Letter from the CREATIVE DIRECTOR Pushing limits and taking risks has been my ultimate goal as Creative Director, so for this season’s issue, we took our fashion editorial, “Body + Water,” thirteen feet underwater. The execution of this photoshoot was the ultimate test of trial and error and teamwork. We had the wonderful opportunity to work with the professional scuba instructors from Boston Scuba Inc., who put three members of our team—including myself—in full scuba gear so that we could bring the underwater shots we envisioned to the pages of POLISHED. The verbal communication barrier that divided team members above and below the surface was the ultimate challenge between body and water. Never did I expect to direct an editorial photoshoot using hand signals, but my dedicated team succeeded in actualizing our vision. I hope you enjoy this editorial as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life.
L e t t e r f r o m t h e EDITOR The city of Boston has a rich history of art and culture. Known for its abundance of visual and performing arts sectors, Boston has an expansive art scene that extends far beyond the city’s streets. For this issue of POLISHED, we reflect on a few of Boston’s artistic outlets. We showcase a unique mix of artists, performers, designers, and restaurateurs who light up Boston’s diverse cultural landscape. Discover LOVEPOP, a greeting card company seen on “Shark Tank,” and #techstyle, an exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts that features the seamless integration of technology with fashion. Other articles include interviews with a fashion illustrator, a makeup artist, and a jewelry maker. So go ahead and bookmark your favorites; I’m sure there will be many.
CONTRIBUTORS PUBLISHER
SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM
Lasell College
Miranda McCrea
Maggie Haggerty - Facebook Karli Wilson - Facebook Hailey Bowie - Instagram Nicolette Martin - Instagram Jennica Patino - Instagram Erika Patnaude - Instagram Catherine Aronson - Twitter Samantha Chimel - Twitter Sydney Gordon - Twitter Amy MacDonald - Twitter
ART DIRECTOR
BLOG TEAM
FOUNDER
Richard Bath
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sophie Weidhaas
MANAGING EDITOR Jenna Mucci
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS
Eva Der Chelsea Scannell
ART EDITOR
Samantha Solomon
ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR Mandy Abbatiello
EDITORS
The mission of POLISHED Magazine is to promote and highlight the diverse and vibrant culture and fashion scene of Boston and the surrounding area.
Arturo Draper Darcy Anderson - Maggie Inc. Avery Gaines - Model Club Inc. Lindsey Grenier - Maggie Inc.
STYLISTS
EDITORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM
Meghan Borges MJ Chiulli Kaitlin McCarthy Danielle Sojka
Tom Horak - Lead Photographer Stephen Fischer Ryan McFadden Kelli Wagner
Bailey Sherwin
ASSOCIATE MEDIA DIRECTOR Kaitlin McCarthy
MAKEUP
MODELS
Alex Faszewski Julie Young
MEDIA DIRECTOR
Mission STATEMENT
Corinne Hennessey - Blog Editor Paris Adams Hannah Amorello Corinne Ciraldo Raegan Cleary Tess Dooley Taylor Duffany Maggie King Jessica Lindell Dana Sutcliffe
FACULTY ADVISORS Lynn Blake Stephen Fischer Anne Katzeff Becky Kennedy
1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02466 | lasell.edu
On the Cover
POLISHED Magazine is produced with graphic design support from the Graphic Design League at Lasell College. Visit us at graphicdesignleague.com
Avery Gaines Dress: Carissa Lynne Designs Makeup: Arturo Draper Editorial Photography Team
POLISHED Magazine is printed by Wing Press beau@wingpress.com
Table of CONTENTS FOOD 4 Blackbird Doughnuts
18 Body + Water
Designers: Carissa Lynne Designs, Clothes Horse Clothing, Earl Battle, La Fille Colette Makeup: Arturo Draper Editorial Photography Team Location: Atkinson Pool, Sudbury, MA Scuba Equipment: Boston Scuba Inc. Scuba Instructors: Chris Clark, Dina Zawaski
Writer: Alex Faszewski Graphic Designer: Jenna Mucci
6 Amorino: The Little Angel
with Whom You Fall in Love Writer: Nicolette Martin Graphic Designer: Eva Der
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8 In a Pickle: Kind of a Big Dill
Writers: Sarah Gelineau and Gloria Kabulo Graphic Designer: Samantha Solomon
10 Take a Bite of Authenticity Writer: Julie Young Graphic Designer: Ashley Burke
FASHION 11 Legit Activewear
Writer: Meghan Sapienza Graphic Designer: Julia Henry
12 Operation Benrus Writer: Sara Wailgum Graphic Designer: Eva Der
14 Under the Sea
Writer: Teresa Kocovic Graphic Designer: Katelynn Staples
16 Confessions of a Cosmetologist
Writer: Emma Landegren Graphic Designer: Rebecca Llanes
The Future of Fashion
Writer: Miranda McCrea Graphic Designer: Katelynn Staples
28 Trend Report
6 18
Writer: Emma Hoey Graphic Designer: Chelsea Scannell
ART 30 Upcycling Treasure Trove Writer: Kayli Hertel and Sara Wailgum Graphic Designer: Samantha Solomon
32 Hooked on Wire
Writer: Holly Chernick Graphic Designer: Lillian Baker
34 Art and Soul
Writer: Alex Faszewski Graphic Designer: Melissa Cooley
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36 Lovepop
Writer: Kelsey Hoak Graphic Designer: Ashley Burke
38 The Untold Story:
Staying Constant with Michael Constantino
Writer: Krista DeJulio Graphic Designer: Shawn Ridley
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3
FOOD
BLACKBIRD DOUGHNUTS Alex Faszewski
The kitchen of Blackbird Doughnuts is a cozy space, visible to all through a glass wall. Trays of colorful doughnuts, oozing with icing and dotted with sprinkles, await purchase by hungry visitors. Located in South Boston, the artisanal doughnut shop has been open only since January 2015 and has already amassed a fan base of loyal customers. This is partly due to Blackbird being the only doughnut shop in Boston that bakes on-site, and also because of the aesthetically pleasing—and delicious—offerings. Blackbird began with Rebecca Roth, owner of the Gallows, which is located down the road from the bakery. While in Chicago, Roth tasted an artisanal doughnut that blew her away and realized Boston did not have a shop that baked and sold doughnuts in the same storefront. Recognizing the gap in the market, she returned to Boston and decided she would be the first to do so. Before opening, bakers were in the shop for close to a month and a half, experimenting with recipes to perfect their menu. “We were making doughnuts every single day, just trying to find the doughnut that we wanted,” said bakery director Tara Bresnick. Blackbird offers 12 regular sized doughnuts at all times, as well as mini doughnuts that come in stacks of three. The number of flavors for mini doughnuts fluctuates, while the number for regular sized doughnuts
does not. Regular doughnuts are sold for $3, and the stacks of three mini doughnuts sell for $2.50. Doughnuts can also be turned into doughnut ice cream sandwiches with the soft serve that is included on the menu. The menu boasts popular flavors such as salted toffee and cookies and cream, but the offerings change sporadically; it depends on what is going on at the time. For example, holidays would influence a change in menu. However, the menu is adjusted almost every Friday to bring in a new flavor, and certain doughnuts can only be found seasonally. “We change the flavors quite rapidly. For spring, we just came out with a strawberry honey . . . for October we had pumpkin doughnuts and in the summer we do lots of lemon and blueberry,” said Bresnick. The signature Blackbird doughnut did not debut until the shop’s first birthday but was well worth the wait. The doughnut is an old-fashioned vanilla-bean cake doughnut, a classic that everyone can enjoy. Overall, the Bismarck is the fan-favorite doughnut. A Bismarck doughnut has no hole and has a special filling instead; Blackbird is currently offering a blackand-white Bismarck, which is filled with a white chocolate mousse and topped with chocolate ganache.
