Happy Monday! And welcome to our very first installation of the Confessional. This is where we get upclose and personal with one of our lovely ladies on the current month’s Hail Mary! list. If you made our list and are reading this check your junk email folder cuz there was a couple of you we tried to contact.
This week our spotlight is on November’s #5 lister, the super friendly and dancehall crazy, Gaby Lardizabal. From Triple 5 Soul, 9muses, Supreme, and now Mara Hoffman, Gaby has rounded up lots of experience in New York’s fashion business. We hope you admire her as much as we do. Enjoy!
Name and Age, please:
gabriela maria lardizabal, 29
Where are you ethnically and geographically from?
born in tegucigalpa,honduras, central america….latina.
raised in chicago and hollywood.
How long have you lived in New York and what brought you here?
i’ve lived in ny for 11 yrs…i came straight out of high school to study fashion at Parsons school of design.
What neighborhood in NY do you live in?
willyb…graham ave stop.
We know you were doing production for Supreme before working with Mara Hoffman, what was it like working with James Jebbia and the Supreme fam behind the scenes?
it was great! it was cool being the first girl to penetrate that side of things..being that it is infamous for being a boys club. i made great friends there, all who i have the upmost respect for, as people and creative forces. working with james is the best kind of schooling you could get in this industry…he created an amazing business model and
has preserved the integrity of his product. after 10 yrs, supreme maintains the edge and remains loyal to the street, its roots. its what i want for myself one day, to exist outside the fashion box, perpetuating my point of view, and maintaining a balanced lifestyle along with my work.
What were you doing before that?
before i joined supreme, i was developing a womens line called 9muses with donwon harell, owner of Akademiks. it was geared to be a high end ladies denim line with that street edge all us ladies crave..this was right at the start of the denim craze….unfortunately, it was never produced. it wasn’t meant to be i guess but i still want to fill that void for ladies. i don’t think anyone has achieved that quite yet.
You’re a trained designer, Parsons graduate, right? What’s the most valuable thing you learned there?
the most valuable thing i learned at parsons is the discipline. they work you hard!! by the 2nd year you would see kids not come back because the pressure was so intense. it taught me to be tenacious. i learned also that fashion skills can be learned by all but only some have real style. fashion is a tricky monster…it can swallow you up if you get caught up in the smoke and mirrors but it can also elevate and evolve you…it’s a vain industry so if you don’t have a strong core to begin with, you’re vulnerable to its temptations.
How do you compare doing production with designing?
they go hand in hand. fashion is a business and production is essential to that. as a designer, you have to empower yourself, you have to educate yourself on manufacturing, managing people who actually make the products you design. you could have a great concept but if your execution is subpar, then your vision gets lost. knowing production makes you a better designer and it makes for a better business owner…as a woman in a male dominated field, it is imperative we learn how to conduct business .
Any difference doing production for a streetwear label and for a high fashion brand?
the manufacturing side of things are different…sportwear is more straight forward in terms of pattern work and workmanship…it lends itself well to manufacturing in china or big factories…making a hi end product for mara takes much more involvement. you have to pay acute attention to patternmaking, to fit, to execution, fabric development…when you are manufacturing in smaller factories in the city you really have to wear many hats and manage all kinds of people.
How did you get hooked up with Mara Hoffman?
mara has been a great friend of mine since our days at parsons. we share the same birthday. it was always a wish of mine to collaborate one day with her and it was good timing for me. its been amazing seeing her grow and succeed.
Got any other hobbies/creative outlets other than designing?
my current hobby is my dog t-bone…i’m a mom in training. actually right now i am struggling to figure out how i am going to do all that i want to do…i have a burning desire to paint and be a photographer, i’d like to dj and do it well….i also want to learn how to cook….so many things.
Describe your idea of success.
success to me is about happiness and balance. i used to want fame and money as a kid, i thought it would answer alot of my prayers…now i want respect from my peers, enough money to feel secure and love to feel like i can acheive all of it.
How would you describe your personal style?
this is suprisingly hard to answer….my style will always have its roots on the streets..the first lesson i had in style was watching my older brother and sister come of age in the eighties when street style was innovative…you learned to rock what you had with how you carried yourself even if you looked like a ratty kid. going to school, i was exposed to a sophisticated world, fashion became conceptual and artistic. i was maturing and it awakaned the woman in me, i learned style is also about being sensous and feminine….i like the dichotomy of the street and femininity.
Who is/are your favorite designer(s)?
coco chanel invented sportwear for woman, she changed shit for ladies, the contribution is enormous….hellloooo! vivienne westood, another innovator who existed outside the box. me…not in an arrogant way…but if i can’t satisfy my own needs then who?
What’s your favorite accessory you own?
my african mask wallet…
What are your favorite pair of jeans you own?
my hysteric glamour jeans…perfect blue, perfect patch and perfect fit.
Where do you like to shop?
i don’t really shop a whole lot….i’m too thrifty (or cheap!) i can always get a quickie from h&m or zara…everything else is too expensive…i love sur la table for cookwares, i’m asking for pots this xmas, i love a well stocked rite aid for lipgloss and mascara….
Do you go out much? Got any favorite bars, lounges, clubs?
i used to go out alot.. lately i’m content being at home and having wine. i love to dance so any dance party does me right…sullivan room on wednesday for dancehall reggae my fave!
What are your favorite restaurants in NY ?
i will always love gitane…those aioli toasts are heaven. blue ribbon for oysters!!! omen for sushi!!! diner for the ever changing menu…dumont for its mac and cheese!!!
What music have you been listening to lately?
been listening alot to reggae from the sixties, los angeles negros, a chilean rock group from the 70’s, and i always play lowrider oldies and motown for the nostalgia.
What’s your most recent discovery/exploration in New York?
theres a street in williamburg called olive st. there are beautiful victorian houses there and a great dog park…feels like you are far away.
How long you plan on living in NY? What comes after that?
i don’t know….i sometimes want to buy a house in l.a, where my fam is…my dream is to be bicoastal.
We know you smoke, tell us your favorite rolling paper.
RIZZLA!!!
Tell us your cocktail/drink of choice.
vodka soda, soco chilled, johnny and coke is the latest.
Who in NY do you think is really doing it right now?
Claw…i admire her longevity and versatility. she stuck to her point of view and made a life out of it.
Name one New York woman that you would nominate to our Hail Mary! list.
so many chicks out there deserve some shine….camella ehlke, original founder of 555soul, she gave me my first design job. i’m forever grateful for that.
