What’s next for Nizhoni Way Apparel? Well, developing DKC*fx. I personally feel that I am entering the next phase in my plan. I knew that I would eventually have to switch gears with this “new phase” coming up. So much is changing. I’ve been challenging my creative nature and seeing just how far I can take it. Now that I have no disruptions or distractions, I can really concentrate on designing and generally giving to myself-which I have not done in like TEN YEARS!
As much as I did not want to admit that I just was not ready for the third installment of Native Fashion week, I reluctantly decided to drop out of the show because it was just wearing me thin. The work I do with Nizhoni Way Apparel and the demands of clients left no choice but to drop out because the craftsmanship in my own work began to suffer. Compromising the integrity of my talents. When I decided to do this as a full time thing one of the promises I made myself was that I would not fall victim to the idea of shortcuts. I am a designer of haute couture caliber and it really sat uneasy with me that I was not using my skills but rather relying on “the home sewer’s technique” which is not high fashion.
Nizhoni Way was to be a ready to wear label with great fresh new designs for the mature woman while DKC*fx was to be for the younger woman. The two were always in constant conflict with one another. Working with the people in the past really did not help me make the delineation clearly because of the locations booked and the crowds played to. At some point, I began to rely heavily on “knock-offs” to present collections at dive bars and second rate fair shows.
I knew that the one of two things had to change. One, stop designing or two, stop working with the people I was working with. Of course, we all know I chose the later. Now that I am embracing the full creative side of design and coming up with more avant garde and experimental pieces, I feel that I have come full circle-returning back to my dance club days and designing garments that look good on stage as well as walking the streets of Melrose.
I do feel that DKC*fx will over shadow Nizhoni Way simply because of the creativity. Who knows DKC*fx might help breathe new life into Nizhoni Way Apparel. In any event, It will be an amazing proposition to see what the end result ultimately is.