“We always sell out of those by 9:00 a.m. It’s hard to get one,” said Bresnick. To create the beloved doughnuts, it takes between 15 and 24 hours to bake each batch, and four to five bakers are typically involved in the process from start to finish. Blackbird uses yeast in its doughs, meaning that the dough is a “live product.” The process involves feeding, growing, and then stopping the growth of the yeast. Contrary to popular belief, there is a fair amount of science in this craft. Blackbird sources ingredients locally from farms and even entered a partnership with Lookout Farm in Natick. The shop used the farm’s cider to bake the doughnuts and sold them on-site. The farm also sold the apple cider doughnuts throughout the fall and winter. With offerings such as strawberry-honey doughnuts and the raspberry-rhubarb Bismarck, it is not difficult to guess why Blackbird is known for its originality and ingenuity. Part of this can be attributed to the approach that Bresnick takes when brainstorming new doughnut flavors. “I come from a pastry chef background, so [I] mostly played with desserts. Coming into this, I had never made a doughnut before. So most of my flavor combinations just come from desserts I’ve done in the past and just putting them into a doughnut—which is why they end up looking so intricate,” said Bresnick. Blackbird is also involved with its customer base; customers can now follow the process on the shop’s new Snapchat, and they can keep up to date on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. While many social media fans are not local, the shop has been able to offer a back-to-school giveaway of doughnuts, which was won by a young, local student. Blackbird is also hosting a contest to design its new van; fans on Instagram are particularly responsive and can be polled for opinions on new flavors. “The strawberry honey actually came from a girl who works at Starbucks by my house. She’s having a baby and she was telling me how she’s craving strawberries with honey at all times…And I came in that day and said to the head baker, ‘We should make a doughnut out of that,’” said Bresnick. Baking for Blackbird has its perks because there are no limitations. There is freedom to explore the depths of creativity, and as the first shop of its kind in Boston, Blackbird is making the rules as it goes.
Photography by Julia Henry
“We’re doing something that no one’s ever done. It’s fun to be able to surprise people with new things and also to be the first,” said Bresnick. Whether a chocoholic or a fan of fruity treats, every visitor finds a favorite at Blackbird Doughnuts. Making its products with thought and care, the artisanal doughnut shop is a welcome alternative. Forgo that morning drive-through run and seek an elusive Bismarck doughnut. If there is anything to be learned from the forward thinkers of Blackbird Doughnuts, it is that anything is possible.
5
Amorino:
The Little Angel with Whom You fall in love Nicolette Martin
Amorino, meaning “the little angel with whom you fall in love,” is a gelateria famous for its rose-shaped gelato and is a must-see on the list of things to do in Boston. Offering a unique gelato specially made in France, the business strives to make each visit memorable. Cristiano Sereni and Paolo Benassi, creators of the chain, are two Italian friends who wanted to bring delectable gelato to France. The two wanted to set their business apart from other gelaterias, which is why they came up with the practice of scooping gelato into a rose shape. By opening their very first Amorino shop, Benassi and Sereni were able to accomplish their goal of introducing unique gelato to the country of France. But they did not want to stop there—next on the list for expansion was Boston. Meet Léa Sasportes. Growing up in Paris, Sasportes had always been interested in entrepreneurship. She left her career in biotechnology and thought taking ownership of Amorino’s Boston location would be a great opportunity. Bringing a little bit of France to Boston, Sasportes chose to open up shop on Newbury Street. “When I tried it in Paris, the quality of the gelato was so good; I just fell in love with the gelato they were making,” said Sasportes. Previously managing three Amorino shops in Paris, Sasportes wanted to make a move to the United States. She was attracted to the quality of the Italian gelato and the Parisian atmosphere of the Amorino shops, and she
decided to open one in the city of Boston. Visiting many different locations in the United States, including Miami, San Francisco, and New York, Sasportes was drawn to Boston. “I love Boston. I like the life here,” said Sasportes. She believed that Boston offered great business opportunities for a gelato shop like Amorino. Saportes compared rent prices, competition, customer reaction to the gelato, and consumption among many different areas and was convinced Boston was the best choice. Originating in France, the Amorino menu had to be extended to accommodate the Boston clientele. “Amorino is all about the gelato, especially in Europe. But here, because coffee is very popular, we had to extend the menu. Here we do much more coffee and pastries than in France,” said Sasportes.
Sasportes chose to bring this shop to Newbury Street because there is a wide variety of customers, including business professionals, tourists, and families. “Newbury Street is the perfect location because you have all the customers represented,” said Sasportes. Sasportes wanted her shop to be located in an area where there was high foot traffic, and she believed that Newbury Street would be the perfect location. Sasportes wanted her shop somewhere that was always filled with people, no matter the hour of the day. Each Amorino shop shares the same warm color scheme fashioned by wood and brick walls, fixtures, furnishings, and decorations. This cozy atmosphere makes customers feel comfortable, welcome, and at home. “This is a typical Italian atmosphere and represents what you would experience in a very small shop in Italy,” said Sasportes. Amorino’s signature dessert is its rose-shaped gelato that the business is known for.
The employees are required to learn how to scoop the gelato into this structure, as all of the customers look forward to seeing the final display. In order to achieve the appearance of rose-shaped gelato, a special spatula is used that allows the employees to scoop the gelato into a petal-like figure. Due to this innovative technique, there is no limit to the number of gelato flavors a customer can receive. “We have 24 flavors, and you can fit as many as you want. You can even fit all 24 if you wanted to,” said Sasportes. There is wide variety in the famous Parisian gelato flavors featured in Amorino shops. The flavors include hazelnut, amarena, caramello, and mango, just to name a few. When you taste the chocolate hazelnut gelato, it is as though a cold spoonful of Nutella is exploding in your mouth. The inspiration behind all of the flavors comes from a special team that does taste testing in Paris. “They first make sure they can find good quality, and once they get a good one they go for it,” said Sasportes. Typically, all of the gelato flavors stay the same, with the exception of seasonally changing flavors. Sasportes claimed there is a new pistachio sorbet flavor in the making.
“Every time you form the flower figure, you get a big smile on the customer’s face,” said Sasportes.
Many people come into the shop and snap pictures of the beautiful gelato, wanting to share their experience with friends through social media. Social media heavily influence today’s society, so creating both visually appealing and delicious gelato is a brilliant marketing strategy for Amorino.
Photography by Amorino and Cyril Abad
Sasportes plans to eventually expand to other Boston locations, including Cambridge and Copley Square, where a summer kiosk will be opening. The team is anticipating a shop opening at South Station as well.
7
Sarah Gelineau and Gloria Kabulo Located on the corner of Moody Street and Crescent Street in Waltham, a bright green awning emblazoned with In a Pickle attracts a crowd of customers eager to indulge in a cuisine that is among the tastiest Boston has to offer.
In fact, the idea for the caramel crunch French toast came to Burke in a dream. The menu consists of what seems like thousands of choices, featuring everything from breakfast sandwiches to omelets and specialty pancakes.
Tim Burke, the owner of In a Pickle, always tries to give his customers a unique and unforgettable dining experience that is influenced by the wide array of unusual ice cream flavors created by Ben & Jerry’s. With dishes like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups pancakes or caramel crunch French toast, it is easy to see why this eatery is always crowded.
“Ben and Jerry’s is a huge inspiration for a lot of our pancake ideas; that’s where our cookie dough pancake came from,” said Burke.
When Burke first started out in the restaurant business, he was pretty strapped for cash and down on his luck. While trying to figure out how to house his vision, he thought to himself, “Gosh, I’m really (you guessed it) in a pickle.” “I was always kind of an entrepreneur in high school. I had my own lawn business; I watched kids; I washed cars. Then I got into college and I took a business class, and from junior year on, I was really gung-ho towards opening a restaurant,” said Burke. And thus, In a Pickle was born. Burke finally found a restaurant site, on Main Street in Waltham. Eventually, he found the Main Street locale to be less than desirable and moved to the present-day spot on Moody Street, also in Waltham. The new location for In a Pickle was formerly a restaurant that had gone out of business, making it the perfect place to set up shop. “The first restaurant I worked in I was lucky because I worked with a general manager who really taught me a lot of stuff,” said Burke. Their Moody Street location’s opening day was to be the day of the Boston Marathon back in April 2013, but the date was postponed due to the Boston Marathon bombing. The Pickle crew took the setback in stride and opened the following week. “This name follows me everywhere. I tell them it’s part of the theme; it’s part of our niche,” said Burke. The menu is another reason the eatery is so popular —only the freshest, locally sourced ingredients are used. The staff is dedicated to providing guests with the best food possible. All of the menu offerings are made to order, and no frozen ingredients are used in the restaurant. “We have a whole notebook of different things that we want to try. We read a lot of blogs, and we watch a lot of Food Network to get inspiration,” said Burke.
