Saturday, June 28, 2008
Posted by
senseofashion
When 26 year old Tammy Lyons was young the style was “tight roll jeans and day-glo colors” she says. “I have to admit I am more than a bit horrified to see it making resurgence so quickly,” she tells Sense of Fashion.But no worries, they do not make a comeback in her design, named Thimblescratch, which consists of groovy sexy comfy looking one-of items.
Lyons didn’t study fashion. Her degree is in Computer Information Systems, “computer geek by day and toiling on the sewing machine by night” as she describes it.
Q: As a computer geek, what was your creative background?
A: I come from a family of artists, so I’ve been creating things all my life. I could never decide which method was my favorite; oils, pencil, sticks, clay, until I started sewing. Fabric is definitely my medium of choice now, but I love drawing as well and my husband (www.jupiteroatmeal.com) got me into creating comics – something of which I know nothing about but enjoy nonetheless - so I also started a webcomic called Urban Monk.
Q: What are you favorite fabrics?
A:I love recycled materials and natural fibers - cotton, linen, hemp, modal etc. I really don’t like wearing polyester, which is plastic (put it up to a flame and watch it melt if you’re bored) so I try to avoid it.
Q: Where do you get inspiration for you fashion?
A:Everywhere! I am one of those people who can stare at a blade of grass for an hour and be completely enamored with it. I love nature, trees, people, fashion, art, colors, the SKY, animals, and not least of all - my husband! Anything free-spirited and fun is what I try to capture in my designs, as well as ensuring that the clothing will be comfortable and move with the body, while being flattering at the same time. So I suppose my ultimate inspiration is the human body and movement.
Q: Why did you name your label Thimblescratch?
A:Thimble was my adorable cat and inspiration, who recently passed away. Sadly there will never be any more Thimble scratches on my hands, but she will live on as the namesake of my clothing. But it also refers to the sewing jargon - a thimble, and scratch (made from scratch clothing, which is what I make).
Q: Where do you find the most interesting fashion scene today?
A:What a great question, I would love to know the answer! I was thoroughly impressed when I visited Chicago last winter. While waiting for trains in the ice and snow, I was amazed to see well-dressed Chicagoans everywhere. And they were dressed for the weather and still looked like a million bucks! Which is fantastic, not to mention sensible, but for some reason strangely rare. After all, clothing is, first and foremost, weather protection.
The Indiana born and raised “in the cornfields” Lyons and her husband are moving to New Zealand this fall.
Q: Will you continue Thimblescratch there?
A: I am thinking about entering the fashion industry there, and then turning it upside down, creating sustainable clothing and/or creating a fashion revolution. But as for my own label, I hope to always do one-of-a-kind, because everyone’s body is different, and everybody’s taste is unique. Clothing should suit those two aspects.
Buy Thimblescratch online
www.thimblescratch.com
www.thimblescratch.etsy.com
Tammy Lyons favorite
Hyena
www.hyena.etsy.com
The Machine Stops
www.themachinestops.etsy.com
