Julia Barbee

An artist, Entrepreneur, Creative Director, Portlander, Perfumer, and Vintage Picker… Only a few titles one could give Julia Barbee.

Her education started at Biola University where she got her bachelor of Science degree in Sculpture. Next she achieved her Associate of Science degree in marketing from Portland Community College, and has finished her educational experience at California State University – Long Beach getting a Masters in Fine Arts, Fiber, and Textile and Weaving Arts.

 

Her work history includes being a Florist at Lamb’s Palisades Market in Lake Oswego where she created floral designs for weddings, proms, and other parties. She has always been an independent artist. However, as well as being an independent vintage picker, Julia has been a vintage picker for Stars & Splendid Antique Mall, and also Monticello Antique Mall.

Her website : http://www.juliabarbee.com , has a huge variety of many different things including body performance perfumes and oils for purchase, installation projects, her photo diary and her blogs and social media accounts.

 

Her style seems very… unique, Portland-ish, metaphorical, deliberative,  full, Julia.

Something I appreciate in her work is the multi-dimentionality of it, the bringing together of senses. Smells of perfumes mixed with its application onto the body and how the body itself takes in and benefits from the oils or perfumes. All artwork should and does have this full potential of connecting and intertwining senses.

Myriam Marcela

Growing up in Guadalajara, fashion was much more than just a childhood fantasy to Myriam Marcela. She has shared the story of her mother buying her oversized dresses with big puffy sleeves many times, but tells us that at a young age, she made her clothing to look the best it could on her body type. She went to school at Instituto de Moda y Diseño, which is “Institute of Fashion and Design” in Guadalajara, Mexico where her skills were expanded and refined. She shared that her inspiration comes from old garments that she would buy, usually on clearance or at a thrift store due to the potentially misshapenness of the piece or it may be ripped or tattered, usually speak to her in a way that she knows right away what she will make that garment into. The image below is from Oregon Live and is captioned “Fabric speaks to Myriam Marcela”.

Marcela spoke about how things are just meant to be and she has a really great attitude towards many seemingly sad or disappointing things. For example, when in a competition to win an award, she was not named the winner. She told that her husband was quite upset that Myriam did not win. Myriam simply spoke that the award was not for her, however that does not mean she is a great designer. She was nominated for the Best Emerging Designer by the 2015 Mercedes Benz of Portland – Portland fashion & style awards, but did not win.However, the year before she did win Portland Fashionxt’s Emerging Designer for 2014. The first two images in this blog post are from her winning collection show from 2014. In the 2015 show, her competitors showed much less “wearable” clothing. They had very dramatic pieces as well as some face coverings. Even one of the judges said it, Marcela’s designs were ones you would want to go buy after the show. I agree with that statement for all of her collections and shows. She shows people that they can have runway worthy clothes custom made for them.

Her ways and experiences were very inspiring, especially being a student. It is hard to picture or imagine where you’ll be in the next 5 years, but looking at Marcela’s story I am sure we are all encouraged to follow our passions. Her passion, experiences, and network of people around her have helped her to achieve the dream of being a fashion designer she had when she was a young girl.

” Couture means attention to detail, from selection of pattern and fabric to the final stitch taken on a hem or buttonhole…”

This is her motto for her store in Portland, Oregon as well as her design process.