In addition, there are weekly specials that Burke and his team whip up to bring their guests something extra, such as the banana coconut pecan pancakes—a stack of pancakes filled with sliced bananas, chopped pecans, and sweet shredded coconut, which is then topped with powdered sugar and vanilla whipped cream. Another fan favorite is The Ringer. This belly buster comes with two fresh farm eggs cooked to order; golden-brown seasoned home fries; a choice of Black Forest ham, smoked bacon, or pork sausage; and a choice of two full-size pancakes or two pieces of French toast. Coffee or black tea is included. In a Pickle’s sweet and savory items have drawn many to its delectable menu. The restaurant’s popularity really began to grow after it was featured in the CBS “Best of Boston,” which has since become “The A List.” “We won it and we put a big banner up outside our restaurant. We felt like we started to catch some ground; we started to get some traction,” said Burke. This win helped to attract many new customers to the restaurant. In a Pickle also has a strong social media presence on Instagram in order to draw a younger clientele, typically college students. In a Pickle was also featured in 2010 on “The Phantom Gourmet,” which is a food-centered television program that features restaurants all over New England on Boston’s myTV38. “Phantom” recently returned to In a Pickle for another filming, which will be airing around Mother’s Day in early May. Especially interesting are In a Pickle’s walls; they are quirky and inspired by social media. Framed posts from sites like Facebook and Snapchat adorn them. The wide array of witty posts and pictures is sure to attract attention, whether the customer is dining at the bar or waiting to be seated near the hostess stand. “We grabbed a bunch of funny pictures from the Internet, then had to recreate every single one of these situations ourselves because of copyright issues with the posts used,” said Burke.
More social media posts and photos from different platforms such as Tumblr and Instagram are soon to be featured at In a Pickle. These add to the aesthetic that the restaurant is known for.
“We’re going to release a drink menu soon, featuring more cordials and more mixed drinks. When you own something, you’re always trying to perfect it… you don’t want to be a Smurf and wear the same outfit every day,” said Burke.
When asked what advice he wishes he had received going into the restaurant-owning business, Burke said, “You just have to love it. There’s no way you can work in this business and not be passionate about it.”
With its wide array of food and beverage choices and a friendly, cheerful staff, In a Pickle is a unique hideaway that will satisfy any sweet tooth and still leave customers hungry for more. Visit the website at www.in-a-pickle. com for more information.
Photography by Matt Caraballo
In an effort to revitalize the menu, In a Pickle is constantly altering its offerings and will be adding new items this spring.
9
Take a Bite of Authenticity Julie Young
When walking into The Haven, Boston’s only Scottish restaurant, the diner is comforted by thematic plaid pillows, old-fashioned portraits on the walls, and beautifully crafted antler chandeliers. The Haven resembles a classic pub in Glasgow, Scotland. Since the restaurant’s opening in 2010, owner Jason Waddleton could not be more proud of his business as it continues to thrive. Waddleton decided to open a Scottish restaurant, staying true to his cultural roots. “Being from [Stonehaven,] Scotland, I grew up with Scottish produce, and the story of its food is fantastic. It runs the gamut from high quality produce to outstanding craft beers and, of course, a culture of great hospitality,” said Waddleton. A unique taste sets Waddleton and his restaurant apart. The location was chosen after a three-year search, and Waddleton thought Jamaica Plain was a “great neighborhood with a diverse mix” that would likely welcome a Scottish restaurant. The Haven’s distinction as the only Scottish restaurant in Boston “is something we don’t take lightly. We have become a destination for any Scottish happening. It’s very inspiring and fulfilling,” said Waddleton. The menu at The Haven is continually evolving. “We have had three different chefs…each one has had an influence within The Haven that was fantastic,” said Waddleton. The Haven Burger has won several accolades; it holds a spot on a national list of Juiciest Burgers. In addition, the Haven’s Deep Fried Mars Bar is listed in “1,000 Foods to Eat Before You Die,” by Mimi Sheraton. This delectable dessert was invented in Stonehaven, and customers of The Haven love trying it for the first time.
Since the restaurant often strives to switch up the menu, customers may choose a classic favorite but can also enjoy the thrill of tasting the newest addition. “We change [the menu] seasonally, but our chef, Alex DuBois, adds to it whenever the opportunity arises. We buy from some local farms and get fish from Shetland and Scotland,” said Waddleton. Welcoming its neighbors and those who are interested in trying Scottish cuisine, “[The Haven] offers quality food and drink in a unique setting with a neighborhood feel,” said Waddleton. Stopping by this one-of-a-kind local gastropub is definitely a to-do while in Boston. The Haven keeps its customers and friends coming back for more by offering an authentic Scottish experience. “We play modern and traditional Scottish music, offer modern and traditional food, and try to be attentive, be on point, and deliver a consistent experience.” The Haven was the first place in the United States to replicate the traditional Stonehaven Fireball ceremony, which is celebrated on the last day of the year. “It consists of a pipe band leading fifty ‘swingers’ with lit fireballs down High Street in Stonehaven. We copied it for three years,” said Waddleton. In addition, The Haven hosts a wide range of events, from weddings, to baptisms, to Game of Thrones nights. “You name it, we’ve done it!” said Waddleton. The restaurant is enthusiastic about taking on more. Tourists seeking the delectable tastes of classic Scottish cuisine at a local pub should look for The Haven name, as plans for expansion are in the making. Motivated by his dreams, Waddleton strives to learn more about his business every day. “I want to see us doing what we do now and evolving with the same passion and drive. That will be the achievement,” said Waddleton.
Photography by Jenna Galletti
FASHION
Meghan Sapienza Legit Activewear in Wellesley is more than just a standard fitness store—it is a triple threat, selling luxury, fashion, and fitness. When asked how she got started, Lisa Goldberg, the founder of Legit, said, “I had always been interested in fashion and I saw activewear [or athleisure] as a huge trend that was ready to explode.” Legit’s products feature some of the most sought-after designers in the fashion fitness industry, such as Stella McCartney for Adidas, Michi, Varley, Lurv, Nesh, and Spiritual Gangster. Most of the products sold instore are almost impossible to find anywhere else, which gives customers the opportunity to touch, feel, and try on products that typically can only be found online. As customers walk into the store, located behind Bertucci’s at 380R Washington Street, they are instantly greeted by Goldberg, who is excited to talk, dress, and build connections. She decided to open her store in Wellesley, as she believed it would do really well, considering there are no other stores like it in the area. “I love to help customers feel good about themselves; a lot of customers had no motivation to go to the gym before they came into Legit, but now they do because they have new, stylish gear to work out in,” said Goldberg. Legit opened in April 2015 and has been growing ever since. Goldberg’s most devoted customers make weekly, private appointments with her to try on the store’s newest arrivals.
Goldberg’s secret weapon is her customer service. She enjoys going above and beyond to make customers happy by offering them the most convenient, easy, and fun experience while shopping in her store. “It makes me proud to say that my customers leave my store with an even greater sense of confidence. I love knowing I had a part in making that happen,” said Goldberg. Focusing on a niche market, Goldberg works very hard to promote herself, both locally and throughout the United States, on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook. However, much of her success comes from good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth. “My customers love to tell their friends about the products they are wearing, especially during boxing or Soulcycle classes; I call it Soulcycle talk,” said Goldberg with a smile. Goldberg’s most recent project is her e-commerce site, which she hopes to launch in the near future. With this, she hopes to build her client base by targeting a new, online market. “I am not looking to do much more expanding, besides the e-commerce work I am doing right now. I love being the neighborhood luxury fashion fitness store and I am in a great place right now,” said Goldberg. Follow Legit Activewear on Instagram (@legitactivewear) and Facebook.
