Meet Bryan Emerson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Emerson.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am passionate self-taught women’s clothing designer… I started my business quite by accident over 20 years ago. I have designed, manufactured, and shipped my collections to hundreds of women’s boutiques across the country. My career has been a labor of love. Manufacturing your own label can be quite satisfying but is also very challenging, to say the least. It takes a small army to produce garments and everyone gets paid before you. I did achieved great success and was very profitable for many years, but ultimately found that with all of that came the loss of what inspired me to become a designer in the first place, the creativity of designing itself.

That being said a few years ago I decided to produce a limited-edition series of hand dyed/painted luxury scarves. It was less manufacturing and let me be an artist. I think I painted and dyed over 1000 scarves by myself. I got to enjoy doing all the artwork, but the bending over dripping, splashing and painting on the ground got to me. Jackson Pollock said painting on the ground was extremely physical, and indeed it is. I even named one of my scarves Jackson, it was light blue with black drips. I shipped my last order of scarves to The Smithsonian Institution’s Arts and Crafts Museum store in Washington D.C., a feather in my cap. After that rewarding but incredibly intense adventure I decided to get off the hamster wheel and downsize by moving from Los Angeles to the high desert outside of the city… where I have found peace of mind, pink skies, no traffic and no parking meters! Best decision of my life.

I am an expert at fabric dyeing. I’ve been described as a crazy/passionate chemist! I mix all my colors by eye, letting the dye dry between layers like a painting. I also love quilting. I have been doing it all my life. It comes so naturally to me to put different colors and shapes together in harmony. I just finished a one of a kind jacket made of 100-year-old linen handkerchiefs with hand embroidered edges in different colors, it sold immediately!

I recently went to the east coast, where I spent a week connecting with women who wore my clothes 20 years ago and with women who I just met. Although I am very much a California designer my biggest account was in the Boston area so I have a large customer base there. As a designer I found it incredibly rewarding to stretch outside the isolation of design world and connect with women living their real lives and seeing how my designs translate to those women. All this could not have been done without Heidi Messina a long-time colleague from the Boston area. She coordinated all the appointments and can create the most amazing outfits out of my clothes in ways I would never think of. This was a new experience for me and I loved every minute of it.

This brings me to where I am now at this point in my life/career. Walking away from the “industry” to return to the “artistry”. I now create one of a kind pieces where I can, paint, dye, and hand sew each piece, leaving time to spend and enjoy my amazing 14 year son…

To reach Heidi and make an appointment to see my work please contact her at 508-277-3255 or heidi@heidimessina.com

I also have another fabulous account with very personalized service B. Prince in Birmingham Alabama

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth road would not describe my life as a clothing designer, more like one with twists and turns, valleys and mountains, earthquakes and hurricanes. When you manufacture all the fun of designing goes out the window. There are so many people involved in manufacturing you have to deal with the ball being in in their court most of the time and it can be quite stressful. There are many benefits to manufacturing your own label but when things fail it all falls on your shoulders and everyone else gets paid but you. I am glad to have experienced all of that and have a wealth of knowledge because of it, but very happy now to have a simpler life.

Please tell us about Bryan Emerson.
I am a fabric artist and clothing designer. I specialize in dyeing and painting fabrics and garments. I am known for my exquisite fabrics and beautiful colors. My original artwork sets me apart from others.

Just being asked the question ‘What am I most proud of as a company?’ I guess that women say my clothes are timeless and still wear what I designed many years ago.

 

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