MELINDA HUFF OF MIRAME SWIMWEAR INTERVIEW AT SPF 2011 NYC

The Story As a young designer presenting my debut collection, I wanted to begin by telling my story. Mirame is a swimsuit collection that pays homage to ancestry. My love of fashion was born out of my family lineage. Both of my grandmothers immigrated to New York (from different parts of the world) in the 1950's, landing in the Garment District. Each was animpeccable seamstress and they both worked in clothing factories. Through their earnings they were able to bring their families to New York to begin new lives. I am from the generation that followed. As a child, I was enamored with my Grandmother and her sewing machine. I spent countless hours watching her sew. By the end of Middle School, she had me behind the wheel. Thus, a lifelong love affair was born. The Collection Natives, the debut collection tells the story of the strength within and lineage between women. I wanted to offer women a way to dress that played with the concept of Conceal and Reveal. The collection is powerful and sexy without being overt. Blocks of color camouflage the flesh while flashes of nude and muted mesh shape the areas in between. This allows a woman to show a bit of skin, while still feeling covered. Rather than reveal the traditional cleavage, or bearing the bottom, I chose to offer an alternative and accentuate the curve of the hip, the nip of the waist, the gorgeous 'V' of the back. Within the collection, you will find a piece that flatters every body type. So whether the woman is busty or full bottomed, she has an option. The Natives collection also explores the idea of innerwear as outerwear. Currently, there is a fine line between the two as seen by pop culture celebrities Lady Gaga and Beyonce. I wanted to play with this concept in swim, offering suits that can be worn as bodysuits at the club, or with a pair of wide leg jeans thrown over, as a daytime look. It is a return to disco and 80's glam with a fully modern twist. Made in NYC Mirame is committed to quality, easily achieved through local production. Each suit is initially conceived and constructed by my own hands, using the skills my grandmothers' taught me.Additionally, through my years as Production Manager at Norma Kamali, I have the experience to oversea the production process at Mirame. This guarantees the quality of the suits by providing a constant presence in the local factories. The fabric is carefully printed yard by yard by a screen printer in Brooklyn, creating a unique look and feel that is again local and collaborative. Fabric and Silhouette My frustration with the limited color palette and shapes in swimwear led me to create something distinct. I wanted sexy swimwear with class. When shopping with this in mind, I constantly came across full coverage one-piece suits, in traditional black and navy that had a Marilyn Monroe-esque quality. Although I loved this look, I wanted something younger and fresher. On the other end of the spectrum, I found teeny little bikinis in neon colors with palm tree or paisley prints. I was dying to see something new. After countless hours of research and shopping, I realized that I had to create this swimsuit on my own. I decided on two color palettes, one a muted story for the 'safer,' resort shopper, and the other, a bold yet contained set of neons for the more playful shopper. I went with a Matte nylon spandex, which isn't often seen in swimwear. I felt that the shine was not only distracting, but lowered the taste level. The subtly of the matte fabric allows the eye to focus in on the elements of the design. Pleased with my solid color story, I began a search for a print. I wanted something delightfully unexpected. Something delicate enough that it would not subtract from the shapes and lines of the suit. . What frustration! Everything I came across was a tired concept. I realized that I had to make the print myself. Layering a hand printed neon stripe on nylon spandex with a micromesh on top was the perfect solution. This way I had the boldnessof the print, but was able to soften it with the mesh overlay. Perfect! What's Next Keep your eyes peeled for Mirame because I am here to stay! I am working closely with my showroom, Swank Showroom, to position myself strategically in the market. We are meeting with hotels and resorts, as well as boutiques to place Mirame in areas where the jet-setting fashion forward woman can be found. In May 2011, I will be attending Coast tradeshow in Miami, as well as a show in the LA area. I am already conceptualizing my upcoming collection, so hold tight until Fall. Keep expecting the unexpected from Mirame! Mirame Swimwear By Melinda Huff 225 West 39th Street 12th floor New York, NY 10018 Email: [email protected] Phone: 914.338.6551 Web: www.mirameswim.com