The holiday season is here and it's time to step up our mask game. I love the challenge of blending fashion and safety together to create my face mask collection that people actually wanted to wear. These festive sequin & embroidered masks are the IT accessory of the season - they not only look great and make great gifts, but I've put extra attention into the details that provide protection.   * Material - The best material doesn’t sacrifice comfort for safety. I chose a multi-layered cotton fabric, with a second, inner cotton lining. This provides a dual layer of breathable protection and...

Introducing the Eva Franco First Step in Fashion Internship What have I done to elevate black lives, what actions have I taken to end racism and bring palpable change to black communities? Not nearly enough, but like all great leadership we come to accept the facts, and then take immediate actions to correct and fix the things that we want to see change. I have been taking some much needed time to listen, learn and collect my thoughts about #blacklivesmatter and find the best way for me and my company to make a difference and make the most impact.  The...

Sooner or later we may find ourselves needing to fly somewhere.  We all know to wear a mask, and even a face shield.  But how do you protect yourself from the contaminants that might be lurking on your seat. 3 Dirtiest Surfaces on an Airplane 1) HEADRESTS Turns out, headrests have rated the highest for levels of infection-causing bacteria such as E.coli and Staphylococcus 2) SEAT POCKETS Seat pockets come in at second, with high levels of bacteria and fungi such as mold and yeast. 3) RESTROOM LOCK Understandably, the door to the toilet tests high for bacteria but still...

The backyard barbeque is a quintessential part of American life and woven into the fabric of our social communities across the country. This past Independence Day, I found myself wondering and grateful about the ease with which we can grill meats and veggies in the comfort of our own homes. It’s the most standard of parties that anyone with a backyard or patio has probably hosted at some point. The feel of a breezy linen garden dress, freshly mown grass under my bare feet, and the lingering, woodsy scent on a cool evening of a hardworking grill going hot define...

As a fashion designer, the elaborate and theatrical Carnival masks, especially in the city of Venice, immediately came to my mind as I started making masks for my clients. In a normal year, Venice fills with visitors and many of them wear gorgeous Renaissance-era style costumes and masks. It’s as much a moving, street-side fashion show as it is a holiday celebration. Costumed and masked people slowly stroll around the old, cobble-stoned streets and pose for others to take their photographs.  Where some people think of masks as confining, the Venetians saw it as an opportunity to be bold. Wearing...

In my early 20’s living in the Philippines trying to jumpstart my first label, I was desperately searching for some meaning to my work and life. In a random bookstore in Manila, I came across the book “Total Freedom” by Krishnamurti. I felt like I had discovered a hidden treasure of wisdom.  His book resonated so deeply that I started, for the first time, asking the right questions in my journey of self-exploration.  His message of “Do not do as I say discover for yourself what is true for you”, was so refreshing against all the dogmas I had witnessed. Many years...

Sunday mornings are usually reserved for church or brunches, but if you’re a designer like me Sunday’s are always set aside for the flea market. I started out in Los Angeles selling my clothes at local flea markets so I’ve always had a special love for them. (Some of my favorite flea market finds) To me, they’re a treasure trove of some of the most unique items that you just can’t find anywhere else. There are times when I take my son and it seems that every other object we pass just screams of possibilities. The lining of a vintage...

With Fall Fashion Week wrapping up, I thought I'd share a sneak peek into our very own Fall 2018 Collection and the inspiration behind it.  Florals                                      Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant were key artists in the formation of the Bloomsbury Group of 1907 - 1930. They were both known for their colorful portraits and still-life paintings. Their painterly strokes inspired me to incorporate the use of floral prints and rich saffron yellow hues onto textured knit fabrics. Skirts for the season feel appropriate...

  “When you’re drawn to something that is your soul speaking.” -  Elizabeth Dehn I can’t think of a more accurate way to gauge my discovery for loving the artist, Cy Twombly. I’ve noticed after numerous visits to museums in New York and London that I would gravitate towards his large-scale paintings that have these incredible lines filled with energy. Consistently, I would gaze down at the plaque and think “Oh, it’s Cy Twombly. Of course!”. He was the starting point for my spring collection. Cy Twombly I think I was drawn to his slightly childlike scribbles, but at the...

  How one ends up in their career is always such an interesting story. Gianni Versace was an architect before he found his love for fashion design. Coco Chanel was a cabaret singer.  The recent events of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements put a spotlight on my own journey of becoming a designer.Early on, I used the halls of my high school as a catwalk formy fashion experiments. I created elaborate outfits for each character and tested the potency of their effect. So, it was no surprise that after design school, I ended up in Los Angeles as an actress on a network Soap...

Having spent time with my family over the holidays, I’m reminded of the great distance we’ve come. I grew up in Transylvania, but of Hungarian descent which made it that much more challenging under the communist dictator, Ceausescu in Romania. I was 10 when we arrived in the US and very quickly realized that fashion was so much more important in this country. This concept of fashion being expressive instead of being utilitarian. I see a tangible trail right back to Transylvania in my choices of fabrics. I want to spend 2018 honoring my roots and sharing more of my...