wordsfromtherunway

@dcshoes @UNITEHAIR turned everyone into a braided princess! So fun! (Taken with instagram)

@dcshoes event in Hollywood. Had a fabulous time (Taken with instagram)

Behind The Dream

WFTR Interviews Tina Tangalakis of DellaLA

This past week I had the privilege of interviewing Tina Tangalakis, founder and head designer of Della LA. Della is an amazing company with a wonderful story. In brief, Della was started in late 2009 in a small village in Ghana, (Hohoe) pronounced, (Ho-Way.) The company makes beautifully simple handbags from gorgeous textiles sourced in Ghana. The village of Hohoe, is largely benefitting from one woman’s vision. Under the over cast sky at Akasha, a local restaurant in Culver City, we chatted and talked all things, Della and a few other things. (Off the record) sorry fashionistas, some things are not for the runway. However here is what was said:

Dana Elizabeth: First, if you could just tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you decide to volunteer in Ghana?

Tina Tangalakis:  Well, I was born and raised here in Culver City. I am a native of Los Angeles. I come from a big Greek and Italian family. I was raised going to Catholic school; we did a lot of volunteering. In college, I went and volunteered in Mexico and that really sparked my interest. I studied costume design, and I became pretty successful but I got a bit burnt out on the industry and decided to start freelancing for other companies. I did design for a belt company in China, and decided I wanted to get into design more so.

D.E: When did you start Della?

T.T: It was November 2009; we haven’t hit our third year yet. It’s almost our birthday!

D:Happy almost, birthday! (laughing) so, you went to Ghana and you Volunteered at Happy Kids Orphanage, where you met your first seamstress for Della, Beatrice? How did you two get involved really?

T: She was a seamstress who volunteered near the organization. I kind of reached out to her, to design a bag that I originally was going to bring back to the U.S. as a present for one of my sisters. Then after seeing how great it was, with the more American design it all clicked. I was like wait a minute they need jobs and I want a career in design. I just kind of ran with it. 

               (Left: Tina Tangalakis, Dana Elizabeth @ Akasha restaurant April, 23 2012) 

D: How are the fabrics and textiles sourced?

T: Its from the capitol city, we go to the capitol city and find the fabrics we want. It is a one print run so once it sells out its gone. So lately we’ve had to buy huge bulks of fabric.

D: I read that you just launched in Nordstroms? How is that going?

T: We just launched. (Smiling) Yes, I think it went well. We’re actually just looking at sales reports right now. It’s fun to look at the regions that are responding well to our bags. Its actually nationwide, we are in 36 stores. It’s kind of crazy like, wow I think we are doing this. I think we are in business. (laughing) I know we are not in all doors yet but in 36 stores and that feels pretty amazing.

D:Any stores in LA?

T: They are more in the South Bay, or in the Valley. Like Irvine spectrum, Brea Mall, The Topanaga Mall.

D:Are they on some sort of a display? Is it a pop-up shop?

T: They are. I have photos that people have taken for me. Things are on display pretty prominently. Locally we have been making sure that all the sales people really know our story so that they know how to talk to the customer and really talk about the history of our company and what we do. 

                      (Della, in the early beginning some of the woman learning how to sew.) 

D:At what point did you branch out to do the Ipad cases and the Mac book cases?

T: we started it pretty early on. I had bought my first Macbook, which I needed for the company and I was like I need a case for this. At the time at the Apple store they only had like, black or pink cases and so when I was out in Ghana I had them make me a case. I thought, that’s something that people genuinely need. Its like, people need something to protect there computers and it’s something they look at and use everyday. So I thought it would be a good combo.

D:Are those also being sold in Nordstroms?

T: No, it’s just the hobos and headbands.

D:You also sell jewelry, and make jewelry for the line as well?

T: Yes. We, I mean, when I was freelancing for the belt company I was also selling and designing my own jewelry. I became really good friends with the town jeweler in Ghana. He makes every single piece by hand. He refines all the silver himself by hand. It’s so ancient and primitive and rustic. We have a very nice relationship with him.

D:Are you wearing any of the pieces right now?

T: (Looks down, laughs) Ummm, just these. (Pointing to three beautifully simple rings on her ring finger.)

D: Those are beautiful! I love them, love em! (Laughing) So can you tell us how you came up with the name, Della?

T: I volunteered with a volunteer organization, and when choosing the name for the business, Della, I wanted something that would connect us with Ghana but that wouldn’t sound too ethnic that it would pigeonhole the business. So um, Della is the first person I met off the plan in Ghana. He was the driver for the volunteer organization. He is the sweetest soul, with the kindest smile. The energy you feel from him, it was like just being a good open warm person. It was like oh; I want my brand to have the essence of him. His name is Della, I felt even though it was a man’s name it sounded still feminine and thought it would resonate with the fashion community.

