 BagTrends: According to the Paisley Museum, paisley’s traditional teardrop shapes reference the “tree of life” in Babylon. What did you and Doug derive inspiration from, when you created your unique paisley print?
Tracy Fredkin: We searched local fabric stores and looked at tons of old and new prints, colors and textures. We looked at versions of paisleys, tartans and houndstooth, and tried to combine everything we saw into an aesthetic of timeless chic, with the final print we created.
BT: Tucker Paisley’s handbags are “washable and dry cleanable”, unlike most. Was this intentional, when you began production?
TF: Yes. Since a lot of the fabrics were based in cream, we made sure to choose material that could be easily spot-cleaned or dry cleaned.
BT: The
Lilli Travel/Diaper bag is super-sophisticated! What made you decide to produce the bag in leather instead of fabric?
TF: After our initial signature print collection we started doing more all-leather bags in the popular styles that we had created with the signature line, like the
Molly Tote. But, you will always find the print somewhere – either lining the interior, or in the pockets, or on the zipper or labels. The Lilli Travel/Diaper Bag is brand new for fall. It’s a collaboration with a design student from Finland that I worked with over the summer. This bag can be used so many different ways – there are two interiors that are detachable, so you can use it as a diaper bag with all the pockets/bottle holders, etc., or pull that interior out and use it as a weekend travel bag. We custom-make this bag in different leather and hardware options, so you can get exactly what you want.
 BT: Which pieces from your current collection are must-haves for holiday party season?
TF: The
Thomas Clutch,
which we just released exclusively for holiday. It’s a
day-to-evening clutch, in a mix of leather and suede. The
LG Clutch is also super-popular. It’s our small wristlet and comes in a large variety of bright patents and metallics, and it’s under $50.
BT: Who are some of your design icons?
TF: We spent a lot of time looking at designers like Diane von Furstenberg and Trina Turk, who we thought had the type of aesthetic in their lines, and use of prints, that we wanted to carry through into our line. Right now, I love Alice + Olivia, Vince, Carmen Marc Valvo, Jenni Kayne, Geren Ford, and Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent.
BT: What is your creative process like?
TF: I shop a lot; I flip through tons of magazines, go to the shows, and pay a lot of attention to what I see on the streets. Then, I spend time at fabric and leather stores, looking at colors, textures, and prints. Usually all of that just comes together and sparks ideas. Then I work very closely with our L.A. manufacturer to create the styles.
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BT: You’ve lived in both New York and L.A. How does each city influence your designs?
TF: When we started the line, it was more east coast-focused with the print and classic, more reserved looks. Our first and best store was on Nantucket. As the line developed, L.A. started to influence our styles more. In California, you can wear much of your wardrobe year-round, and fashion is generally far more casual. We have focused more on creating less seasonal pieces, and directed parts of the line toward the resort market, for stores like the Four Seasons Maui. The line tends to be lighter and brighter most of the year, except around holiday time, when we create holiday-specific offerings.
BT: What’s in store for Spring/Summer 2010 from Tucker Paisley?
TF: We are going to continue our collaboration with the Finnish designer we worked with on the Lilli Travel/Diaper Bag. We have some fun new shapes and textures in the works. With our
new scarf line
and
beach apparel, we have started to expand and we’ll add a few dress styles, travel bags and accessories. We also try to re-invent one popular style from past lines each season, and we are working on a new version of our signature Nadia Bag.
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