulding+criticalweathering collection shot by Michael Butterfin + model Mallory Matoush for MUUSE
•  The KNITTING PARTY at Rosa Ng's (from Quality Control)
•  The photoshoot we just had for VNB Magazine's April issue where our clothes will be featured!!!
• The launch of my collection on MUUSE.com on March 7th!

The Green Fashion Competition: RUNWAY

Marijn, Mirte, Sagal runway ready! photo x Marco Turini

I am so excited to finally share with you the FINISHED product of what I've been working so hard on for the past 3+months!

 As you may know, I was chosen as one of 4 finalists for category 2 (young designers) of The Green Fashion Competition. There were 3 rounds of the competition and I am still so honored to have gotten all the way to the last one... and to have the amazing opportunity to show my collection [3looks] at the Grand Finale which took place this past Friday, Jan 27th, during Amsterdam Fashion Week!

TGFC has really been one of the greatest learning experiences. Although I did not win [the €15,000]:

• I had the chance to meet wonderful people [other young designers (like Carrie Parry, Narelle Dore, and OhMyBag), visionary makeup/hair artists, the incredibly helpful and encouraging AFW/TGFC staff (Martin van der Werff and Holly Syrett), the amazing choreographer Max Hitipeu, super fun video wizards Cezanne Noordhoek and Bas, my fantastic models who cared for the show just as much as I did (Marijn, Mirte and Sagal), and catching up with the wonderful Irene from EcoBloggerNL (who has been supporting us since the beginning of the competition)]
• Entering and being chosen for this competition gave me a lot of confidence. It allowed me to focus on taking my work/art to the next level, to think about how I can really have an impact on the things I care about by being more just an artist/designer...and being a young entrepreneur. I had to write a business plan, which forced me to really think about where I am right now,  where I want to go, and what I want to do with my work... It was a real challenge, and to be honest, I did not think I was ready for it/or good enough; BUT, this opportunity knocked on my door 3 times (first I was just surfing the web and bumped into it, then Sass Brown suggested I checked it out, and lastly- Holly Syrett, the project manager- saw my garments at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris and reached out to me encouraging me to consider it), and I JUST felt it was RIGHT to take it!
• After the show, I was able to relax and catch up a bit with myself! I've received wonderful feedback and am so blown away by everyones support. Not to mention a the great honor of a beautifully written Eco Fashion Designer Overview on Sass Brown's website Eco Fashion Talk which was reposted by the Ethical Fashion Forum, another feature on Abigail Doan's Ecco*Eco ! and there are some other little projects sprouting like tomorrow's photoshoot collaboration with FIT in Florence friend Mellina+Co

I just have no words to express how grateful and happy I am right now... so I will just stop talking, and let you enjoy!

I would LOVE to have your comments/feedback!

p.s.: Photo credits to Peter Steigter

THE SHOW IS ON!

MARIJN opens the show!!! wearing the ALVEOLO_tunic/top (as top) [from deadstock wool.felted and embroidered, dyed with annatto, curry and turmeric] and TAFONI_cape/skirt (as skirt)[organic cotton  sateen(grown and woven in USA) naturally dyed and free-motion quilted with recycled PET batting+ COMPLETELY REVERSIBLE]

 

ALVEOLO_tunic/top closeup

TAFONI_cape/skirt detail + handspun scraps yarn as bracelet

MIRTE goes 2nd!... wearing our TAFONI_pants+TAFONI_jacket[organic cotton  sateen (grown and woven in USA) naturally dyed and free-motion quilted with recycled PET batting+COMPLETELY REVERSIBLE] and CEMENTATION_top[handknit from hand-spun recycled textile scraps from NYC, and LB®Undyed Organic Cotton Yarn. this top can be work upside down too!]

 TAFONI_jacket+CEMENTATION_top closeup

 TAFONI_pants closeup

SAGAL wears our 3rd and last look!...  our CEMENTATION_"dress"[handknit from hand-spun recycled textile scraps from NYC, and LB®Undyed Organic Cotton Yarn] I say "dress" because this one is transformable and can be worn a million ways! Here she is wearing THE WHOLE THING... This showpiece was knit from ~5.5lbs of fabric scraps. Good thing they did not end up in a landfill!

CEMENTATION_"dress" closeup!

 CEMENTATION_"dress" EVEN CLOSER

SURPRISE! MIRTE/SAGAL rocking it... transformation on the way!

CEMENTATION_"dress" turned into a sexy little number with a HOOD! SAGAL looked so HOT!

SAGAL, MIRTE +MARIJN walking their wonders!

SAGAL + CEMENTATION_dress closeup!

MIRTE takes TAFONI_jacket off + shows us it is reversible... PLUS we see how sexy the CEMENTATION_top can be! oooh the "cutouts"!

and... MARIN wears the bottom panel of CEMENTATION_dress that SAGAL was wearing AS A SCARF!

ALL IN FRONT of +150 people including Princess Maxima of the Neatherlands!

LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT!

THANKS TO everyone that made this adventure ECO_FABULOUS!

mama.mimi.abuelo.ileana.omar.don.tiojorge.dorian.alida.brandon.jessica.daniela.leonardo.

wendy.sohee.mannyrico.auralis.tara.daniel.sassbrown.abigaildoan.owyn+textileartscenter.alina.pabloshablo.

hannaeke.borreakkersdijk.marcoturini.mariannagiustino.chunweiliau.samuelmoore.cristinalopez.peoplefromNHEC+++

andeveryoneELSEwhohasbeentherewithmesinceday1!

none of this would be possible without you