Meet Charlotte Designer Selected for Charleston Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer Competition
Written by CharlotteSTYLE // December 19, 2011 // Designer's STYLE, Fashion, Stylish Events // No comments
Charlotte designer Tsvety McAuliffe was recently selected to compete in Charleston Fashion Week’s Emerging Designer Competition at Charleston Fashion Week 2012. She began her formal career in Europe graduation with honors from New Bulgarian University, then later joined the team of Italian Designer Roberto Badjie before she moved to Charlotte in 2004.
Most recently Tsvety designed three dresses for Samantha Busch, has shown a collection at Charlotte NC Fashion Week in 2011 and was one of five designers selected to show an avant-garde piece at The Art of Fashion at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC.
How does it feel to be selected as one of the Emerging Designers for Charleston Fashion Week?
I am extremely excited and honored to participate in the Charleston Emerging Designer Competition. It feels amazing knowing that I made it to the top 20 from over 200 designer applications and I am looking forward to showcase my designs!
How did you get the news?
Finding out that I made it to be in the competition was an emotional experience for me! I was expecting a phone interview and instead I was pleasantly surprised with this great news!! I was overwhelmed with joy as I was looking forward to be a part of Charleston Fashion Week.
What are you going to do to prepare for the contest?
I am working hard on the collection for Charleston Fashion Week. I make everything myself – from research to finishing details and it takes a lot of determination and passion to have the collection completed and ready for the runway. Also this year I am stepping it up by introducing some knit garments and elements. (I have to thank my grandmother for this one as she is the one that thought me how to knit when I was only 3 years old)
Tell us about your design style, your look and your label?
My design style is classic to architectural. I love doing moulage, draping, intriguing patterns and also working with volumes and special gathers.
I define my style as sophisticated, glamorous, elegant, very feminine and unique. I love to create one of a kind outfits with couture elements and hand crafted details.
Tsvety Fashion is the name of the line that I introduced this fall at Charlotte NC Fashion Week. I created Tsvety Fashion as a women’s formal brand that caters to all women that are looking for new and exciting fashion.
Tell us a little about your fashion design background. When did you know you wanted to be a designer? How did you get started?
From a very early age I was interested in arts and crafts and ventured with different hobbies in my childhood. Later on I continued with a formal art education and extensive study in painting, drawing and art history. I always saw fashion as a form of art that I can express myself without limitations. I started pursuing my dream to become a fashion designer in the year 2000 when I enrolled in the Fashion and Textile department of New Bulgarian University. Throughout my study I constantly challenged myself and took part in several design competitions. [I've worked] as a textile designer for the Italian designer Roberto Badjie, several runway shows in Sofia, Bulgaria and [I'm] an owner and graphic designer for TZ`s Digital Design. LLC.
Where can we find your collection if we wanted to wear it?
Currently Tsvety Fashion garments are only available upon special order request trough my website at www.tsvetyfashion.com , but I am looking to expand in local boutiques and shops in the near future. Select one of kind garments are also available at Tsvety Fashion on Etsy or www.etsy.com/shop/TsvetyFashion
Do you have any celebrity or high profile clients that you’ve designed for?
I have had the pleasure to design for the wonderful, smart and energetic Samantha Busch- well known fashionista and the wife of the NASCAR driver Kyle Busch. I love working with her as she has impeccable sense of style and fashion.
If you can dress/design for one well known person, who would it be?
Now this is a hard one..but if I have to choose one celebrity to design for, that will be Nina Dobrev-She also has a Bulgarian background and I can identify with her style.
What can we expect to see from you at Charleston Fashion Week?
Without giving out too much I have to say that you can expect serendipity of colors and dynamic design! As usual I like to use contrasting materials and textures and attention to detail. As I mentioned earlier I am also bringing a new element to Tsvety design – knitted garments and accessories.
Visit Tsvety’s Website at www.tsvetyfashion.com
Held March 20-24, 2012 under the tents in Marion Square in Charleston, SC, Charleston Fashion Week® will feature more than 40 runway shows, the Spring Bridal Show, Emerging Designer Competitions, and Rock the Runway Model Competition. Named a Top 20 Event for March by the Southeast Tourism Society, this multimedia event presents high-end runway shows, interactive entertainment, pop-up shopping events, chic after-parties, and charity events. For more information on the sixth annual Charleston Fashion Week® visit www.charlestonfashionweek.com.
A life-long fat girl, Sommer Johnson decided to strap on some fancy tennis shoes, wrestle into a sports bra that would likely be one size too small (they always are--that's what you get with big boobs), and go on a 38 week journey to run the Peachtree Road Race. In the midst of trying to find her healthier self, she found that her struggle was not all that rare. Between the full-figured audience of her online publication, Gemini Magazine, and friends who were rowing up the fat river with no paddle, Sommer decided to share her journey to help women like her get past their fears (and get moving--literally). A runner newbie, Insanity graduate, Turbofire enthusiast, and foodie experimenter, Sommer Johnson is a 32 year old mother of 2 and wife of 1 who lives in Atlanta, GA.
