Combine the current race for the presidency, a list of hot celebs
and great t-shirts and you'll find Ciara Elend. We caught up with Ciara recently after her return from the Democratic National Convention in Denver and asked her to share some scoop about her company, Ciara Couture. Hey Ciara, we see your shirts on Fergie, Anne Hathaway, Josh Lucas and Tim Daly! Tell us all about them...
Ciara, can you share a little bit about your business and how you got started?
My American made graphic tees fuse unique modern graphics with old-school block printing techniques. Each design is carved into a linoleum block to produce a distinct vintage style print. I developed an interest in block printing shortly after graduating from Parson's School of Design. Much of my art is inspired by my environment, and block printing's rough, textured effect was a perfect fit for the industrial, concrete aesthetic of Long Island City. From this foundation, I developed the Ciara Couture line - a collection of ultra soft, ultra comfy vintage tees with original block printed designs.
Where do you draw inspiration for your products?
I draw inspiration from my environment - the concrete couture edge to my products comes directly from Queens. I also have a love of art history, and tend to make references to visual artists and art periods, and to the history of printmaking.
What products have been your best sellers?
My designs are all limited edition, so I'm always creating new prints to reflect the changing world around me. Buying one of my shirts is like buying a snapshot or freeze-frame of a slice of time. That said, my most popular designs have been the Wild Kingdom and Super Sweet series.
What are your future plans for Ciara Couture?
What I'm most proud about with Ciara Couture is the cohesiveness of the line. The sensibility of the design extends from the print to the fit to the fabric. That's the reason the line has become a celebrity favorite. As I expand to offer more products, it's important for us to maintain that cohesiveness. I also want to expand the concept of "casual couture" - great fit in super-soft. comfortable fabric. Finally, a core mission of my line is to promote the arts and arts education. I want to expand our involvement in charitable projects, like our current partnership with the Creative Coalition.
You can find Ciara Couture's full line of fabulous tees at www.ciaraelend.com. Long Island City, New York.
Great tees - I like the cut and material. The prints are nice too!