Raquel Allegra

[2Nova]

I am absolutely in love with this woman. Raquel is an LA based fashion designer. She takes old shirts from the LA County Jail and "recycles" them and makes them into beautiful, stylish, wearable pieces. Her dedication to creating beautiful clothing and her love for her own work, has inspired me to no end!

http://raquelallegra.com/

http://www.shopflick.com/stores/ShopflickTV-Features/Shopflick-TV--Rethink-Raquel-Alegra-Episode

Watch the videos of her on shopflick they're so inspirational!

You can see her S/S 2009 collection here!

http://la.racked.com/archives/2008/10/20/at_boxeight_raquel_allegras_soft_and_spiky_collection.php

I looked everywhere for a thread about her, but was unable to find one! So please combine if there is an existing thread!

 

[Whitelinen]

Some of it looks really good ! I especially like the peach/beige dress (2nd photo on her official site)... but I wonder, how does she create them? As in, if she uses old shirts from a prison I take they smell quite a bit - how does she get the stench and possible stains off? Some kind of a harsh chemical wash?

 

[2Nova]

^ she must do something like that, she dyes them and must do that becuase the fabric is super soft!

 

[gius]

do you mean clothes can keep a smell in them even after washing them ??

 

[2Nova]

I am sure she gets rid of the smell, though i'm not sure first hand, but I do plan to buy either a tank or a scarf from her. I would hope they wouldnt smell haha that would be terrible!

Source: refinery29

 

[lmelanie]

here is heidi klum..

here is heidi klum in one of her designs..i love it!




credit:fashionistahs LJ community

 

[gius]

lovely texture^ thanks for posting
yeah after seeing prada and also yohji yamamoto you can definitely feel things are evolving towards "washed" fabrics.. raw, wrinkled.. it's a great idea and effect

 

[2Nova]

gorgeous thanks so much for posting!

 

[VivaciousCohen]

I want Heidi Klum's top ! x

 

[Kamelot]

some of her pieces look great, I'll definitely check her store.

 

[LostInNJ]

Her stuff is quite great...I love the t-shirts. Very delicate and soft and they drape very well.

 

[fashiontrixs]

I LOVE HER. brilliant, absolutely genious!

 

[AD080119]

I absolutely love her shirts. I jsut wish they weren't so expensive !

 

[lmelanie]

does anyone here own any of her designs? she was also featured in the new issue of nylon..

 

[AD080119]

Yeah I bought that issue.. I love the shirt the model was wearing. The knots are adorable and I love the color.

 

[lmelanie]

there are some good designs that are inspired by her on etsy.com

 

[Chanel_Ivan]

really lmelanie? Could i have a link to a few of them?

 

[lmelanie]

really lmelanie? Could i have a link to a few of them?

sure! Here you go:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6743142

 

[CandiDandiStylin]

really nice thanks for the link.. the draping is beautiful

 

[jaizednconfused]

Raquel Interview in PLANETº

I did an interview with Raquel for PLANETº magazine - thought I would share She's is a fantastic girl, and her shirts are unbeatable in person. Her sample sales are also super fun with good prices, I'll post whenever I hear about the next one!

From the interview:

RAQUEL ALLEGRA
atonement

Even your ex-boyfriend’s tattered tee, with its stains and faint smell of Old Spice, can’t tell a story like a Raquel Allegra garment. The Los Angeles-based designer makes her couture using shirts from the County Jail, weaving tales from a dark but quintessential reality of the city. “It definitely felt strange at first,” says Allegra, “but I took to recycled prison shirts out of necessity. I’m a textile shopper — when I shop I touch everything. So I was just hunting for that perfectly distressed feel.” Oddly enough, her meticulous sense of touch led her to the clink. read the rest here: http://www.planet-mag.com/blog/2009.../2009/fashion/jazzi-mcgilbert/raquel-allegra/

And a tidbit from our interview that didn't make it into the article, but I thought all the Raquel-DIYers/bloggers should know:

"I've worked so long and hard to create something innovative and original. [The designs] have taken me years of working with t-shirts to understand. [The DIYs] hurt my feelings and my business. I'm not a hater, I just don't think people understand. I've asked some to be taken down, but there's only so much I can do. I just have to continue challenging myself further."

[source: planet-mag.com/blog]
​