“I have customers coming in that are as young as 28 and as old as 65. It is amazing because my 65+ customers have the greatest bodies. They can wear pretty much anything that my younger customers wear,” said Goldberg with a laugh. Collaborating with local gyms and lifestyle coaches, Goldberg likes to provide anywhere from two to three in-store events per month. These are usually private events and include champagne, music, and finger foods.
Photography by Michaela Kotob
“Collaborations are a great way of reaching new clientele. The local gyms and lifestyle coaches that we work with often get to offer their top 20 customers a special discount at Legit, which benefits both of us in the long run,” said Goldberg. Although Legit is considered an upscale store, Goldberg makes sure she has some products priced under $100, in an attempt to appeal to a wide demographic. Goldberg described her customers as “fashionable workout-aholics.” “In any part of the fashion industry, it is really important to keep up on the latest trends by visiting trade shows in big cities like New York and Los Angeles. Running a successful store is all about continually turning inventory over and adding new products,” said Goldberg.
11
Operation
Benrus Sara Wailgum
While some companies have strayed from the values they were founded on, BENRUS, a military-inspired lifestyle brand located in Providence, Rhode Island, has remained true to its classic American heritage. Established by the Lazrus brothers, Oscar, Benjamin, and Ralph, BENRUS originated as a wristwatch company in 1921. In honor of their Romanian descent and strong sense of family, the brothers came up with the name BENRUS by combining Benjamin’s first and last name. Since its establishment, the company has been committed to producing unique, quality wristwatches at accessible prices. Today, BENRUS offers both men’s and women’s apparel, eyewear, bags, backpacks, and accessories, in addition to their iconic watches. “We honor our history and that of our founders by remaining true to their mission of creating quality timepieces at accessible prices, with unique value,” said BENRUS Chairman and CEO, Giovanni Feroce. During World War II, the company became one of the leading manufacturers of watches for the United States Military and eventually became the third largest watch company in the country. The company’s reputation won it numerous government contracts to manufacture timing devices for use in bombs and other sophisticated weaponry. BENRUS’s battle-proven watches were issued to airmen, soldiers, and sailors. The company also helped pioneer the waterproof watch that became standard issue for World War II-era frogmen, which later evolved into the high-performance Navy SEAL watch issued during covert operations in the Vietnam War. Air Force pilots were given BENRUS watches during the Korean War, as they were recognized for their reliable precision during formation flying. Following a change in ownership in the early 1970s, the company ceased production. After BENRUS remained dormant for around 40 years, Feroce, a former combat veteran and entrepreneur, purchased the rights to the brand in the spring of 2014. After acquiring BENRUS,
Feroce assembled a team to completely relaunch the brand and reclaim its presence in the marketplace. “The BENRUS brand has a long history of quality and collectability from its original roots as a watchmaker. Watch collectors and military personnel alike know and respect the brand,” said Feroce. “The BENRUS brand is synonymous with ‘military’…respected, stable, high quality, durable, contemporary, and reliable.” In order to market their company, the Lazrus brothers hired popular brand ambassadors, including Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, and Walter Johnson, to appear in advertising campaigns and attend events for BENRUS. Today, Feroce is creating similar unique partnerships with sports teams such as the Boston Celtics and the Buffalo Bills, as well as other regional franchises. With a vintage aesthetic, apparel and accessory products are offered in neutral colors of olive green, navy blue, black, and brown. BENRUS now offers a premium denim line, as well as two different bag collections. Both the Elite Bag Collection and the Originals Bag Collection offer backpacks,
duffel bags, and messenger bags in stylish, yet functional, designs. From classic T-shirts to aviator sunglasses, all BENRUS products honor its history with the military. “BENRUS is a military-inspired brand because of our heritage of being one of the leading suppliers of watches to our military. Thus, our designs reflect what was created by BENRUS during World War II up through the Vietnam War,” said Feroce. “We have enhanced some classic BENRUS military styles which were staples throughout the war years.”
While the company is currently focused on its two core products, watches and backpacks, BENRUS has plans to expand its offerings to include other accessories as the company grows. This fall, the brand will be introducing a new line of watches that will be sold at select Nordstrom stores across the country. The new collection will feature a unique engraving component that pays tribute to the history of the innovative brand. BENRUS products are available for purchase online, at the brand’s retail partners, or at the company’s Providence showroom. Customers can also check out @BENRUSusa on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Photography by David Bibeault and Kylie Harwood
The best-known BENRUS watch model is the Sky Chief. Originally engineered in 1940, the watch is still admired, collected, and sold to BENRUS customers today. In honor of its history, BENRUS took inspiration from its classic and simple design, as well as its highly regarded precision, when designing the watch for today’s consumer.
As for the next ten years, the company aims to become a multi-billiondollar lifestyle brand. “Our plan is to become a disruptor in the backpack industry,” said Feroce. “We expect to achieve that status through our innovative designs, improved functionality, partnerships, and marketing of our backpacks.”
13
Under the Sea
Teresa Kocovic
Boston-based swimwear designer Karina Bresnahan had a colorful start with the fashion industry. Bresnahan was always interested in a creative career and began with cosmetology. “While going to hair school, I realized I loved creating and designing. From there I proceeded to the School of Fashion Design [in Boston],” said Bresnahan. There, Bresnahan realized her niche was in swimwear apparel design. Bresnahan grew up in Massachusetts and feels strong pride for Boston; she said the local designers support one another. However, Bresnahan does find designing for Boston’s climate to be a bit difficult. “The challenge with Boston is that we only have three months of summer!” said Bresnahan. Bresnahan creates a new collection once a year, but she eventually hopes to produce more. All the pieces from her collections are made entirely by her in her studio. In particular, she is known for her very colorful patterned swimwear. She takes inspiration from everything around her; Bresnahan’s most recent collection takes inspiration from nature and uses jewel and desert tones. This collection is different from her other collections because it consists of mostly solid-colored pieces. “I wanted to create a collection of tops and bottoms that could be mixed and matched,” said Bresnahan.
Photography by Bob Packert
For the first time, Bresnahan has veered away from cover-ups and has focused more on tops and bottoms. Bresnahan’s collection focuses on the woman’s body. The collection features silhouettes that celebrate the curves of the female figure. Bresnahan’s pieces stand out from classic swimwear with her use of cutouts, topstitching, and other bold techniques. Bresnahan hinted that she may have a few surprises in her new collection. Bresnahan’s price point ranges from $100 to $400; she said her garments are created for “professional young women who are mostly going on relaxing vacations, honeymoons and cruises. They like to look and feel great.” Bresnahan loves to play with juxtaposition, such as high necks with open backs or high waists with cheeky bottoms. She hopes to create a resort-wear collection and branch out into men’s and children’s wear. “In the future, I would love to get into leather. I think leather jackets are so cool!” said Bresnahan.
Recently, Bresnahan has been mostly working with spandex textiles. Most of the materials she uses now are samples that she personally selects from New York, but she hopes to eventually have her own graphics printed onto her fabrics. Bresnahan’s favorite material, however, is chiffon; she uses this fabric in many of her cover-ups. She believes the more layers added, the better the piece. Trends in swimwear apparel are always evolving. When Bresnahan was asked what trends she saw emerging, she said, “I’ve been seeing neons, color-blocking, lots of straps across the bust. Black trim is being seen all over. I think the black trim pushes the look towards sporty, which is cool. Also ruffles! Ruffles are back and I don’t hate them. They add a great texture and volume if placed correctly.”
“If I can make a woman feel beautiful and confident in my suits then I’ve done my job.”
