Author: Tamara Harris
Published: December 31, 1969
Tool: [ email ]
- Vano: Is there such a thing as an ideal space to do a show. I mean. You've shown your collections in so many different settings?
Epperson: We've done different shows but my favorite is outside.
Lisha: Natural surroundings. Not necessarily nature. Not necessarily trees and grass but outside.
Epperson: We did a show during fashion week outside the tents at Bryant Park here in New York. Not the traditional setting for shows here in. Out of the norm. In paris they do show outside and it's nice. In the park. Fountains behind you. It's beautiful. We also got married in the park. And even during that show, it started drizzling a little and-
Lisha: The rain added to the feeling.
Epperson: The sound the lens getting wet, the models walking and the rain hitting. It was incredible. It was natural. It's not like, if rain gets on this outfit you're gonna get shook up. Rain got on it and it's O.K.
- Vano: How important are layers when it comes to your designs.
Epperson: Layering is really the best way to dress. You can peel off. Add another on, wrap it around your neck. Especially when you consider the way the weather's been going up and down. You can throw one piece on and look good in it. But if you add another piece and add another piece and you're able to keep adding to it in such a way that it's functional but free of clutter.
Lisha: A functional wardrobe.
- Vano: Where do you get your're inspirations?
Epperson: Just walking in New York, you can get inspired. Just a couple years ago I was inspired by the homeless. Being in survival mode. They have to put layers on.The jacket might be this short.(Epperson points to his forearm) But then there's this long sleeve coming from underneath and down here there's another hem, and a plastic bag at the bottom. And for more protection, they wrap there feet up. Survival. That what we're doing. You can look as stylish as you wanna be but function is very important. Wartorn Princess.
Lisha: A princess that hasn't been treated like a princess. I'm still a princess. But I'm working right now. I got a job from 9 to 5 but I'm still a princess.
Epperson: It's like her spirit has transended her her current situation.
Lisha: That's why we chose such a regal color and rich fabric. Clothing that becomes an outer layer of who you are inside. So that's why we used the "Indian inspired" red on the forhead of the models. The red signifys a complete determination to go forward into the millinium. On to new things. And conversely it mirrored what was going on in our lives. It was like, we've finished this dark period so lets go on to something else.
- Vano: How is it to share a creative space. For instance, when it comes down to designing, how do you collaborate.
Epperson: We mix together well. My ideas will compliment something she's (Lisha) working on and vice versa.
Lisha: We add and subtract and combine.
Epperson: It's not like she designs the whole line and I design the next line-
Lisha: I just kinda incorporate into his line.
Epperson: And it works. It makes sense.
- Vano: How is it as a couple. Can you seperate work and home or is everything intertwined?
Lisha: Everything is intertwined at this point.
Epperson: We come to work together, we work together. We go home together. It's like we're together 24-7.
- Vano: That's intense.
Lisha: We're doing well at it. But it's an interesting process.
- Vano: How do you pull back from the emotional side of being a couple. How do you maintain the professional objectivity.
Lisha: It's an interesting process. And you're constantly learning as you go along.
Epperson: The Lord guides us. We, Leisha and I have face to face conversation. And when we have a face to face. It's really a face to face. It's not like you can sit there with an attitude. It helps us to be honest with one another with how we're feeing. We started it when we first got marrage. You can say forget it. I really don't want to have a face to face. But you can't Because I'm not saying it to her. I'm saying it to the lord to her.
Lisha: It's about communication. It's about trust.
Epperson: As much as we know now, we know that there's still more that we don't know. I feel like people tend to spend too much time fighting what's supposed to happen. He (God) gives a us choice and it's up to us make the right choice. The right choice isn't necessarily what we think. Most the time it's not what we think. It's about going deeper than what you think. If everything worked the way you thought, it would be too easy.
For more info on Epperson check out his site.
