Fashion designer to surface designer
Family life beckoned, and went from "on the road fashion designer" to "stay in town print designer".
With a commitment to the Mac in it's early stages as my tool of choice, I experimented with ways I could use the computer in fashion. A true lover of graphics and pattern I channeled my attention there when I made the changeover and moved into Ronnie’s design studio.
I come by my love of pattern honestly with a mom famous for her printed Italian wrap dresses in the seventies - pattern was everywhere in my world.
Here's a photo of a paisley patterned wrap dress by mother Eva whose company was called Eva for Robert Janan
I designed five groups with 10 patterns within each group and created a Jackie Shapiro pattern collection, I called on Jill Weinberg of Splash Studios to represent me, and made the full career shift.
Here's a snapshot of a typical pattern group I might design within a theme for my Jackie Shapiro line with Splash Studios.
Jill's studio broke ground early on. She was a fellow fashion person promoting the use of computers in the biz, and had always cultivated, and supported artists who’s work was inspired, and on trend. I was in great company and very free. The patterns cover themes and styles I dabbled in. Splash was a lab for me where I could design a "group" in any theme or style and put it out there. I developed a bunch signature looks with themes like room-scapes, game boards, maps. I did ballet class themed prints for little girls, manipulated photo florals for tweens, golf themed prints for guys, sophisticated abstracts for women.
Eventually I gained a nice following with some high profile loyalists and saw my work pop up on PJs, handbags, bathing suits, gift-wrap, towels, and bedding. I've designed a lot of map patterns, below is a classic NYC one I designed for Sportsac which I love.
