'As The Crow Flies' Part 1

Our environment and surroundings are paramount to our physicality our mentality and indeed
our social self’s. Genes are merely a template, eventually coloured by ones environment and the
individuals about us. Interesting then to consider how a fashion designer might consciously or
perhaps subconsciously tweak an aesthetic in relation to an altering habitat. Be this the battleship-
grey ripples of a mechanical city or the eclectic coloured buzz of a Southeast Asian Mecca (for
example)

With this in mind, it’s time to consider such a claim with the nomadic soles that globally flow from
one point to another _ with their affluent creativity in tow

Let’s begin with a design talent currently gracing pages of the quite enthralling March issue of little old Papercut. Samantha Sleeper is a designer who offers beautiful, luxe and eco-conscious clothing and accessories for women and home. Running a company based both in New York and San Francisco. Committed to making garments using salvaged, reclaimed or repurposed materials and honouring ethical production practices

Hi Samantha, with stems of your business in both New York and San Francisco, what level of creative grasp do you find the area in which you are has on your work?

The nature of my environment tends to silo my work in various ways, occasionally they have some
level of interplay but when in California, the ethereal nature of my designs starts to re-emerge as a
central theme. My work takes on a more relaxed approached and I think of the brand much more as
a ‘lifestyle.’ When I’m in New York, the majority of my conceptual work is done. New York allows me
to enter in to my own world, absorbed by the confines of my studio walls and drawing books

For those as yet unaware of the label, what highlights ‘Samantha Sleeper’ in this hectic industry?
Furthermore, how would you decipher between the general public and your imagined customer?

I imagine my customer as 50% Joan of Arc and 50% Grace Kelly. She is fearless while maintaining a
demure, coquettish nature. I think that duality exists in most women. My customer is dynamic, and
we offer her apparel choices that reflect her nature

I think we offer a unique sensibility in that we offer both highly editorial pieces, and others that
are quite easy to wear, with the love resting in the details. Feeling effortlessly beautiful is the most
important thing I want when a customer puts on one of my garments. The utility and silhouette
should work in harmony to provide security and comfort for the wearer. The way in which we
manipulate our fabrics offer her a unique vocabulary of textures to wear

There is a delightful interplay of modern cutting and a very tangible tactility via laced surfacing.
We assume the materials manipulated in your collections are equally as important as the shapes
constructed from them?

Absolutely, fabric manipulation is a signature of my work. I play heavily with creating textile
treatments through layering, embroidering, cutting and piecing. I begin to have a very personal

relationship with the materials and quiet literally sculpt, or collage them together. My play with
lace is one place where I find the most joy. There are so many stories that are hidden beneath those
layers

What are you going to be wearing this Spring/Summer 2012?

I adore spring dressing. It’s a time when women get to embrace their femininity again. Light layering
and colours emerge from the gray concrete days of Gotham city. In a dream world, I would be
wearing Valentino, but my reality will be a mixture of soft cotton vintage button front dresses. I ‘m
also fond of two piece Lolita inspired eyelet crop tops and pleated skirts from Thai brand ‘Duet’ with
my ‘Worishofer’ sling-back sandals