Mellina+Co's homepage!

Back in February (right after TGFC) I helped and lent my pieces to the lovely Melanie Guardino from Mellina+Co for a photo-shoot. The pieces (from the CALAFURIA collection) were to be used as a complimentary element to her line of BIJOUX!

We had so much fun shooting together at Rex Café in Florence, and really got some nice shots!
So much so that she is using one of them on her website/web-shop's HOMEPAGE!!!

woot-woot for collaborations! 

THANKS MELANIE for the support!

ZAGB x QC: Competing Creatively

In a "recent" conversation with my friend Rosa Ng from QualityControl I told her about how important the competitions I've participated in have been. They've given me A LOT of exposure (which has brought other opportunities) but also (and I think most importantly) encouraged me and given me the confidence to go out there and keep working on my art.

Later on she emailed asking if I'd be interested in writing a little something for QC sharing my experiences with the various competitions (Mittelmoda & TGFC) as she thought students would love to hear about them.

I didn't have to think about it twice; I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE everything about QC:

1)Because it is a wonderful community/industry-building initiative. I am so proud of Rosa and Tiffany for coming up with this idea and keeping it going!

Quality Control is:
a SPACE to read and share about your internship experiences while streamlining the word-of-mouth operation within the fashion internship community.

 

a TOOL to provide easy-access tutorials, templates, and guides relevant to daily tasks in the fashion industry.

a RESOURCE for those interested in the fashion industry and those who have a sense of entitlement to knowledge.

an INSPIRATION for your mood, archive, and portfolio.

2) Because I would've loved to have someone share some insightful information about the competitions when I was thinking about applying to them. Plus, I want to spread awareness about all the great opportunities that are out there and encourage more students/recent-graduates to take advantage of them!

CLICK HERE to see the FULL article!

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

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!

recap: TGFC/AFW backstage

first things first, UNLOAD and organize. which shoes for which model?

recap: TheGreenFashionCompetition/AmsterdamFashionWeek 

BACKSTAGE

a collaborative 

photo/reportage

by 

MarcoTurini+ZaidaAdrianaGoveoBalmaseda

early on, starting to adjust the knit dress

 

January 27th, THE BIG DAY! 

At 11:00am (running on 3 hrs of sleep) I walked into the backstage area of the AFW location at Westergasfabriek with my huge PINK suitcase full of goodies. 

Marco Turini decided to be my official backstage photographer and with a little bit of luck he was able to start documenting early in the day. 

I was also extremely blessed have my dear friend and amazing KNITTER Sohee Bae be my "backstage assistant" and "dresser". This girl works her wonders, and really loves me! She stayed and helped me with everything regardless of her upset tummy. 

After unpacking, we put everything on the racks, did one last fitting with each model and then steamed the clothes. 

Usually backstage(s) are super hectic, with tight schedules and full of very stressed people. Surprisingly this one was VERY different. Everything was super organized, the models were all on time and ready to work, there were plenty steamers and irons+boards, and the hair and makeup team was very enthusiastic. I knew things were taken care of and that allowed me to "relax" a bit and focus on the finishing touches! 

Thank you Martin van der Werff, Holly Syrrett and all of the AFW/TGFC staff.

I LOVE MIRTE! this is pre-hair/makeup MAGIC

this is NOT what it looks like. I was probably just making another funny face!

After we fit the models and sent them off to hair and makeup, Sohee and I stayed by our "rack" doing some last minute edits. We only had to do two things: add snaps to the bottom panel of the knit dress, and mattress stitch some ankle knit cuffs.

Little did I know that putting those snaps on was going to take me MOST OF THE DAY!

all of these faces in less than 30 seconds. uugh, backstages are INTENSE. in the end we are always happy though!

 

At ~1:00pm Mr. Max Hitipew, the amazing choreographer, came to meet with each designer and call us for a rehearsal! This man is full of positivity and encouragement and does an amazing job!

zaida.sohee.max: reviewing the looks/schedule

The rehearsal went great, and when I came back it was time to WRAP THINGS UP.

I was so happy to be done with ALL those snaps!!!

so rewarding to see my collection ready. note the ditto® hangers

marco was slightly obsessed with shoepictures. he took like 5. this one was my favorite

we met some really nice people.  the backstage photographer taking pics of me. not used to this.

  Then we went on to check on Hair+Makeup (Haar+Make-up)!

Hair was done by View Agency. I met with them and we discussed ideas, but the "creative director" asked to see some of my pieces. When I showed him, he immediately thought of something and asked if I had anymore of my hand-spun scraps yarn. Of course, I brought EVERYTHING with me just in case, and handed him a whole "roll". What they came up with was impressive, but was most touching was that in our discussion, the director said "this is in honor of the meticulous work you've done". 

He said he wished he could meet designers 3 months in advance to really get to know them and understand what is behind their work -in order to create together-. 

Makeup was done by House of Orange. There was chemistry here too. When I met with the "head person" she pulled out my "mood/concept boards" and immediately knew what I wanted. COLOR was ON!

It was wonderful to have these experts/artists helping us communicate our vision to the public!

                                        

MIRTE getting her face prepped!

SAGAL getting her makeup finished!

hairdetail. they sewed the yarn onto their hair

                  

hair DONE, makeup DONE. sagal+mirte posing!

 

I LOVE THESE GIRLS! Wonderful spirits!

Mirte, Sagal and Marijn were just the BEST models. They were cheerful, helpful, hardworking and super encouraging. They made this experience a million times better. They LOVED the pieces, fit them great and wanted me to have a great show and be happy. THANK YOU LADIES!

TIME TO GET DRESSED/GENERAL REHEARSALS/then... THE SHOW!

general rehearsal. marijin opens!

discussing the choreography, trying to get things right!

Marijn, Mirte, Sagal pose for  Marco. (from left to right)

Marijn, Mirte, Sagal pose for  Marco. (from left to right)

ITS SHOWTIME!

this is a LOT of press

two of my looks on the runway

photo credits to MARCO TURINI on this post PLEASE!!!

THANK YOU EVERYONE for such a MAGICAL experience!

I had lots of little angels helping me until the last minute and sharing this journey with all of you just makes it a MILLION times more special!

The show looked super professional, and I felt super empowered by having your all your support! THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!

The next post will be dedicated to the RUNWAY pictures of finished and polished images. I just wanted to share what happens BEHIND the scenes, as the ride should be just as meaningful as the destination!