The Head Honchos

Finally now that is our last few days, three to be exact, it's time for me to let you get to know my two bosses. These two women are the brains behind it all and are the mothers to this show. I am so honored for them to take me on as their assistant/intern. I asked them a series of questions that will help you see how the show was created, and some unconventional questions to see how they are outside of the fashion industry.

First up is Ono Mangano:
What made you want to put together this show?

"Both Erin and I are very involved in the indie craft scene and we see a lot of indie fashion but hardly any indie fashion shows. We have been really inspired by Stich in Austin and we wanted to bring that same kind of spirit to the east coast indie fashion scene."

What part of this show are you most excited about?

"Just watching and enjoying the show and knowing that all of this work was worth it."

How did the name Pins+Needles come about?

"We thought forever about the name, but I think it was Erin who came up with it."

Why did you pick to make this an Indie show?

"It is more of a lifestyle choice than anything else. Being part of the indie handmade craft community leads to doing an indie fashion show, it would be contradictory to make it mainstream."

If you could pick one celebrity to come to the show, who would it be?

"It would have to be a 3 way tie between Gene Simmons, Peyton Manning, and Chuck Todd."

What do you dislike most about putting a fashion show together?

"Not having enough time to work on my own designs."

If you had a super power what would it be?

"To be invisible, just like wonder woman."

If you could pick one song to describe your life as it is right now, what song would it be?

"Hmmmm, tricky. Right now? Probably In My Room by Nancy Sinatra, I seem to find myself singing it while I work in the studio.Who knows, it may make it's way into the show."

What is one thing you can't live without?
"Love of friends and family, it's really all that matters at the end of the day. Did you mean an object? Then it would be my seam ripper, it's a life safer."

If you got one day off from all responsibility, what would you do?

"Sleep in and then read until my eyes hurt. I would also love to spend some me time in the studio just working on my own clothes."

Here's Erin Taylor
What made you want to put together this show?

"We had our own fashion show last spring, which inspired us to organize an indie show incorporating numerous local designers. We wanted to give our fellow Richmond designers a platform they could use to showcase their talents."

What part of this show are you most excited about?

"The final product - seeing the models walk down the runway. Stop. Pause - right in front of the huge glass windows at NYD. What if this is so big that there are people standing outside, looking in? hottness."

How did the name Pins+Needles come about?

"I am by nature a yearbook geek - so I had a list of fashion related gab...we were sitting at starbucks, post rcm meeting, just throwing fashion/sewing related words around, and we really loved the pins+needles concept..."

Why did you pick to make this an Indie show?

Well, both of us coming from the craft mafia, we are focused on the handmade, the unique. I think it's more about anti mass production than anything else. With the whole locavore scene in upswing with markets, etc - it's only appropriate to showcase the local indie fashion talent..."

If you could pick one celebrity to come to the show, who would it be?

"Oh, well...there were two people I actually invited...Mark Montano- I met him at this bag ass book of crafts book signing - he is a fashion designer, and really fabulous, kind-hearted. I heart him...I kind of dropped the ball, cause I only mentioned it at the very beginning of our planning stages, and never followed up....then, when we were in Philly packing up from art star craft bazaar....Jay McfreakinCarroll strolls through...although very cool to meet, I am not sure he dug the whole Indie/come to richmond deal-yo...he was. underwhelmed...Ono and I will be the local celebrities at this shindig, I'll have you know!"

What do you dislike most about putting a fashion show together?

"The anxiety of it all...Ono will attest, it's easy for me to get wrapped up, and I have a hard time letting go...having an intern and having a partner in crime helps though..."

If you had a super power what would it be?

"The thought of flying is exhilarating..."

If you could pick one song to describe your life as it is right now, what song would it be?

"Rolling stones - you can't always get what you want...the stones always have the right things to say."

What is one thing you can't live without?

"Music - if I don't have my stones or pixies or something blasting, I'm not in a productive mood. I like to have something to kill the white space, and help me focus. Close second- my iron, cause it presses all my garments to make them runway ready. owow!"

If you got one day off from all responsibility, what would you do?

"Haha - where do you sign up for those? I would just relax - sleep in, make a big breakfast go out and about for a walk/coffee/wherever the day would take me."