Counter Couture

Kristy Janigo, designer for Je Ne Regrette Rien, showcased her pieces as a part of Design Collective’s presence at this month’s FAME event hosted by Ignite Models Inc. We got her take on how she approached this event’s unique theme.

“I began working on my Fall 2009 line in late July 2009. In previous seasons, I designed within very specific themes. For fall, I wanted to reflect upon the reasons I started designing in the first place. I have always been a huge fan of punk and eclectic rock music, some of my favorite bands being The Ramones, The Misfits, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, New York Dolls, and The Smiths. I thought about how I dressed as a teenager, when I had few constraints on what was appropriate. I was a designer even then, choosing vintage clothes from second hand stores, cutting them apart, remaking them into something new, and pairing them with studded jewelry I made.

The Costumes And Couture FAME event is a collaboration of designers that sell at Design Collective. There are six different designers, each with several unique looks. I made a few selected pieces especially for the runway, in addition to the items I had made in multiple sizes. The resulting collection has a Lolita, edgy feel in punk rock red, black, and silver, which can be worn in a variety of social contexts.”

All pieces will be available for sale after the show at the event, and afterward at Design Collective, 1311 26th Street West, Minneapolis, MN 55405.