22 Oct Nostalgic Textures and Faded Tones – A Story of Innocence and Loss

“RESPONSIVE TEXTILES was founded on the idea that clothes are our second skin, and they should be as unique and human as we are.” — Kristine Rodriguez

A few weeks ago during New York Fashion Week (NYFW) I had the opportunity to write a story for a top kitchen and bath luxury brand BLANCO, and pair their IKONIC sinks and faucets with fashion hot off the runway of NYFW.  I had heard of, but didn’t know too much about, the up-and-coming fashion brand RESPONSIVE TEXTILES. I fell in love with the Bennu Skirt which I featured in my lead off image below.  (If you missed that sponsored post, no worries, you can read it right HERE.)

BLANCO IKON apron sink and ARTONA faucet paired with the fashion of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES.

I thought it would be fun and interesting to dive into the color and texture of RESPONSIVE TEXTILES by interviewing the fashion designer behind all this incredible texture, Kristine Rodriguez, especially since she debuted for the first time at NYFW.  I was honored Kristine agreed to an interview. So grab a glass of wine and sit back and relax while you enjoy her inspiring designs and interview.

Fashion designer, Kristine Rodriguez, owner and maker behind the fashion brand RESPONSIVE TEXTILES

PG: First off, Congratulations for your debut at NYFW! That must have been very, exciting and challenging to prepare for. It’s been a few weeks, so I hope you’ve recovered now.  What was it like and where did you show?  Were your designs well received?

KR: Thank you! I showed with FTL Moda at Space 404 in Midtown, Manhattan. It was such an exciting experience, but honestly not too different than showing in Los Angeles. I was certainly more nervous in the weeks leading up to runway day because New York Fashion Week is such a prestigious platform. However, once I arrived at the venue, the nerves were gone and the usual backstage groove took place. On show day, I always become so focused on getting the collection ready to walk that I forget to be nervous.

“The audience was amazing and very receptive to my work. I received a lot of kind feedback from the crowd.” – Kristine Rodriguez

PG: Many artists and designers have “artistic epiphanies”, when they realize their calling. People often ask me, “why pillows?” So “why knitwear”?

KR: It was an intuitive decision, kind of like gravity. I was majoring in graphic design when I discovered the knitting machine, and the rest is history. It is strange thinking back on it now because I tried to take that class three times before I finally got into it. So there was definitely something about knitting that resonated with me even before I tried it.

I think there are many answers to the “why knitwear?” question, but here are two:

• The first is tactility. I love playing with materials, which is something I missed when I was studying graphic design.
• The second is that knitwear offers the best of two worlds. I can explore 2-D surface design in the fabric, as well as 3-D sculptural design for the body.

I could go on and on, which it is probably as it should be when you fall in love with something.

PG: Absolutely! I love reading on your website how you discovered the “knitting machine” in an elective class in college and that charted your path forward.  Can you tell us what you like about that machine and the process of creating one of your beautiful pieces?

KR: My knitting machine is my baby, and I love it. It is hand-powered and completely manual. However, it also expedites knitting. You get a whole row with each push of the carriage.

“So my machine really allows me to experiment and play when designing fabric, while still being environmentally friendly and more time efficient.” – Kristine Rodriguez

I think this manner of making appeals to me so much because I have a lot of control over the clothing I produce. From the fabric’s fiber content and textile design to the garment’s silhouette, I control it all. My process is a fun back and forth between the clothing and the fabric itself. Sometimes, I have a garment in my head. So I sketch it first and figure out how to make it afterwards. Other times, I start with design of a textile, and that swatch informs what the garment will be.

“RESPONSIVE TEXTILES really is the product of a bit of planning and and a bit of playing.” – Kristine Rodriguez

PG: Frankly, I had never heard of a “knitting machine”, so that’s really interesting to learn more about it.  This technique helps put your work as a fashion designer creatively outside the box. Describe your “creative voice”. What inspires you and influences your designs?  Please elaborate on why you call yourself a “conceptual maker”.

KR: My creative voice is polished. That is the best way I can describe it. I bring a polished, yet human approach to my knitwear.

What inspires me goes hand-in-hand with why I call myself a conceptual maker. The conceptual inspiration for each collection comes from a place of personal interest and/or experience. However, that could really be anything. Perhaps it is a topic I want to learn more about, or an emotion in myself that I want to explore further. It is an intuitive process, and I do not over think it. I pick a subject matter that resonates with me. It is easy to be inspired by things that draw you in. Once I have a topic in mind, I investigate it. I read about it, write about it, draw it, and think about it.

“Through this process, I uncover the story I want to tell and that becomes the backbone of a new collection. All other design decisions are informed by this story. Telling it is my biggest priority as a maker.” – Kristine Rodriguez

PG: I love your definition of a “conceptual maker”, as I think most artists and designers have stories that drive their work. Please tell our readers a little bit of the story behind your newest collection for the spring that you debuted at NYFW?

KR: All pieces are hand-knit on my machine with high quality, sustainable yarns in my Augusta, GA studio. In this collection, I used mohair, cotton, bamboo and tencel. The collection,“The RESPONSIVE TEXTILES SS17, explores fading memory and early ideals. As we age and experience more of a sometimes ruthless world, we leave parts of our young selves behind.

