Is the world ready for Mammoth Suits?

9/24/2016

Nick Frankel modeling my Mammoth Suit Line at 6:08 am,
on a fine morning at burning man.
This was the first night we danced until the sun rose.

Here's my inspiration board for the Men's
(and unreleased women's wear) lines.

Not the first Menswear I've brought to the world

In 2014 I released my first menswear line.
This collection was titled "Blarney"
The irish gift of gab,
and it included 5 looks.

My beauties modeling their kilts and white tees!
Notice the beautiful stuffed
(Actually skinned)
animal codpieces they are rocking!
And in the far left upper corner,
you'll spot Malcolm,
He also modeled for this Fall 16 Mammoth Suit Collection.

Modeled by Malcolm, Devin, RJ, Nick and Daniel!

Here's a video of two women who went to my fashion show three summers ago.
I love and always plug this video
when I can.

The Collection

I'm a draper, not a pattern maker.

I never create garments from
paper patterns.
I love the freedom and free flowing creativity of draping.
That's where one places fabric on their mannequin or model
and pins it to or around their form.
This collection
required me to purchase Vogue Suit Patterns and
step out of my comfort zone.

I wanted to challenge myself, mission success!
Each look took about a full week of construction to finish.
I wrestled with my arch nemesis,
the sleeve!!!
I cut the collection from 10, to 3, to 2 looks.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY.
Although, I won't be selling these.
These suits were so specific to size,
I let my friends keep them.

About the Shoots

My plan for Burning Man was to
find a photographer
with experience
and a nice camera.
Its nearly impossible to solidify plans on the playa because there's spotty cellphone service
and people go exploring with no regimented schedule.
It's actually amazing.

So I shot Frankel myself.
He's been one of my closest friends ever since I met him
in my youth (18).
I went to Burning Man, just him and me,
which was a test of friendship and a dream.
Before this shoot, I pulled him away from
a gorgeous Irish lass, arguing..
"We've got business to attend to.
We have to beat the sunrise!"

We raced on our bikes terrified that our
window of bomb lighting
would escape us.
Preparing for battle.
I painted his face back at camp, he got dressed and we set out to find a location.

I've never shot, let alone directed a shoot by myself.
Nick had never modeled before.
And the finished product was stunning.
He could develope anything I threw at him.
"Nick you're a Native American Cheif!"
"Nick, now channel your grandmother!!"
It was fabulous and an absolute highlight of that week.
This is why I design.

Malcolm's shoot was a little bit more of a struggle.
I finally recruited a new friend to be my photographer and
we were aiming to do the shoot at
either sunrise or sunset.
Planning is hard on the Playa.
I would cancel on him,
he would cancel on me.
Since Malcolm was in a big camp he had
more responsibility and less free time.

The one time we got together,
we shot maybe 7 frames and then
a huge, angry, dust storm
literally cast rain, dirt and dragon flies on us.
Our beautiful sunset lighting was gone within second a
nd we raced back to find shelter.

Luckily,
Malcolm lives in the same neighborhood as me
and I was able to set up a day for
myself, malcolm and our photographer friend, Abraham Rodriguez
to drive up to the Oakland redwoods.
This was of course after our first attempt a week earlier.
Where we wanted to shoot
at San Francisco's Land's End.
My car broke down, my phone died and that was a mess haha.
So we made it work a week later in the forest.