THE MAKING OF MARCHESA

 Kinvara Balfour in Marchesa Voyage converses with Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman, also wearing Marchesa Voyage

Sky high red-soled stilettos stride on stage as the ladies of Marchesa settle into their seats  at the Apple Store, Soho Sunday evening. As part of Apple's Fashion in Conversation series, Kinvara Balfour and British-bred designer duo Keren Craig and Georgina Chapman chatter about design, distinction and the driving force behind their iconic label, Marchesa. 

Before the show… 

"I had to meet her" Keren Craig reveals as her initial reaction to Georgina Chapman at the Chelsea College of Art and Design where Keren specialized in textile design and Georgina studied costume design. The two quickly became best friends. When Chapman's backless corset dress left an impression on Isabella Blow at a dinner party, the ladies were introduced to the Swarovski family, fashion editors and other industry greats, paving a highway of opportunity for the yet-unnamed designer duo. In 2004, Chapman and Craig formally joined forces, settling on a moniker honoring the fabled heroine Marchesa Luisa Casati. MARCHESA was born. 

The ladies of Marchesa sporting looks from their Fall 2013 Voyage collection with Louboutins

Hailed as a global brand, the ladies of Marchesa continue to be known as home grown British. A tribute to that "home grown" mentality, Marchesa is mainly manufactured in NY's garment district, with some of the beading sourced from India. Branching out from the original focus on elegant evening wear, Marchesa launched its premier Voyage collection for Fall 2013, collaborated on a variety of special projects (i.e. Target, Revlon, etc.) and continues to clothe celebrities for special events.

Quite an interesting conversation!

During the Q&A, Craig and Chapman divulged that the Marchesa archives are located on a  different floor of the same building as the studio and that they consult the archives often for inspiration for current collections. When asked about costume design for film, Georgina responded that it would be great, but a large effort; Marchesa has yet to be involved with Hollywood costume design. On the subject of design influences and historical ties, the ladies note that Chapman's background in costume has brought forth a mix of corsets and embroidery--and a lot of the design is grounded in history. A last question yields a bit of advice to young designers pursuing a career in fashion. The duo advises students to find a discipline and stick with it. Also, hard work is the key to success (internships help!). To hear the full conversation, visit the iTunes store for a free download.