Austin, Texas Designers Know More Than Just Music and Fashion  

Although it is known as The Live Music Capital of the World, it is not just musicians who flock to Austin – the city also boasts rapidly growing technology start-ups, entrepreneurs and artists of all types.  One can feel the creative energy buzzing through the city.  Especially during SXSW Festival, Austin City Limits, and this past week with its annual Austin Fashion Week which featured local and international designers and even a special fashion show with six former Project Runway contestants – Korto Momolu, Jeffrey Sebelia, Melissa Fleis, Michelle Lesniak, Mychael Knight, and Austin’s own Daniel Esquive.

AFW not only featured bright colors, bold accessories and elegant evening wear designs, it highlighted that its local brag-worthy designers are both artists and entrepreneurs.  Spending long hours and late nights on their unique designs is just part of their tale; the essence of their business is selling their collections, which doesn’t happen overnight or at your local shopping mall. These designers sell their creations in local boutiques, through online websites such as Etsy, and at international store chains.

Austin Based Designer & Entrepreneur – Ilonka

Ilonka, a fashion designer who calls Austin home, is originally from Chile has a unique name and a passion for her designs and her business.  She says she has a very long last name (something that is common in Chilean culture) so she simply goes by Ilonka SP, and her brand is therefore known as  Ilonka SP Designs. She studied fashion at Inacap, a private university in Chile, for four years on scholarship, receiving what she describes as a “very comprehensive” education in the areas of fashion business and design.  She feels that this broad background has allowed her to be self-sufficient as both a designer and entrepreneur.

When speaking with Ilonka, it is easy to sense the great enthusiasm she feels for the fashion and design field.  She recalls, “Growing up with two grandmothers who were seamstresses made fashion design seem natural; in elementary school, I would make little catalogs of clothes for Barbie and sell my designs right there!” And since one of Ilonka’s grandmothers specialized in furs and leather, her first sale was a leather belt she made for a friend’s Barbie Doll.

SharpHeels recently spoke to this imaginative émigré (she is also a painter) about her unique perspective on design, being an entrepreneur and women’s need to dress both comfortably and creatively for the office.

What advice would you give a woman in building a work wardrobe?
I would tell her to figure out her personal style first.  Women need to wear what looks good on them, and not necessarily follow the latest trend.  If a woman is wearing clothing that is flattering, she will feel more confident.  I would also recommend acquiring clothes that are comfortable and versatile and buying pieces that can be mixed and matched to create many different outfits.

What is your biggest challenge in dressing a career woman?
Since she will be wearing her work attire for long hours at a time, I feel it is important for a woman to dress comfortably.  That said, it can be challenging to balance comfort and style.  I want my clients to look both feminine and powerful.  I believe women can dress in a feminine way without it undermining them.  After all, women own their destinies, and it is their actions that define them.

What do clients find most challenging when dressing for work?
Women do not want to wear boring or stuffy clothes, but they also do not want to wear something that is inappropriate for the office.  In addition, they want to wear something that can easily transition to an after-work “Happy Hour” event, so finding clothes with that kind of versatility can sometimes be challenging.

What is your favorite part about conceptualizing a design?
I love the whole process, and I consider myself an artist.  I love to paint and draw, and these skills certainly help me when I am sketching new ideas.  I play with shapes, and I continue drawing lines until I feel satisfied. I always feel like breaking the rules when designing clothes!  My inspirations are the shapes of the body.  I love the natural curves and the symmetry, and I am obsessed with leather and lace.  I want to create things that are unexpected and unique.

What is it like working for yourself?
It is pretty crazy.  Anytime I mess up, I cannot blame anyone else.  It is also pretty cool.  Sometimes, it is intense, sometimes it is restful, and other times it can be very challenging.  At the same time, freelancing can be one of the most rewarding adventures.

Who is your dream client?
My dream client is someone who is open to suggestions, trusts me, and lets me do my work.  And I would love to create something for my lawyer.  She is a very beautiful and stylish Mexican-American woman!

SharpHeels Note – Readers can purchase Ilonka’s designs on Etsy or from IlonkaDesigns.com.  (Her designs were also worn by the contestants in the final fashion show of ButterFly Entertainment’s “Top Austin Model” competition) 

A few other noteworthy Austin based designers:

• Laura Del Villaggio:  Laura’s business, Milli Starr, specializes in hats, and she produces two seasonal collections each year.  Her unique pieces are all meticulously handcrafted from fine materials.
• Megan Summerville:  Megan specializes in fine lingerie that would make any woman feel regal.  Look especially for her custom-made corsets.
• Kendra Scott:  Who can write about Austin fashion and not mention this super-successful entrepreneur?  Kendra has a huge jewelry line and now also sells accessories such as key-chains and cufflinks.
• Laisa Chavez Macias:  Laisa’s brand, LaLa, includes skirts, tops, and dresses that transcend age, trends, and stereotypes.  Her clothes are not only fashionable but also comfortable, with a very feminine look.
• Csilla Somogyi: Csilla of CsillaWear provides fashion-forward women with unique handmade dresses and tops.  Csilla uses myriad amounts of patterns to make slimming silhouettes for her collections.