ALL ABOUT ME
Bonjour! My name is Rachael Eagens, and I am the designer for RKE clothing. I’m here to tell you a little bit about what’s behind my seams. Originally I’m from Rocky River, Ohio. (Rocky River is a suburb on the West side of Cleveland.)
Growing up in Ohio, I was not overly exposed to the fashion world. In fact one could say that living in Ohio most people are under exposed to fashion. Luckily from the time I was 4 yrs old it was part of who I was. Even if I was too young to realize it! Early on in my child, I started to do what came naturally to me styling outfits, creating my own look books, drawing flats and illustrations, having my own photo shoots, and probably even more that I have forgotten to mention. Fashion has always been a part of who I am. Bill Blass put it best, “Style is primarily a matter of instinct.”
Even though I did not realize it was my passion until I was 20 years old. It was not until my second year in college, at the University of Dayton, when I started to do some real soul searching about who I was and who I wanted to become. I was out shopping during my Spring Break when it hit me, fashion. Why was I not going to school for fashion?
It was right then and there I realized I had to make a change. I started by moving to Chicago, in August 2003, I enrolled in an Art School Called The International Academy Of Design and Technology. It was a really great place for me to start because it helped me to develop some of the basic skills a designer needs. At the end of my first semester I realized I was not being challenge enough. In August of 2004, I transferred to The Kent State Shannon Rogers School of Fashion, in Kent, Ohio.
I decided to major in both Fashion design and merchandising. I wanted to know everything I could about the Fashion Industry. In January 2009, I moved out to NYC to do my internship at a showroom in the Garment District on 39th Street between 7th and 8th Ave. The name of the showroom was The Green Room NYC. I worked at the Green Room until August 2009, when I graduated from Kent State University.
Since graduation I have begun working towards my goal of starting my own clothing line. I also started to network and build awareness about my line, RKE. (RKE stands for Rachael Kathleen Eagens, my full name. I named it after myself because I want my clothing to always be representation of me as a designer and the philosophies I stand for.) Here are two of my favorite fashion philosophies. “I have never know a really chic woman whose appearance was not, in large part an outward expression of her inner self”, Mainbocher. And the second philosophy is quoted from Haltson, “You are only as good as the people you dress.”
The first line from RKE is a small collection because it’s my start up line! The line can be viewed at a number of different places, here on my US Trendy profile, on my Facebook and on my Facebook fan page. (http://www.ustrendy.cpm/rke, http://facebook.com/ReagensRKE, http://www.facebook.com/pages/RKE)
Currently I am involved in two design projects. The first is a Designer Bib, for my cousin who works in the music industry. And the second is a line of 8 bridesmaids dresses. I am also competing in a couple different design contests. Last, I just started my own fashion blog; you can check it out at http://www.designfashionwithrke.blogspot.com/.
WHAT DOES FASHION MEAN TO ME
As a designer, fashion has a great deal of meaning to me. For me, it is a visual expression, a confidence builder, and the first impression the world gets of you.
My main focus is women’s clothing for ages 25 and up. This is the most important market sector because these women do the most shopping and are most affected by what they purchase.
Most men are able to pick out an outfit for themselves in about 5 minutes. A man’s shopping experience tends to be less emotional and more about getting just getting it done. Women go threw a much deeper and emotional thought process when they shop for clothes. Even from the aspect of just trying something on. I cannot tell you how many stories I’ve heard about women getting upset and depressed during a shopping experience. This is what drives me to want to create something better. This why when I create clothing it is so important to me because not only am I making something but also I am changing a woman’s life for the better!
My goal is to make and design clothing that brings about positive feelings when they are worn. I want women to feel like my clothing is something they want to wear because I continually create garments that compliment their many different body types. I believe that every woman deserves to feel beautiful and confident in what she wears. My motto is feel good fashion for all women.
To me fashion is making a difference in a woman’s life so she has the confidence to go out and achieve anything she puts her heart and mind into! Or as one of my favorite designer’s says, “Look for the woman in the dress. If there is no woman, there is no dress!”
INSPIRATIONS, DESIGNERS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Finding inspiration for my design is my favorite part of the design process. I love it because inspiration can come from anywhere! It can be a color, a word, a picture, a culture, nature, a song, etc. It’s how I combine all my passions together. Coco Chanel said it best, “Fashion is not something that exists in dress only. Fashion is in the sky, the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live and what is happening.”
As a designer, I feel it is extremely important to be inspired by past and current designers. Some of my favorite designers are Ralph Rucci, Bill Blass, Coco Chanel, Halston, Elisa Schiaparelli, Ralph Lauren, Christian Dior and Calvin Klein. I am inspired by their designs and creations. These designers inspire because of their character, philosophy, and work ethic. For these designers fashion was not just their work, it was who they were. And it is the same for me. Fashion is who I am.
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