..stacia knitwear

When and why did you start your company and collection?
I started stacia in 1998. I had always wanted to have my own collection, and after five years of designing for others – Calvin Klein, J. Crew, and Cynthia Rowley – I was ready. I opened my boutique, stacia new york, on Smith Street in Brooklyn, and the store was my passion for six years. When my son Campbell was born, I re-evaluated, and chose a new lifestyle – in Southern California, where I can surf when I want to! I re-launched stacia for wholesale, and www.shopstacia.com for retail, focusing on knitwear, which was always my best-selling category in Brooklyn.

What is your inspiration for the latest collection?
My son and my new California beach lifestyle.  As a working mother, I found myself wanting to wear comfortable knit tops, but also wanting to look sleek and put-together. So I created a product that had the same light-weight, washable quality of a t-shirt, but with the finishings of a  fine sweater. Sweatertees, as I call them, can be worn at the beach, at yoga, at work, or out on the town. The spacedye pattern that I developed  was inspired by Malibu and the whole surf-culture lifestyle. Campbell, of course, was the inspiration for my stacia Baby knitwear.

On your path to starting the line, were there any major challenges in the beginning?
Definitely – it’s a challenge having to watch a toddler and trying to design a line (between naps!) and run a business. But of course, I’m grateful for this time I have with my son. Space is also an issue now; I no longer have my storefront and design studio and for now I’m shipping out of my home. I have a walk-in closet that’s my office and my inventory is all over the house!

Where did you grow up? Did this influence your design vision?
I spent my early years growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and at heart I’m a beach person, so my line definitely has an island feel. I have one group of sweaters that has a reversible hibiscus printed flower – inspired by the true Hawaiian-style Aloha Shirts worn by locals that are cut on the reverse side so the print’s not too bright (like the tourists)  and looks worn and faded.

Did you have an early interest in design and fashion? 
I’ve wanted to be a fashion designer ever since I was in grade school. I modeled as a pre-teen and loved being around clothing and soon realized I  wanted to be the one creating the clothes. I went to Parsons School of Design because Donna Karan went there and wanted to be trained in New York, the center of fashion.

Favorite designers, places, stores, people, things that were formative to your current creative vision?
I live in Santa Monica, and the beach lifestyle here inspires me and reminds me of Hawaii – and of my favorite little towns like Haleiwa and Kailua. All you need is a comfy, sexy knit top, sleek fitting jeans, and some flip-flops. It’s an effortless approach to dressing. I see women in my local park, or up in Malibu, who have it all figured out; they’re stylish, but there’s nothing contrived about the way they dress.

What is your vision for your brand and collection?
This is my first season in wholesale and I’m happy to be sold in about 50 boutiques across the country. I hope to grow my brand’s presence, and would like to expand the collection to include a wider range of silhouettes and fabrications. The spacedye will always be my signature fabric, but I’m experimenting with other cool concepts, like a reversible knit.  

What cities, neighborhoods inspire you?
New York – especially Brooklyn – and Paris, because people there have such a passion for style; Honolulu, Santa Monica, and Malibu because of the beach lifestyle. I go to Hawaii as often as possible, and always find inspiration in the local shops – whether it’s aloha prints, Polynesian jewelry, or island art.

What about them appeals to you?
I love to people watch and get ideas from women that have that natural, effortless style. The subways in New York were great for that; now I have places like Malibu Country Mart, Main Street farmer’s market, Abbott Kinney in Venice. And in Honolulu, I love to go to Haleiwa and Kailua.  I always have my little notebook with me and it’s full of sketches.

Favorite stores:

LA - Planet Blue, Fiori, Madison, American Apparel., Market, and Mini Market (for baby)

Honolulu - Bali Moon, North Shore Swimwear, Adasa Hawaii

NY – Barneys Co-OP, Sigerson Morrison, Area (on Smith Street) for Dr. Haushka products

Any unique non-fashion stores that you love?

Honolulu – Native Books and Beautiful Things for island art and Hawaiiana books,
Fabric Mart for Hawaiian fabrics, Kapiolani Park flea market for local crafts

LA - Rose Bowl flea market, Yoga Works, Palmetto, Relish

NY – Old Good Things (Brooklyn antique store), Zipper on Smith Street, Pearl River Mart

Paris – Rue de Vanvin flea market for antique textiles

Favorite stores for clothes, accessories, beauty?
Madison in Malibu, Skyla in Westwood, Market in Brentwood, London Sole on Montana Avenue, American Apparel. on Robertson for basic tees for me and my son, and Kiehls for my tinted SPF lip balm. I love North Shore Swimwear in Haleiwa for bikinis and Polynesian Treasures for shell belts, kukui nut bracelets, lauhala bags, and Monoi Tiare body oil.

Favorite shoe, denim, tee, or fashion labels?
Love my London Sole metallic ballet flats and my metallic Havaianas. Surf-worthy mix n’ match swimsuits from North Shore Swimwear. Love my AG and James Jeans, and of course my stacia tees and hoodies 

AG Jeans The Angel, Virtual Wash $145.00 AG leaves nothing more to ask for in a pair of jeans. A superbly flattering cut, fine stretch denim and a flawless wash. The Angel, Virtual Wash	James cured by Seun Stretch 5 Pocket Bootleg $140.00 James' famed 5 pocket cut goes indigo in a gorgeous shade of true blue, replete with a slightly distressed finish. James Stretch 5 Pocket Bootleg, Dark Emily	stacia Knitwear Hibiscus Hoodie $ 130.00 stacia's Hibiscus Hooodie 100% cotton reverse jersey 14gg with Reverse Print stacia Hibiscus hoodie

Anything new on the horizon for you?
I really want to get my brand out there to women who don’t live in big cities. I’m hoping my web site, www.shopstacia.com, will reach those women.  I’d love to expand my stacia Baby knitwear line to children and baby stores across the country. Some of the stores that carry the stacia Knitwear line are Fred Segal Santa Monica, Planet Blue, Skyla, Market and Mini Market, Beau, Rin, Stil, Rich Hippie, and E Street Denim.

1. My son, Campbell Duke!

2. Stacia spacedye hoodie in every color.

	stacia Spacedye hoodie $115.00 at stacia.com

3. Ria Ray Mantra Tie bracelets at Fred Segal (my mantra is “Surf ~ Freedom is Pure”)

4. Kiehl's tinted 15 SPF lip balm

	Kiehl's Since 1851 Tinted Lip Balm SPF 15 $7.50 at Neiman Marcus

5. Metallic Havaianas. in silver and gold

	Havaianas Gold Metallic flip flops $17.00 at Havaianas.com

Top 5 favorite places

1. Malibu Surfrider beach for longboarding; reminds me of my local surf spot in Waikiki

2. Santa Monica Palisades Park for sunsets

3. Topanga Canyon for hiking with my husband and son

4. Santa Monica Pier for people watching and the Heal the Bay aquarium under the pier

5. Coffee Bean and In n’Out Burger tied for fifth. Two reasons to move to California!