Many women feel insecure and exposed when challenged to wear swimwear that is unforgiving to the body, but Bresnahan believes every woman can gain the confidence to rock a swimsuit with the right cut. “I love all swimsuit silhouettes; it all depends on the body you’re dressing,” said Bresnahan. One of Bresnahan’s goals is to help women love themselves. “Swimwear is important, because for most women, including myself, it’s when we feel most vulnerable. If I can make a woman feel beautiful and confident in my suits then I’ve done my job,” said Bresnahan. Karina Bresnahan Swimwear can be found online through Bresnahan’s Instagram (@kb4swim) and Facebook page.
15
Emma Landegren
Society now moves so quickly that we forget to take time to evaluate whether we like the things we do. If there is one thing to be learned from Amanda McCarthy, 39 and owner of AMB Cosmetics, it is to always make sure we love what we do. This is exactly the approach McCarthy has finetuned over the years. “My job is not work,” stated McCarthy bluntly and confidently. Not many people can project this refreshing attitude. McCarthy is a charming, light-hearted, and kind woman. However, she did not always have a creative career. Previously working in the health club industry managing sports clubs, she learned she loves working with people. Faceto-face connection is important in McCarthy’s work life. “I’m a people person, and relationships with people are huge to me,” said McCarthy. She worked briefly with Saks at Clinique, a cosmetics company, and found her hobbies were beginning to unravel. Once she got married and had two children, McCarthy began freelancing weddings. She would spend hours with brides, concocting the perfect look for their big day. McCarthy’s eyes were bright as she said that making a woman feel beautiful on her wedding day is one of the most rewarding feelings. At this point in her life, she knew she needed to commit completely. Her studio, located in Norwell, is a space for freethinking and having a drink with friends as they get their makeup done; it is a comfortable space where intimidation is nonexistent. She provides a personalized experience
for her customers, a component lacking in many large chains. People find these locations to be overwhelming, and they often avoid taking the time to look around. McCarthy has consciously tried to eliminate these pitfalls in her studio. Her main goal in a small studio is comfort and connection. “I have worked as an artist in every scenario possible: high-end department stores, small boutiques...in small hotel rooms, on front porches...and even touch-ups in the vestibules of churches. I wanted to have a space especially for bridal trials and makeup lessons. I wanted my clients and I to have a quiet, intimate space to work together without distraction. My studio gives me the opportunity to give the client a genuine experience. People aren’t standing over my shoulder watching, phones aren’t ringing.... it’s just about the makeup,” said McCarthy. McCarthy dove headfirst into the complex world of cosmetics. AMB Cosmetics features a line of beautiful cream lipsticks, hydrating foundations, and poppy blushes. Since her makeup line is only three months old, she does not have many expectations. Starting a business can be a scary undertaking, but McCarthy shows no fear. McCarthy cites her loyal client base as one of the best perks. She has provided a judgment-free space for women to practice applying makeup that they may be unfamiliar with. She described her ultimate goal—to provide women a 20-minute face tutorial with fewer than five products. She is not here to teach extreme artistry; this look is for every kind of girl. She aims to enhance natural features with a pop of color, whether that is by lipstick, eye shadow, or blush.
“You are always dressed with a lip [color],” said McCarthy. Her user-friendly line can be seen on anyone from 15 to 55 years of age. She has many people interested in her fresh products and said that Boston has great camaraderie for women in the fashion industry. “I love to make women feel good about themselves. To take time in teaching them gives self-confidence, and I love to see how they are affected by the simplicity of makeup,” said McCarthy. She is not here to change the way a woman looks; she wants to combat a flaw by lightly masking it. She has decided to upload a collection of makeup tutorial videos to her website, providing women with an outlet for achieving the looks at home.
McCarthy’s products are weightless, soft, creamy, and smooth; they enhance women’s facial features without being overwhelming, and the application process is simple and easy to follow. Her tutorials empower women and give them the confidence and knowledge to look and feel beautiful. McCarthy has the world at her fingertips, and it will be exciting to see what she accomplishes next.
Contact Amanda McCarthy for order inquiries: Amandamccarthybeauty.com Email: Agwmakeup@yahoo.com Facebook: Amanda McCarthy Beauty Instagram: @AmandaMcCarthyBeauty
Photography by Mikhail Glabets, Esther Mathieu, and Chip Riegel
“Making makeup as easy as possible is key,” said McCarthy. Her makeup line is mineral based and paraben-free. It is also cruelty-free and hypoallergenic, and a few of her products are gluten-free as well. She gives women of all skin types a resource to find exactly what they want and need. Not only does she create products and provide lessons on how to use them, but she also has an organic spray-tanning unit in her studio. The product is completely natural and can be mixed for each person’s skin tone, whereas well-known chains allow only three options: light, medium, or dark.
17
body + water
Left Page: Lindsey Dress: Clothes Horse Clothing Right Page: Lindsey (left) Dress: Earl Battle Darcy (middle) Dress: Earl Battle Avery (right) Dress: La Fille Colette Makeup: Arturo Draper Photography: Tom Horak
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Left Page: Darcy Dress: Carissa Lynne Designs Right Page: Avery (left) Dress: Earl Battle Darcy (right) Dress: Carissa Lynne Designs Makeup: Arturo Draper Editorial Photography Team
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Left Page: Lindsey Dress: Carissa Lynne Designs Right Page: Darcy Dress: Earl Battle Makeup: Arturo Draper Photography: Tom Horak
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Left Page: Darcy Dress: Carissa Lynne Designs Right Page: Lindsey Dress: Earl Battle Makeup: Arturo Draper Photography: Tom Horak
25
The future of fashion
Miranda McCrea
Left Page: “Bodysuit from Hard Copy collection, 2014; Work by Noa Raviv; Garments by Noa Raviv; Photos by Ron Kedmi; Courtesy,Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.” Right Page: (Top Left) ““Water Splash” Crystallization dress, 2013; Image Courtesy of Nick Knight and SHOWstudio.com; Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.” (Top Right) ”Highrise Shoe (one of two(right)), 2015; Arthur Tracy Cabot Fund; Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.” (Bottom Left) ”Tuxedo, Autumn/Winter 2014 with LED e-broidery inspired by Thomas Ruff’s astral photographs, 2014; Copyright: Akris; Courtesy, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.” (Bottom Right) “ Metallic Leather Fringe Dress, 2012; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Museum purchase with funds donated by the Fashion Council, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Ruby Jean Wilson DNA models; Photograph by Chris Moore Catwalking.com.”
Today we live in a digitally driven society, so it is natural for fashion designers, scientists, and engineers to join forces and take on the world. We have come to expect the union of fashion and technology, when just a short while ago this feat was merely a thought and not yet formed into an obtainable product. Enter #techstyle, an exhibition showcasing the wonders of integrating technology and fashion. The Museum of Fine Arts is hosting the exhibit from March 6 to July 10. #techstyle begins with an introduction to the fusion of fashion and technology in the work of well-known designers and then transitions into two major sections: Production and Performance. “‘Production’ explores the ways designers—often in collaboration with scientists and engineers—harness new technologies to rethink how clothing is made. ‘Performance’ presents fashion that interacts with its wearer in both practical and conceptual ways,” said Michelle Finamore, co-curator of #techstyle and Penny Vinik Curator of Fashion Arts. The garments featured in the exhibit range from conceptual to wearable, depending on the piece. The “Ricky Bag with Light” (2015) by Ralph Lauren is a surefire wearable accessory; it is both fashionable and technologically savvy, boasting newly installed LED lights and a built-in phone charger for up to 1,000 on-the-go charges. The “Solar Dress” (2014) by Pauline Van Dongen is similar in functionality, as it charges a phone’s battery via solar panels located in the sides of the dress. “Van Dongen’s design philosophy emphasizes the fusion of technology with design to create functional clothing for the future. In 2014, she collaborated with Christiaan Holland and solar energy expert Gert Jan Jongerden to create clothing that incorporated solar cells. After two hours in the sun, the [solar] dress can charge a phone’s battery. The design of the dress incorporates 72 cells, which can be hidden behind folding panels when not in use,” said Finamore. Many of the items in the exhibit are currently for sale, so it is just a matter of time before more become available to customers. Affordability of these pieces comes with the advancement of technology, and when technology is made affordable, more designers will be incorporating technology into their garments.
