fresh stylings

by emily moody
There’s a lot of hype surrounding the 4th Annual Big Trunk Show at Cafe Eleven in St. Augustine. This year is sure to be the best since its inception. If you are looking for mass produced goods without any sense of personality, then don’t even bother going to this trunk show. If D.I.Y. is your thing then you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find the creme de la creme of North Florida’s indie designers, including much loved favorites Tara Ferreira, Rosa Loves, Paper Root, and Indi Loves Harlie. Although the event was started by his brother, Greg Dettra has taken over the Trunk Show for the past couple of years. He says it’s sure to be “an up-close and personal look at the area’s fashion influences with music from live DJs, beer and wine specials, fashion films, a custom t-shirt printing booth and shopping.” Just as in years past, the 4th annual trunk show is sure to be SRO from 7-11 pm because it highlights the best of underground fashion in Northeast Florida.
Greg Dettra isn’t only playing host to this amazing event, he is also showcasing the latest shirts from his company, Paper Root. Now in its second year, this company was born soon after Greg got his hands on some screen printing equipment and began experimenting with different styles and techniques. The graphically driven t-shirt collection features a closely connected network of artists who collaborate with Dettra to produce an interesting product. The artistry behind each piece really gives Paper Root its own style. Currently being sold on www.karmaloop.com and hopefully soon on www.80spurple.com, this line is quickly gaining popularity with indie t-shirt connoisseurs.
In addition to great clothes, be sure not to miss the jewelry of Laurel Baker (www.laurelbakerjewelry.com). This talented artist was fortunate to have apprenticed under her geologist/jeweler father. She said that growing up with him allowed her to learn things throughout the years. Starting her business a little over 2 years ago, Baker works with semi precious stones and beautiful metals, including sterling, copper, gold and brass. A recent trip to Spain and inspiration from her environment helped to set the tone for Baker’s fall collection of beautifully wrapped wire and leather bangles. Each piece is handcrafted with the utmost care using 14k gold-filled or sterling wire and the highest quality Spanish leather and should be on every fashion savvy girl’s holiday wish list! Expect nothing but perfection with this collection because, as Baker says, “If I question it at all, I just adjust it ’til there aren’t any more questions.”
Reused422’s (www.reused422.com) reconstructed pieces are sure to grab your attention at the show. Robyn Crews is truly a one woman machine, designing and running her collection of flirty dresses and skirts, all pieced together with revamped materials. Not only is Robyn a self taught seamstress but she tends to draw her inspiration from within. Each piece is carefully planned out and put together, giving each garment a personality of it’s own. She will drape fabric on a form and may not come up with an idea for it for a couple of days. “I hate going to Urban Outfitters and seeing them charge $60-70 for something I can easily make and sell myself,” says Crews. With Crews’ pieces ranging from $15 for skirts to $25 and up for dresses, her mission is to have a line “that is affordable for everyone.”
Hosting an event involving fashion at an intimate venue like Cafe Eleven adds to the personal experience for both the vendor and the shopper. It’s a great way for the clients to interact one on one with the designers. Being able to ask questions about each garment can help one to really get a feel for the artist’s vision.
This trunk show is guaranteed to have a mix of positive vibes, great music by local DJ’s, drinks and a diverse selection of products to shop. Support the local independent artists and see what the people in your community are doing. The 4th Annual Big Trunk Show will be held at Cafe Eleven (501 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, 460-9311) on November 12 starting at 7 pm.
featured designers include: Rosa Loves, Helton Hill, Paper Root, Laurel Baker Jewelry, Jaxleigh, Indi Loves Harlie, Tara Ferreira Designs, Flirt with Earth, Shotgun Vintage, Jbon Clothing, Reused422, Arturo Clothing, Fit4Kings Clothing, Everything Nothing, Erin Healy, Honeywell, Salt Run Designs, LucyLuca, Lost & Found