I have always appreciated the style of the eras. From 1920's glamour to 1940's pin-up to 1950's poodle skirts, fashion recirculates itself like timeless art. I've always believed pearl earrings and red lipstick are a classic, timeless staple and a little sparkle goes a long way.
Brian David concluded Pittsburgh Fashion Week with unforgettable style. Luxury gowns and closet staples took the runway by storm and left an impression with Pittsburgh's fashion scene. "Vintage-inspired clothing for the modern world," is how David describes the designs. The line-up this year left us breathless and eager for more. Brian, not so surprisingly, has a very extensive background in the fashion industry including trying out for Project Runway and a 17-year career as a costume-designer for large productions.
Let's go behind-the-seams:
Brian, congratulations on a successful show with Pittsburgh Fashion Week, where did you find inspiration for this year’s collection?
I describe my clothes as “Vintage inspired clothing for the modern world.” I am inspired by the styles of the past and the fabrics I find. Michelangelo once said “Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it.” I approach design in this manner as well. Each piece of fabric is already something and it is the task of the Designer to discover it.
Tell us about your journey in becoming a designer, when did you first begin?
My journey has been lifelong. I've always known what I wanted to do in life. Some of my earliest memories involve sewing and making doll clothes with things I could find around the house. By the time I hit high school I was making prom dresses for my friends.
My senior year I got accepted into FIT in New York but I couldn’t afford the tuition. I ended up at Kent state but quickly realized collage was not the place for me. So, I came home and decided to take a year off to figure out what I was going to do.
That summer I started working for an event catering company based out of Star Lake Amphitheater while working there I happened to meet some people involved with the Pittsburgh wardrobe union and started working with them building costumes for some of the theaters downtown.
After a few years working with the union, I decided to try out for Project Runway and got rejected 3 separate times. The first time they said the my clothes were well-made but they lacked design. The second time they said that the were well-made and had designs but that they lacked cohesion and that I didn’t have the same level of work experience as the other people being considered for the show. The day I got back from my final rejection, I got a call from a small costume studio on the north side offering me a job. It was supposed to be a temporary position that ended up lasting almost 17 years. The studio would make costumes for on and off Broadway productions, TV, movies, ballet, opera, and cruse lines. My boss would say “We don’t make costumes. We make real clothes for fake people.” This past November, I left the studio to pursue my own studio and design work full-time.
How long have you been designing and have you always lived in Pittsburgh?
I have lived in Pittsburgh my whole life. My moms side has been here since the 1700’s and on my dad’s side, I'm the third generation. I come from a long line of people that work with there hands for a living so it was no surprise to anyone that I would choose a career like this. I have been designing my entire life its what I am. I don’t remember a time before I was designing or creating something. The first thing I sold was a purple and black corseted ball gown to my friend back in 1998 for her senior prom. She still has the dress and we joke that it is dress number 0001.
What do you love about working in Pittsburgh, what needs changed in our home industry?
Pittsburgh is a small big city, with a lot of small but blooming industries that are sprouting up all the time. The design community is the same, we are a smaller group of people that are proving fashion does have a place here and that you don’t have to leave to have a career in fashion.
What continues to keep you inspired?
The next thing. I'm always thinking about the next project. Knowing that there is always something new to do is what keeps me inspired.
What is next for the future?
Hopefully something exciting! This community is growing everyday and we are always looking for new ways to expose this city to the potential it has.
You can follow Brian at @BrianDavidDesigns on Instagram.
Photography by Justin Hreha
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