sandiegoartist.com

                           

KITES BY CARLA MANUEL

Four Questions We Ask Every Fashion Designer:

1. What current trend would you like to see eradicated?

 

Hooker Flops, you know 3 inch high rubber flip-flops. Part flip flop part high heel shoe? Why?
I really hope to see these go away!

2. What was your favorite era for fashion? 

I’ll say the 70’s because it was the most diverse in style options all around. I’m all about diversification and that’s what my line is mostly all about.
In the 70’s you had the short dress, the long dress, short shorts, long pants, jump suits, short skirts ,long skirts it was pretty much whoever you wanted to be.
It had the craft skill revived by a strong ethnic influence from many different parts of the world.
Crochet and shawls from Spain, macramé bags from Greece, Gipsy tops and so on.
But really, all eras of fashion have been inspiring to me.

 

3. What venue has been the best showcase for your work.

My Showroom. Because I get to work one to one with my customers and expose them to my creative environment. I also enjoy working with the boutiques I sell to in different markets - see stores list at www.kitesdesign.com I find NYC and LA to be the best showcases for my work outside of San Diego.
The Runway shows ,The Kites website - www.kitesdesign.com and Gen Art are also great. In San Diego Kites can be found at Niche Boutique in Little Italy, Matti D in Del Mar and Pret a Portier in Solana Beach.
For showroom appointments call 858-755-5021.


4. What has been your greatest obstacle?

Time.
Keeping up with the demand and growth of the business. At the same time I feel fortunate by having my wonderful assistant Kazumi, who helps me get ahead so much and my husband Daniel who has always been there for me.

 

About Kites Designs:

Carla Manuel originates from Brazil. Her career started about 14 years ago. After graduating in fashion design from FIDM.

Before creating her own own line, she was designing for many big name companies for about 9 years.


After gaining experience with the industry, the right time to go on her own seemed to arrive. It’s been great ever since! Carla really felt the need to have freedom to design whatever she felt like. Also bridging the gap between mass production and big name designers. "When you work for mainstream you don’t have a lot of freedom because everything has to be marketable and produced in large quantities."


.


Influences on Carla's Designs:

"I absolutely love birds and their shapes. When I see a Kite flying it reminds me of birds, they have the freedom to go anywhere and there is a relation to my clothes.

The Kites collection has styles to go everywhere and I’m free to design anything that is beautiful.

The name Kites is playful and that is another relation to my designs. Almost everyone can find something from Kites. I tried to have something for most styles.
In addition travel plays a large role: "Everywhere I travel I have my eyes open for fabrics. I happen to scour the most in
Brazil, Asia and small town vintage stores in the US. I intend to use those fabrics on my favorite couture pieces.
Where Can you see KITES Designs?

Trunk show at the Kites showroom on Sunday June 11th at 12704 Via Esperia,Del Mar, CA, 92014

We’ll be at the Thread show on June 18th, at the San Diego Aero Space Museum.

Kites Fashion Show at the San Diego Museum of Art for the Andy Warhol exhibit on Thursday July 20th.

For other up coming events or for a list of stores where you can find kites designs please check our website at www.kitesdesign.com

 

Kites Designs can also be seen.....

In a couple of months the clothes will be featured in an upcoming TV show that will be airing on Fox called Fashion House. The show Is about the lifestyles of fashion designers, models and fashion photographers. The clothes will be on some of the actresses on the show, including legendary beautiful Bo Derek and on all the models in the fashion shows that would take place in different episodes through out the season.

Recently, the Kites showroom and modeled clothes was featured on another TV show called Shop The World, which was broadcast globally. In the show they were speaking about best places to shop for couture one of a kind dresses.

Kites clothing will also be worn in an up coming new movie directed by Sharon Stone called Dick and Jane vs. the World.

 

About Us | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | ©2005 SanDiegoArtist.com