KB had the chance to chat with eco-friendly designer Jada-Lee Watson about her fashion career and her choice to go green. Going green is a big deal these days and Watson has made a name for herself producing clothing that successfully, and fashionably, meets this growing environmental trend.
We’ve previously featured her simple yet classic Spring 2009 and Fall 2009 collections. Check them out to see what Nixxi’s all about.
Killahbeez: How did you get into fashion?
Jada-Lee Watson: I’m basically self-taught. I started off sewing with a friend, we had a different line. I was sewing from home and doing the local market and shows.
KB: Did you ever want to give up and do something else?
JLW: Yes! There are definitely a lot of challenges. I had a line with a friend and then we spilt ways and I’ve now had Nixxi on my own for three years. Fashion is time consuming but in the last year and a half things have finally smoothed out and there’s no kinks left to work out. I don’t find myself questioning my path anymore.
KB: What do you think you’d be doing if not Fashion?
JLW: I really don’t know because I haven’t thought of doing anything else. I had an interest in music and the film industries and it’s always in the back of my mind as a possibility one day!
KB: Although things have been going smoothly, have you felt the recession at all?
JLW: Not really. A couple of stores closed down, but at the same time I’ve picked up quite a few stores. The growth of Nixxi has been positive so the odd time a store closed down I haven’t felt it too much.
KB: What made you want to create an eco-friendly clothing line? Although being green is the “in thing”, being green can also be expensive, especially during economic hard times where everyone is money conscious.
JLW: Back in 2004 – 2005 we were using valour, velvet, and cotton jerseys. In sourcing fabrics we came across hemp, then hemp blended with cotton, and then organic, and then slowly more and more fabrics came around. After sampling and using some of the organics, we preferred the feel of the organic fabrics and then also knowing that there was a lighter footprint in what we were doing. It didn’t seem like there was a reason to do otherwise. More and more fabrics are coming available and I’m even starting to find stripes and the odd pattern, it’s exciting to see where it’s going. I’ve never thought of turning back and using the alternative.
KB: Do you have a favourite fabric that you find works well for almost anything?
JLW: Definitely organic cotton. It’s in a lot of the fabrics that I use as a blend. And newly I love working with wool.
KB: Where do you find the most inspiration? Through fabric, day-today life, art, etc.?
JLW: For me it’s mostly the textures and colours of the fabric. Also street fashion; being inspired by somebody walking down the street, I could create a whole line from that: personal style. And also from what I like to wear. I don’t tend to be inspired by a theme or a time, just more what’s in the present.
KB: What colours are you drawn towards, what are your favourites?
JLW: Right now I love grays, especially heather gray. I have heather gray in my Fall 2009 collection and in Spring 2010 too. It’s great because it goes with everything.
I’m finding that the direction I’m going with Nixxi is more muted tones and then bringing in one or two colours accents per season. Gray, black, and white are standards and then the accents change each season.
KB: What is your design process like?
JLW: I would say that it all starts when I’m trying to fall asleep!
KB: It’s funny, they say that we get our best ideas when we’re lying horizontally or in the shower!
JLW: Definitely the horizontal one for me! I always have ideas flashing in my mind. They kind of jump around in my thoughts for awhile. There’s about 3 months of inspiration and playing with ideas before I sit down and sketch them out. Then my sketches go to a pattern maker.
KB: So given that you just finished another round of the design process a little white ago, what can people expect from your Spring 2010 collection?
JLW: My Spring line has more fitted bottoms and looser tops. Also the same colour basics and then pinks, reds, and purples as the accents. I would say that the Fall 2009 collection is the first line that I’ve gone on my true independent direction; kind of found the focus of where I want to go with Nixxi. So Spring 2010 is definitely falling in line with the Fall 2009 collection.
There are also a couple of dresses in a woven organic that are a bit different, more flirty and girly. I usually do knit wrap dresses. I’m taking more of an interest in wovens.
KB: What are some of your favourite fashion trends?
JLW: I really like skinny pants. I hadn’t done one until now; I have one coming up in Spring 2010. I never wore them until recently and I realized how versatile they are. They go well with a lot of what I’m doing with Nixxi. I think that trend is turning into a classic standard.
I don’t know if this is a trend, but I like wraps too. I also like the slouchy style.
I never would have said I was inspired by trends, but I’m more aware of them. I am finding that they are starting to inspire a bit of my line. I try to take a little bit what’s present but keep it classic as well so if a trend comes in and out, the clothing that I’m offering can still go with the next trend and the next and so on.
KB: Are there any trends that you dislike?
JLW: I think that it’s what works for certain people. I think they can all work for somebody and it’s more just about finding what works for your own style and body. I wouldn’t say there’s anything out there that shouldn’t be out there.
KB: Are there any celebrities you’d like to use as a muse?
JLW: No I wouldn’t say so. I think there are a lot of celebrities that have great style but no one in particular.
KB: Do you see yourself expanding to accessories or anything else?
JLW: I’ll probably stick to fashion right now. I even used to have a very small men’s line but I choose not to go forward with that because there’s so much to focus on just in the women’s.
I have a girl’s line that I’m launching next Spring: it’s called Pretty Bird. It’s basically Nixxi but sized down for girls ages 4 to 12. I find that in the organics area there isn’t a lot for kids. And being that I have girls, a 5 and 8 year old, they’re always coveting everything I make!
KB: Well, good luck with Pretty Bird! I hope it has the same success as Nixxi! And thanks a lot for the interview! It was great chatting with you!
JLW: Thanks!