#techstyle exhibit. However, with a great deal of the technology featured in the exhibition practiced in Boston, “a long-time technology hub,…[Boston is] now emerging also as a center of ‘smart’ fashion.”
“[The movement] will continue to evolve as new technologies are developed. There is no end in sight, which is the exciting aspect of all of this…Technology has always impacted fashion and vice versa, but we are currently seeing very dynamic synergy between the two disciplines and more collaboration than we have seen in the past,” said Finamore.
“One of the things that fascinated us about the current work in the show is that fashion designers and scientists, mathematicians, and engineers often collaborate to create very wearable designs. We also found many young designers like those at THEUNSEEN, Nervous System, and Francis Bitonti are also scientists in their own right and have chosen to work in the fashion world. It is this confluence of fashion and technology that has resulted in such beautiful, wearable garments,” said Finamore.
Designers are jumping on board to create tech-trendy garments in major fashion hubs, including London, New York City, and Boston. Runway shows around the world have showcased these garments, created by frontrunners Hussein Chalayan, Issey Miyake, and Iris Van Herpen. “What we found interesting in our research is that many of today’s young scientists have chosen to focus their research efforts on clothing and accessories. Nervous System in Somerville, Massachusetts, and Francis Bitonti in New York both work with computer algorithms and 3-D printing to create new ways of generating fashionable dress. Kate Goldsworthy, Senior Research Fellow at Textiles Futures Research Centre, University of Arts London, is doing important work using lasers to pattern textiles and actually stitch garments together. Her methods involved no textile dyeing or finishing, which are among the most chemically wasteful processes in the textile industry. The garments are also completely recyclable with no waste,” said Finamore. Since New York City is the center of the fashion industry in the United States, it may come as a surprise that Boston was the chosen location to showcase the
Looking into the future, the fashion industry intends to continue collaborating with professionals in STEM-related fields to enhance the wearer’s experience through advances in technology. These garments are certain to change the way consumers purchase clothing, one piece at a time. “Customization will have the biggest impact on the consumer. With body scans, clothing can be custom made, while apps allow for custom design. Even today, you can go to the website of Nervous System, design a dress, feed in your measurements, and print it on a 3-D printer. I think this method of buying clothing will become much more common,” said Finamore. For more information on the exhibition, follow #techstyle on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
27
TREND
Report
Women
Emma Hoey
OFF-THE-SHOULDER DO: Wear a long, thin scarf in a bright color or unique pattern to add sophistication to any style. Pair with a blazer, button-down, or graphic tee and wrap the scarf or let it hang around the neck for a polished look. DON’T: Choose a scarf that is thick or cable knit. This season, a scarf should serve as an accessory, not a necessity!
SEQUINS AND SPARKLE DO: Wear a shimmering piece that will complement the rest of your ensemble. Glittering accents are head turning and give a playful vibe to any look. This season, pick shining neutrals and pale shades of blue, green, and yellow for casual glamour. DON’T: Overdo it! Avoid dark shades and jewel tones and opt for lighter colors.
SLIP DRESS DO: Wear a flirty slip dress in a neutral color. Choose a piece with a hem that falls just above the knee and has a modest neckline for chic elegance. Pair this trend with a cozy cardigan and ballet flats for day and a leather moto jacket and heels for night. DON’T: Pick a slip that is too revealing. The outfit should be subtly sexy and should leave much to the imagination.
Men
CUBAN COLLAR DO: Wear a retro-inspired top with a tailored fit. This trend can be worn as a neutral, solid bright, or mixed print for a modern take on the 1950s. Tuck this shirt in with loosely fitted trousers and pair it with a leather belt for a nod to the past. DON’T: Leave this boxy style untucked or unbelted. This trend is meant to be fitted, regardless of its boxy shape.
SCARVES DO: Imitate summer trends in a romantic, shoulder-baring dress or blouse. Choose a piece with uniquely cut necklines that accentuate shoulders. Flowing garments in a print or solid seasonal palette are flattering and show a bit of skin in an elegant way. DON’T: Choose an off-the-shoulder garment that is low cut. Look for an off-the-shoulder piece that is both comfortable and stylish.
Photography by Michaela Kotob
PINSTRIPES DO: Wear bold stripes in navy, black, and white to appear refined and preppy this spring. Keep this look classic and clean by rocking a bold-striped suit or styling a pinstripe piece with something more understated, like denim or cords. DON’T: Wear brightly colored stripes or mix with prints and other more daring trends. Pinstripes alone are a statement, so lean towards traditional colors.
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ART
Kayli Hertel and Sara Wailgum
When it comes to looking for rare items of clothing and accessories, the fashion world turns to thrift stores, flea markets, and online boutiques. But what if that piece was a fork or spoon carefully crafted into a ring or bracelet? Interested? Then accept an invitation from Not So Flatware, an Etsy boutique that is redefining everyday utensils by upcycling them into decorative, wearable treasures.
After visiting a flea market and finding a fork with an alluring design, Harris’s sister asked her to create a ring from it. Using hand-medown tools and a workbench in her basement, Harris began creating her own flatware jewelry. Although some of her first attempts were not successful, she stuck with it and eventually began selling her repurposed designs to others.
Cassandra Mae Harris of Ipswich, creator of Not So Flatware, acquires the items used in her designs on her own. After wearing her grandmother’s original 1964 Towle Sterling ring for several years, Harris became interested in the company and began collecting jewelry made from its flatware. Towle Silversmiths, an American silver manufacturer, was founded in 1690 in what is now the town of Newburyport. Although the factory itself has been closed for many years, its flatware pieces are still used by area residents and can be found at local flea markets and yard sales.
The upcycling movement has become popular during the last decade, but the concept of reusing materials for something other than their originally intended use is not new. The objective of the movement is to take useless or unwanted pieces, by-products, or waste materials and turn them into something unique and desirable while benefiting the environment. This is an eco-friendly step for fashion; every piece in Harris’s shop is a product of upcycling.
“There’s so much history behind every spoon that I collect. I like the fact that there is a history; there are beautiful patterns, and you can’t replicate or get those now.”
Harris uses sterling silver to make all of her pieces and gets her discarded flatware from a variety of places. The majority of her materials are finds from flea markets, yard sales, or auctions. Typically, flatware is melted down at the scrapyard for the silver value, but Harris purchases and collects these forks and spoons to repurpose them later on. “There’s so much history behind every spoon that I collect. I like the fact that there is a history; there are beautiful patterns, and you can’t replicate or get those now. It pulls out a whole different world that I just never knew about,” said Harris of the searching and collection process. Harris also takes pride in the fact that the flatware pieces she uses are all made in the United States. Each piece of flatware has a unique marking, which acts as a physical branding by the company it came from. She researches these markings in order to get the history of the product for her customer. “It’s neat to have a completely American-made product and be able to recycle too,” said Harris.
Photography by Corinne Ciraldo
Harris draws inspiration from her workshop, which is located at her father’s Christmas tree farm, and she works in batches based on the type of jewelry that she is creating that day. Some days are spent hammering rings, while others are spent cutting the flatware down. Harris posts new creations online three to four times a week.
“I’m obsessed with them being perfectly round,” she said of the ring creating process in particular. “I can’t sell a ring unless it’s perfectly round, because I feel like it’s not up to par.” In May 2013, Harris started the Not So Flatware Etsy shop. Although she sold her first spoon ring within a few days of posting it, she never imagined her business would become the success it is today. Once the business took off, she began collecting and creating more jewelry. Today, Not So Flatware’s Etsy page offers a variety of sterling silver spoon rings, mermaid and fishtail pendants, earrings, and bracelets. Her items range in price from $60 for a pair of earrings to $80 for rings and $200 for bracelets and pendants. When prospective customers click on the Not So Flatware page, they cannot help but fall in love with the jewelry. While many of the pieces look similar, buyers notice subtle differences in the patterns. Once the customers choose a piece, they receive a detailed history of the sterling silver flatware they are purchasing. On the back of Harris’s business card, which also acts as an introduction to the piece’s history, are the original manufacturer, pattern design, and year of the flatware. “Someone will always connect to the pieces that they choose from me,” said Harris.
