Heroine Chic
Heroine Chic is a high-end jewelry and accessories line by Colleen Soisson. Her brand is inspired by powerful, stylish people and you can really see the quality, dedication and passion in her work. I personally know Colleen, and I can tell you with conviction that she puts her heart into her brand. Check out the Heroine Chic Trunk Show at THE SILVER ROOM, 1442 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago this Saturday, December 19, 2009 from 12-5PM.
Ron Sager (Fluxcore): What is the significance behind the name of your line, "Heroine Chic"?
Colleen Soisson (Heroine Chic): Well Heroine is like "powerful, influential" and Chic means Style. Wonder Woman was a big inspiration behind the brand because she was just all around dope.... She was strong and powerful and yet she was still a lady and she had style.
In fact we used her crown to inspire the HC logo.... look in the center of the logo, directly above the HC.
The first line released under the label was an ICON line...belt buckles featured influential, yet chic women..... like Josephine Baker, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Pam Grier, Frida Kahlo.
Ron: What inspired you to create jewelry and accessories?
Colleen: Well, I don't actually create everything in the HC line... My partner, Yung Bagley, is responsible for designing and creating all of the jewelry you see.
I design and create the belt buckles. I guess what inspired me to create belt buckles was because they stood out... Not a lot of people in Chicago 5 years ago were wearing interesting belt buckles...
So with the buckles that I was just learning how to make back then.. I started to get a really good response... people were like " wow, that's different!" And that response was all I needed to see that I had something unique to offer.
Ron: Who is your demographic? Is there any particular social group that buys your product the most?
Colleen: I have a hard time with the whole demographic question because my product is worn by so many different types of people everywhere.... from wicker park hipsters to middle aged grown ass men and women.... I have a really broad range of styles so a lot of people can find something that appeals to them. I also sell in Europe and many of the styles that flop over here in the states, do really well in that market... so it's hard to define who the hell buys HC. EVERYONE is my DEMOGRAPHIC!!!
Ron: What sets you apart from other designers?
Colleen: Probably my own style and personality... I don't take things too seriously and I have fun no matter what I'm doing, I'm extremely silly.
So if I'm at some high end fashionista event selling HC, you know the kind of social event where everyone just wants to be seen and look cool.... I might just bust out and have a lil mini photo shoot ... tell my assistant to start snapping pics of me in silly poses and what not... just to lighten up the mood, like "come on guys, we are suppose to be having fun here!"
Ron: Tell us about you process? How do you design your work?
Colleen: I get an idea.. I might see something in a magazine, a color, a shape, a composition, something that inspires me and then I go and play with the idea and see where it takes me...
Ron: Who is your number one idol?
Colleen: My mommy. She is a chic Heroine.
Ron: What is it like working an an independent designer?
Colleen: It can be frustrating sometimes cuz you feel like everything falls on you... when things don't go so well, you can really only look at yourself... there is no boss to blame.
Ron: What advice can you give designers out there who are just starting out?
Colleen: Don't quit your day job!!! Just don't be in a rush.. I mean don't procrastinate either... but give yourself time to find your own way... If you quit your day job too soon, your "art" can become "your means to surviving" and that may not be what you want. If you have a talent in designing, give it space and time everyday to be expressed and opportunities will come your way. Let it evolve.
Ron: What is it that you really care about? What is important to you?
Colleen: Well, I really really care about the Environment.
I would like to do an eco friendly line that raises awareness about people's everyday actions and how they are impacting the Earth.
I think that's what Wonder Woman would do.
Ron: What should we look out for in the future in the world of Heroine Chic?
Colleen: Heroine Chic Black Label... a higher end jewelry line... more sophisticated, exquisite pieces..
Check out Heroine Chic at http://www.heroine-chic.com/
Colleen Soisson (Heroine Chic): Well Heroine is like "powerful, influential" and Chic means Style. Wonder Woman was a big inspiration behind the brand because she was just all around dope.... She was strong and powerful and yet she was still a lady and she had style.
In fact we used her crown to inspire the HC logo.... look in the center of the logo, directly above the HC.
The first line released under the label was an ICON line...belt buckles featured influential, yet chic women..... like Josephine Baker, Madonna, Marilyn Monroe, Pam Grier, Frida Kahlo.
Colleen: Well, I don't actually create everything in the HC line... My partner, Yung Bagley, is responsible for designing and creating all of the jewelry you see.
I design and create the belt buckles. I guess what inspired me to create belt buckles was because they stood out... Not a lot of people in Chicago 5 years ago were wearing interesting belt buckles...
So with the buckles that I was just learning how to make back then.. I started to get a really good response... people were like " wow, that's different!" And that response was all I needed to see that I had something unique to offer.
Ron: Who is your demographic? Is there any particular social group that buys your product the most?
Ron: What sets you apart from other designers?
Colleen: Probably my own style and personality... I don't take things too seriously and I have fun no matter what I'm doing, I'm extremely silly.
So if I'm at some high end fashionista event selling HC, you know the kind of social event where everyone just wants to be seen and look cool.... I might just bust out and have a lil mini photo shoot ... tell my assistant to start snapping pics of me in silly poses and what not... just to lighten up the mood, like "come on guys, we are suppose to be having fun here!"
Ron: Tell us about you process? How do you design your work?
Ron: Who is your number one idol?
Colleen: My mommy. She is a chic Heroine.
Ron: What is it like working an an independent designer?
Colleen: It can be frustrating sometimes cuz you feel like everything falls on you... when things don't go so well, you can really only look at yourself... there is no boss to blame.
Ron: What advice can you give designers out there who are just starting out?
Colleen: Don't quit your day job!!! Just don't be in a rush.. I mean don't procrastinate either... but give yourself time to find your own way... If you quit your day job too soon, your "art" can become "your means to surviving" and that may not be what you want. If you have a talent in designing, give it space and time everyday to be expressed and opportunities will come your way. Let it evolve.
Ron: What is it that you really care about? What is important to you?
Colleen: Well, I really really care about the Environment.
I would like to do an eco friendly line that raises awareness about people's everyday actions and how they are impacting the Earth.
I think that's what Wonder Woman would do.
Ron: What should we look out for in the future in the world of Heroine Chic?
Check out Heroine Chic at http://www.heroine-chic.com/
posted by Fluxcore at
8:04 AM
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