“However, with nostalgic textures and faded tones, this collection pays homage to the pieces of ourselves that we take with us. It is a story of innocence and loss. This is Eternal Sunshine.“ – Kristine Rodriguez

PG: That concept of “Eternal Sunshine” and the video on your website are so thought provoking and inspiring!  I also like your tagline “This is not your grandmother’s knitwear.”  There seems to be a general movement in the U.S. back toward artisan handmade design and products with a story behind them. Please tell our readers what is behind your values, what prompted you to feel this way about clothing and fashion?

KR: In large part, it grew naturally out of my interest in not only being a designer, but also a maker. I like to create things with my hands, and therefore, that’s how I wanted to produce my clothing.To me, fashion is identity and that is a powerful place to make your mark.

“RESPONSIVE TEXTILES was founded on the idea that clothes are our second skin, and they should be as unique and human as we are.” — Kristine Rodriguez

I think that the fashion industry can use more of that innovation and creativity. I also think our earth could use less fast-fashion in our landfills. Personally, buying a garment for pennies and only getting one wear out of it is useless to me.

“So I made a point to build a brand that represents exactly what I want in my closet: pieces that offer a bit of the unexpected while still being wearable, and pieces that are of high quality in both material and craftsmanship. As a result, we have RESPONSIVE TEXTILES.” – Kristine Rodriguez

PG: The fashion industry in general is extremely hard to break into. And it seems to be changing now.  Are you finding the fashion industry receptive to your innovative approach to design? Where do you see yourself and your brand in the next few years?

KR: I have found the industry to be critically receptive of my work. People get excited by what I am making and see the value in its uniqueness.

“However, I do struggle with bridging the gap between people loving my work and people buying it. RESPONSIVE TEXTILES’s garments are really more like involved sculptures, handmade with quality, sustainable yarns. This is reflected in their cost.” – Kristine Rodriguez

Breaking into the sales aspect of the industry has been very hard. Our society has become accustomed to spending very little on fast-fashion.

In the next few years, I hope to grow beyond myself so I can finally have some help. I want to keep RESPONSIVE a sustainable, handmade operation, and I hope I will be able to do it. In a perfect world, I envision a large studio space with a bunch of knitting machines arranged in a circle, and a cat napping in the middle.

PG: I think many artists and designers who create handcrafted products can relate to that same challenge. Your vision sounds like an ideal creative space…especially the cat napping in the middle.  How long does it takes you to make one piece?

KR: That is completely contingent on the piece. A scarf usually takes an hour, though some of my more involved textiles can take much longer. As for the more complicated garments with either an intricate textile or lots of volume (more panels) or both (eep!), making a piece can take twenty hours or more. Within the next few weeks, I will actually be adding a price breakdown of each garment on the website, which will include how many hours it took to make each one.

PG: What an excellent idea so the customer understands the workmanship behind a high quality handmade piece. I understand you did a Kickstarter Campaign to raise the funds to get to NYFW.  How did that work for you? Would you recommend that as a way for new, young designers to break into NYFW? 

KR: The Kickstarter went well! I made my goal and was very moved by the love my project received. Crowdfunding is a great way for any designer to afford NYFW prices.

PG: Finally, what have you learned since you started your business and have had your first runway show at NYFW?  What advice would you give new artists/fashion designers just starting out?

KR:  My biggest lesson has been perseverance. Establishing yourself in this industry is a hard journey, and it is disheartening when you hear the word “no.” However, success rarely happens overnight. So over the past two years, I have learned to enjoy the ride and stay true to my vision.

“My advice to new artists/fashion designers is to work hard and learn from each experience, especially the negative ones. Keep learning, making, and never become complacent.” – Kristine Rodriquez

PG: And one more!  I’m dying to own one of your beautiful pieces! Love the Bennu skirt and so appreciated you supplying that image for my blog post for luxury brand BLANCO. Thank you, it was perfect! But I also fell in love with the black Lambsy Muff (above) because my neck gets cold and I lost my favorite knitted cashmere scarf I wore all the time. Can I order a custom color or length?  Will you be offering more scarves and fall/winter designs on your website?

KR: Absolutely! Since every RESPONSIVE TEXTILES piece is handmade to order, customization is always an option.

“I believe there is a connection between the maker, the garment and the person who wears it. They are all responsive to each other.” – Kristine Rodriguez

At RESPONSIVE TEXTILES, I honor that connection by approaching each order as a collaboration between myself and my customer. Custom colors are always available for no additional cost, since I typically need to restock the yarn for each order anyway. Customizing length may change the price of the piece, but it is always available. And for all RESPONSIVE TEXTILE dresses, skirts and pants, my customer’s height is taken into account during production to ensure it will fit perfectly and need no additional tailoring.

Yes, more scarves and fall/winter pieces are to come! Instead of doing one release for the whole collection, I am trying something new and spacing out the release of the FW16 collection this season. Within the next few weeks, everything will be out, as well as special items just for the holidays!

PG: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do this interview.  I know my readers will really enjoy learning more about your work!

KR: Thanks so much!

I hope dear readers this interview has inspired you as much as it has me. And that you’ve enjoyed learning about this incredible maker Kristine Rodriguez and her amazing knitted fashion line RESPONSIVE TEXTILES.  Please enjoy a few more of her spring collection and be sure to check out her website for some fall and holiday pieces coming soon. I know I’m headed straight for that Lambsy Muff!  Kristine’s spring 2017 line will also be available on her website very soon. Till next week, enjoy the fall weather and remember spring is right around the corner. XO PG