Follow NotSoFlatware on the shop’s media accounts: Etsy: NotSoFlatware Facebook: Not So Flatware Instagram: @notsoflatware
31
Hooked On Wire
Holly Chernick
Anyone who has worked with wire can attest to its difficulty. However, Dawna Davis, creator of wiredgems, has chosen wire as her preferred medium. Davis manipulates wire into beautiful, wearable art pieces that often incorporate clusters of unique gems. Davis works and lives at Midway Artist Studios, an artist collective located in Boston, and is working hard to promote her creations. Davis is a 67-year-old working artist, but she has not always been involved with art. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in special education, a younger Davis did not picture her career as what it is today. During the 1960s and 1970s, when Davis was just beginning as an artist, she macraméed small pieces and sold them to shops and boutiques, gaining firsthand experience of what it would mean to live off of her artistry. Afterwards, she entered the working world, which she claims stifled her progress as a creator. By the time the 1980s rolled around, Davis got back into creating through photography, which was a medium very different from wire. A young Davis discovered the papermaking process, and she made cards with a mix of watercolors and her own photography. However, Davis noticed there was something missing; this method of creation did not satisfy her in the way she thought it would. Davis said her eventual love affair with wire was “all very serendipitous” and came to her after she took a class
in silversmithing. Davis quickly realized that although she was intrigued by metal and now holds a lot of respect for the people who work with the process of manipulating metal into objects, she wished to find a craft that was more wild and free. Davis began her work with wire by making wire-wrapped jewelry, often selling or giving her pieces away to friends. As her wire skills improved, she took back the pieces she had given to her friends and reworked them. Davis would tell her friends, “You can’t continue to wear this and have my name on it—I’ve gotta upgrade it for you!” This determination to master wire led Davis to pieces outside of jewelry. This can be seen in the number of artistic mirror pieces and bowls that incorporate wire throughout her studio. Davis quickly realized that in order to be shown in a gallery, she had to venture into wall hangings and installation pieces. After Davis experimented with wall pieces for a while, a designer eventually asked her to make a wearable neck sculpture for a dress that would be featured in a collaborative show. After creating this neckpiece, Davis became hooked on making her works more sculptural. “After making that neckpiece, the direction of my work and the passion I felt about it changed. Instead of making pieces to sell, I now make pieces to be
seen...seen on the runway, seen in wearable art exhibits, and hopefully seen and loved by women and men who want to have a piece that can be worn and then taken off and hung on the wall as the piece of art it is,” said Davis. Davis fits her own work into her schedule as an organizational mentor, but on a day when creativity is a priority, she situates herself in a comfortable chair in her studio to work on her pieces. “I’ve tried all different kinds of workspaces. I’ve had a jeweler’s bench, but I’ve found what works best for me is to work in a big, overstuffed chair,” said Davis. She takes an organic approach to creating, watching the news or listening to music, getting up when she needs to, and enjoying walks in order to keep herself active during what she considers sedentary work. When she starts a piece, Davis has an idea of what she wants it to look like but said, “The kind of wire takes me to different places. So, it’s almost like a collaboration… And I like that.”
her tackle new methods of manipulating the medium. Davis teaches and often works with design students at Lasell College, which hosts a runway show at the end of the spring semester. During these interactions, Davis never fails to be open-minded to new ways of doing things. Digressing a little, she also said that she does not want her wire pieces to outshine the clothing on the runway. “That’s the thing about collaboration; you want your piece to work with the garment and not overshadow the garment,” said Davis. Although it is challenging at times, Davis cites working with students as one of the most rewarding experiences. When asked if she could picture herself continuing as a working artist for ten more years, Davis laughed and said, “I’ve never done anything for ten years.” As for future endeavors, Davis said she would like to see her work expand into costuming for plays or would like to work on garmentoverlay pieces. Interior design is another interest of hers, so she hopes to experiment with lampshades.
Many of Davis’s pieces feature coils and spirals, which she enjoys implementing in order to take the piece in a more whimsical direction. While she does not have a particular creative process, Davis says she likes to begin with the function of a piece and keep the end goal in mind when creating. She also tries not to shy away from a piece when she thinks it is getting “too weird” or she becomes afraid that nobody will want to wear it.
Shabby chic is the style Davis envisions, “where the lampshade is torn and there is a wire over it.”
“[I think about] when I’m finished—how is it going to be used or how is it going to be worn? But right now, it’s all experimental,” said Davis.
Davis emphasized the enjoyment she gets out of her collaborations with the students at Lasell College. She gave some advice for aspiring young artists: “Believe in yourself. Don’t let anybody tell you to get a ‘real job.’ Being an artist is a real job. I’ve had what most consider real jobs, and if you work a traditional job, then your art will always be second. If you are truly passionate about your art, you must be able to take that risk...it has to come first.”
Photography by Joel Benjamin and Dawna Davis
One of Davis’s favorite places for her work to end up is the runway. She has created the majority of her wearable art pieces in collaboration with runway shows. Placing an intricately stitched wire sleeve on the table, Davis said working with designers “gives [her] a new way of looking at wire” and helps
But Davis remains optimistic about the future. “I have no idea where it will take me, but I am going to enjoy the journey. I’m just a hippie that never quite grew out of it,” said Davis.
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Art & Soul Alexandra Faszewski
What do cupcakes, art, and “Sex and the City” have in common? Jamel Saliba, a local fashion illustrator known for her chic, whimsical artworks. The 29-year-old’s body of work ranges from custom illustrations to logos to pillows, as it is possible to do a lot with just one design. Using her childhood nickname in her brand name, Melsy’s Illustrations, Salib sells her work online via Etsy and at pop-up booths. Melsy’s Illustrations began when a close friend of Saliba’s gave her an illustration of a girl in a pink dress. While shopping online for other illustrations, she noticed how expensive they were and decided to try her hand at creating her own. She began drawing and posting her art to Instagram, where other Instagram users encouraged her to sell the pieces.
In addition to Etsy, Saliba sells her work at pop-up booths in Boston’s SoWa Open Market; she spent two months manning her own booth at New York’s Bryant Park as well. She plans to return to New York in the spring to sell at Chelsea Market. What’s next for Melsy’s Illustrations? Fans can look forward to exclusive Christmas greeting cards this year, and her artwork will be featured on several designs for Hallmark. Saliba’s greeting cards will be available at Marshall’s and TJ Maxx.
Saliba only started drawing in August 2013 and is completely self-taught. Before being inspired by the fashion illustration she received, Saliba was a technical writer at Raytheon, where she said her “whole cube was pink.” She worked for Raytheon for four years before resigning in order to pursue her art more seriously. Now, illustration is her full-time job. Inspiration comes from Saliba’s mother, who has always been deeply interested in fashion and interior design. Saliba comes across subjects in various ways—some images she finds online, on sites such as Instagram, Pinterest, and in various fashion blogs. She is also inspired by items she notices on people and makes them her own. For example, one of her drawings is of four dresses, and each one is inspired by a character from “Sex and the City.” The time it takes to complete one of her illustrations fluctuates, depending on how many figures are in the image—whether it is a Chanel bottle or a garment on a hanger, rather than a figure—and on the medium being used. Saliba estimates that most take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. Saliba prefers Copic markers for their ease and efficiency. In fact, if she had to choose just one, Copics would be her illustration tool of choice. Saliba especially enjoys drawing hair, backs, and shoulders, which can be seen in one of her personal favorite illustrations. In this piece, a girl is examining a display of cupcakes; like many of her works, the piece tells a story. “One day, I was craving cupcakes, so I drew them instead,” Saliba explained with a laugh.
