Posted by Theresa Farrage on April 02, 2010 05:13 p.m.
From model to fashion mogul, at 28 Gwen Stubbs has made a name for herself in the industry. It all started when Stubbs was asked by her friend Myra Martin to model for her thesis at the New York Fashion Academy in Seattle, Washington. Stubbs credits her early model gig as the launching pad for her designing dreams.
“I decided to take some pattern making and sewing classes for fun. It instantly turned into my obsession,” says Stubbs.
Sewing runs in Stubbs’ blood, as her great grandmother was a seamstress and her mother sewed all of her clothes growing up. Sewing here and there as a teenager, Stubbs decided to further her hobby by attending New York Fashion Academy in Seattle.
This summer marks Stubbs’ fourth year in the designing business. Based out of Seattle, Lekkerlife Clothing (meaning “the good life” in Dutch) was founded in 2006 upon Stubbs’ graduation. Lekkerlife Clothing is a women’s clothing line that is both functional and fun, mixing mostly vintage and ends of designer fabrics to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.
“As a fashion designer, I want to make clothing that women will actually want to wear and know that they are getting a good product,” says Stubbs. “My designs are fun and functional (easy to clean, wear, accessorize, etc.). My designs are easy to pair with clothes that you already have.”
Lekkerlife Clothing is designed for girls who are not afraid to take risks with their garments. According to Stubbs, it’s also designed for those who “want something special and unique, but not so much so, that you feel awkward wearing the clothing out.”
Mixing modern and vintage pieces, Stubbs’ personal style is influenced mainly from what she’s currently listening to or reading. She has played with styles from punk and mod to rocker and glam.
“I love mixing vintage from different eras, like a mod shift dress with fringe, hippy boots and bright 1980s earrings. My personal style definitely influences what I’m designing and what I’m being influenced by at the time.”
Stubbs’ current spring/summer collection was designed while she was reading an Amelia Earhart biography, hence the explanation as to why all of her garments are named after the airplanes that Earhart flew.
Stubbs’ designs derive from inspirations from music and art as well as scandalous and revolutionary time periods. Stubbs states that the most unsettling times produced the absolute best fashions.
The signature trait of her line are the dresses that are timeless and will last throughout the seasons and fads. The price point at Lekkerlife Clothing ranges from $95-$175 in the retail market. Stubbs also does custom work, mainly wedding-related dresses that start around $500. Lekkerlife Clothing is available on her website (http://lekkerlife.com/home.html) and at specialty boutiques listed under the links section (http://lekkerlife.com/links.html). As a designer, Stubbs would like to sell her line at other boutiques around the country. She’s not interested in selling her pieces at major department stores because she currently sews every garment.
“I want to be where customers will understand that the things in the store are hand-made, special and one-of-a-kind,” Stubbs says. “It makes you feel good knowing that you own something that not everyone else is going to have.”
According to Stubbs, there’s nothing more satisfying then seeing a girl try on one of her dresses and having it fit perfectly. Lekkerlife Clothing is fashion-forward without forgetting the fabulous designs from eras gone by. Stubbs lives by the motto: “If I’m not making heads turn, then my outfit is too boring!”