Transcript
SARAH LEWIS
Hey, it’s Sarah Lewis. I’m a stylist with Modelinia. Today, we’re at the Carlton on Madison Avenue talking about the new collaboration between the model, Brooklyn Decker and the designer, Natalie Chanin. Let’s go take a look.
BROOKLYN DECKER
You are unique to most designers, at least that I worked with, in a way that you not only design this clothing, these beautiful dresses and things, but you’re also a business woman.
NATALIE CHANIN
I am very drawn to the business aspect of it. And this is not where I started out. I started out sewing a load of handsewn T-shirts.
BROOKLYN DECKER
One thing I want to say is that, okay, so we’re going--I’m going through these T-shirts of hers and she says, “If you look on the inside of the label, it has the initial,”
I was really impressed by that, “It has the initials of the person who hand-sewed this particular garment.”
And she told me the person’s name. I said, “How do you know that person's name?”
She said, “I have 40 employees that sew each of the materials and I know all of their initials and all their names.”
That just goes to show like how much of a hand you have in your business.
NATALIE CHANIN
These people are the heart and soul of the business. If we don’t have people to sew the garments, we don’t have a company. I’m so lucky to have the business that I have and, you know, just to be here. It’s kind of miraculous that we’re having this discussion even. That you found the--yeah, that you found it and that you’re interested and I’m going to tell the story truthfully.
When she first called me, we were all very excited and I thought “Oh, you know, this is great. She’s so beautiful, but she’s a model,” and you know, I’ve worked with models for a long time. But I have to say that it’s very rare that you found someone that’s so grounded.
I think all of us have a very realistic approach to our business. You love what you do. You love the art of what you do, the design and fashion, everything. But you don’t live for the fashion industry.
Our fiber is grown by certified farmers who are stewards of the land that they are farming in Texas, it's spun in Tennessee, it’s knitted in South Carolina, and then comes to us from South Carolina. So from the seed to the final piece that’s put on a box, we know our product is really grown and sewn in America.
BROOKLYN DECKER
Your company and your design represent something greater, I think. And I’m not--and that’s not to say that modeling represents anything greater than just taking pictures. But I think, that me, as a person, I think I live from more than just fashion. I think that’s where we relate.
NATALIE CHANIN
In my opinion, you’ve put yourself in a place as a very smart, very beautiful, young woman to be a spokeswoman so, you go.
BROOKLYN DECKER
I need to do it.
NATALIE CHANIN
Well, you are. Just by being here, you are doing what you’re doing so. So carry on.
BROOKLYN DECKER
I’m Brooklyn Decker, and this is Modelinia.