Illustrations by Jamel Saliba
Saliba also loves to do custom illustrations. “Every one that I do has such meaning behind it,” said Saliba. Requests are most commonly received from brides hoping to document their special day. She often finds inspiration in the people she is drawing and in their individual stories. “This guy emailed me and said, ‘I want you to help me propose to my girlfriend.’ He wants me to draw him proposing to her,” said Saliba. Saliba has been able to sell her work to international locations, including England, Italy, and Taiwan. Being an online vendor is beneficial because “online you can reach a lot more people, while with a store you’re limited.” Saliba believes that starting off online is better, not only because of the audience one is able to reach, but also because it is more affordable. She touted the benefits of social media; Instagram was especially useful as it is a visual site. “I’ve gotten more jobs this way than with Raytheon,” said Saliba.
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LOVEPOP AS SEEN ON SHARK TANK Kelsey Hoak
Purchasing a card for someone has become such a chore because the act of card giving has lost its value. However, Lovepop Cards is a company dedicated to making greeting cards special again. These intricate, handcrafted cards act as gifts. Lovepop sells 3-D pop-up cards for any and every occasion or holiday. Wombi Rose and John Wise, the creators of Lovepop Cards, met during their freshman year of college at the Webb Institute of Naval Architecture on Long Island, New York. There they learned engineering skills for shipbuilding and worked on a shipyard. After college, Rose went to MIT to get a master’s degree in computation for design and optimization.
They chose “love” because all the cards are associated with love in some way—either in the process of making them or in the act of giving them to someone special. They chose “pop” because it refers to the paper that pops out of each card. Each Lovepop card displays a 2-D picture on the front and contains a 3-D sculpture of the image, which pops out of the card. Together, the words are simple, easy to remember, catchy, and different. There is no other like Lovepop.
He continued to work with ships and worked on offshore support vessels; during this time, Wise went to Louisiana and worked for a boatbuilder, Metal Shark Boats. A couple of years later, they met up again at Harvard Business School. On a trip to Vietnam, they discovered slice origami, which are little slices of paper measured and cut to a specific size and then assembled to create a 3-D sculpture. They saw how others reacted and knew that they could use their engineering backgrounds to create a unique product and fill a gap in the market.
At Lovepop, the creation process begins with designs and ideas for new cards. The team considers who the card is for. Customers also make suggestions that are taken into consideration and possibly integrated into the line. Once a design is picked, sketches are drawn and the cover art, embellishments, and colors for the card are chosen. Then the 3-D process begins. The design is put into a 3-D design program called Rhino. Several prototypes are created, and then the sculptures are laser cut and assembled by hand before they are ready to be sold. With all the designs, how can one choose? Rose’s top five designs are the love turtle, the dogwood tree, the kraken, the unicorn, and the new rocket ship.
From there, Lovepop was created. Rose and Wise chose the name Lovepop because it is whimsical and catchy.
This unique 3-D card idea landed Lovepop a spot on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
“We wanted something that embodied the spirit of what we are doing,” said Rose.
“It’s a nerve-wracking experience, but once you start pitching your business to the sharks, your nerves go away,” said Rose. Seven million people watch “Shark Tank,” and with this nationwide exposure, the business grew drastically. Rose and Wise made a deal with Kevin O’Leary, who has helped them to market and promote the business since then. “He is fiercely loyal,” added Rose. “Shark Tank” helped grow this now twoyear-old business into something that Rose did not think was possible in such a short amount of time.
In the future, Lovepop plans to expand its online business by building an online customization platform for creating customized wedding invitations. Each invitation will be tailored to the couple’s needs and will feature Lovepop’s signature flair. Rose and Wise are also planning to sell their products in physical stores and kiosks. Visit their pop-up shops around the Boston area, or shop online at lovepopcards.com.
Photography by Rebecca Llanes
Lovepop has a dedicated team, with 20 employees in the office and another 25 ambassadors throughout Boston at Lovepop locations. It is no longer just Rose and Wise; it is an entire team making Lovepop what it is.
Lovepop wants to get rid of the traditional card shopping—which usually gets done last minute—and create an experience for someone special. A Lovepop card does not need words because the sculpture says it all. Rose and Wise want their cards to be unique gifts to give to the special people in one’s life.
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The Untold Story:
Staying Constant with Michael Constantino Krista DeJulio Find a microphone. Find a computer. Find software. Find friends. That is how Michael Constantino would advise a musician who is looking to break into the music industry. Twelve years later, he is still doing what he once did with friends as a sophomore in high school: writing and creating music. However, he was never in a band, as he always knew he wanted to be a solo artist. “I’ve felt like I’ve always wanted to be a solo artist. I like working with other artists, but I’ve been writing for so long that I feel like I have so many of my own thoughts and ideas that I kind of just want to do myself,” said Constantino. He played his first gig at McGann’s Irish Pub in Boston right after graduating high school and calls the experience a disaster. “I was staring at the ground. You’re watching yourself and you’re like, ‘Mike, just look up, just look up,’” said Constantino. Raised in North Andover, 28-year-old Constantino grew up watching and playing sports, riding a skateboard, and being a regular kid. While he still works a nine-to-five sales job, he has become a successful and popular
Boston musician. He dabbles with the piano and guitar and even plays piano in a few of his songs. Although he raps, Constantino calls his genre of music pop because he also sings. As a child of divorced parents, Constantino found comfort in music. He listened to music as a way to occupy his time alone and soon became obsessed with listening and burning mix CDs. Constantino eventually had at least 300 burned CDs of all different types of music. As his love grew, Constantino began writing his own music. “Once I found music and really started listening to music, that was it. I honestly just wanted to be a professional at something. I was really into sports. Everything I took on I wanted to be the best at it. I wanted to be a superstar,” said Constantino. “I feel like I’m kind of the untold story. I’ve done a lot.” Constantino has played more than 100 shows in the Boston area and radiates hometown pride. He claims to have performed at least once at almost every venue in Boston, naming Middle East and Icon as two of his favorites.
“I love performing. I’m very energetic. I’m very passionate about what I do.” Constantino went by his last name for a while, but he wants to bring his first name into the equation. However, his success as a musician is his main focus.
Photography by Dawn Kingston: 439 Photography and Eric Snyder: EAS Photography
“For a long time I just went with Constantino. The cool thing about using Michael Constantino is that I’m still Constantino...Even Constantino is 12 letters, so it’s kind of a lot,” said Constantino. Constantino is self-managed—even creating his own website, and mixing his own music—whereas other artists have a management team behind them. He hopes to one day tour the entire United States and then the world, eventually moving to California and offering other young artists the mentoring he never received. “It really means a lot to me—it means the world to me—when people support my music and just listen to it and enjoy it and come out to the shows,” said Constantino. “I’m just a regular guy with a huge dream.” Constantino has approximately 25 songs written and recorded for a potential full-length album, and he released a six-song EP last April called Brand New. Every Monday Constantino also releases a mash-up, in which he records a cover of a song and incorporates one of his own songs, or raps into the end of the song. In his home studio, Constantino records vocals twice a week and mixes and produces them all by himself.
Like many Boston-based musicians, Constantino is able to admit Boston is not the best city in the country for music prosperity, but he stays positive. He is proud of his city and takes advantage of the small city by getting to know all of the music venues. His family, friends, and musical associates never fail to support him, and he is more than grateful for them. “I love performing. I’m very energetic. I’m very passionate about what I do. Sometimes I scare myself with how determined I am. Once I start something I don’t want to stop. Music has changed the course of my life because I’m just gonna keep going until I get the world tour, and until I get the major record deal, I’m not going to stop,” said Constantino.
Connect with Constantino on social media: Facebook: ConstantinoMusic Twitter: @Tino_Music Instagram: @ConstantinoMusic YouTube: TheConstantinoMusic SoundCloud: ConstantinoMusic
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Darcy Dress: Earl Battle Makeup: Arturo Draper Photography: Kelli Wagner