         (Left: Tina Tangalakis and Dana Elizabeth, enjoying a small reprieve from the interview)

To read more of the interview click below: 

and as always, keep it here for more: WORDSFROMTHERUNWAY

xo- Dana Elizabeth 

Read More

Songbird Bag! @DellaLosAngeles (Taken with instagram)

Della Song Bird Bag (Taken with instagram)

Della, a Los Angeles born company is delivering a lot of change to Hohoe, a poverty stricken village in Ghana. Ghana, where 1 out of every 3 individuals live below the poverty line. Della is bringing more then monetary funding to the village, they are providing education and jobs to the community that so desperately needs it. 

     (Above, Tina Tangalakis - Founder and designer of Della poses with the women of Hohoe.) 

Della, was formed when two women from two very different backgrounds met by chance. Tina Tangalakis, a Los Angeles native traveled to Ghana where she volunteered at The Happy Kids orphanage. There, in the surrounding village of Hohoe, is where she met local seamstress Beatrice Agabe. The two formed a connection almost instantly. It was through their shared love for design and textiles, that the first, Classic Hobo bag came to life. 

       (Pictured above, the Classic Hobo bag. Made from local fabric in Ghana) 

Beatrice and Tina knew they were on to something amazing. The two decided under the direction of Beatrice, that they would teach the local women of Hohoe, how to sew and construct the bags. Not only would this provide them with jobs and education but hope as well. 

(Above, the local women of Hohoe, creating and crafting the one of a kind bags.)

The Classic Hobo bag has done so well that Della has designed a full line of bags, including clutches, (available fall 2012) Ipad cases, headbands, and even jewelry. Each bag or garment is constructed from one individual, with a special tag sewn into each one and signed by the woman who beautifully made it. 

     (Model pictured above, sporting one of the Classic Hobo bags.) 

We are so inspired by this amazing company and wish for our readers to help support this great cause. The bags are completely affordable and are perfect for spring. Heading to the beach? The Extra Large Hobo bag is perfect for all your “beachy ” necessities. This is one bag you can’t live without. Plus, you can feel good about giving back. 

       (Pink Guava Jelly Bag pictured above, one lucky reader will get her chance to win it. Click Here.) 

      Maybe you aren’t the beachy-type. You can totally still help, everyone these days has an ipad, macbook, or laptop, Della’s got you covered there as well. They are lightweight beautiful and one-of-a-kind. Who wouldn’t want to sport one? 

(Songbird Ipad case is beautiful. One of our favorites. The colors go lovely together.) 

In today’s economy we know everyone is struggling. But can you possibly imagine how others around the world are struggling too? Some like, the village of Hohoe are struggling far worse then we are. So I ask you, my lovely fashionable and giving readers—Can you spare a little to help change the lives of an entire village? 

For more information on Della or to visit their online store click HERE.  Also, you can follow Della on Twitter, and Facebook,.

Head over to our gift giveaways and guides tab, or CLICK HERE to see how you can win one of the PINK GUAVA JELLY BAGS. 

And as always keep it here for more: wordsfromtherunway 

xo - Dana Elizabeth 

Here is more from the Enza Costa spring 2012 collection. I received some pieces through a friend last week. As promised I updated with what I wore today. Below is the Silk Rib Twist Dress. You can find it here online. It retails for $198.00 but it is worth every penny.

I paired the belt with an exaggerated length necklace to follow the long silhouette of the dress. I then added a black belt to cut the dress at the hips. It added something I think the outfit was missing. You can wear black, red, or brown sandals to complete the look. 

The gold chain and purple beaded necklace adds another pop of color. You can’t be afraid to play with colors as this spring the runways are dripping in yellow, red, orange, and blues. Mix and match, if you get confused on what colors work well together refer to the color wheel. 

The dress is a racerback so I suggest wearing a bandeau top (check Shopstyle for several options) underneath or a strapless bra. You can also try using bra cups instead. But go with what works best for your size and what you are most comfortable in. The fabric is very light weight so everything will show through if you are not careful. 

I’ll post another look tomorrow. I suggest heading over to check out the rest of the ENZA COSTA Spring collection. Word on the runway is it’s going to be very popular this spring. 

Thanks and keep it here for more: wordsfromtherunway 

-Dana Elizabeth 

Hey Taylor - it’s actually a ladies pashmina however, I guess a guy could wear it if he wanted to. You can see the giveaway under our gift giveaway tab. Thanks. 

-Dana Elizabeth 

I just received some amazing Enza Costa apparel through a friend. I am in love with this line. I might be a little late to the runway on this company but everything is sourced from the best fabrics, dyes and cuts. You can find Enza Costa in several boutiques, the biggest name we’ve found locally is Nordstrom  you can’t buy Enza at Nordie’s online, only in the store. 

       I paired the tops with a black floor length skirt. Which I’m totally in love with. 

Enza Costa is comfortable, casual and sophisticated. I will post more photos tomorrow of some of the other pieces I received in the collection. The sweater above is cashmere and it feels like heaven in sweater form. I love the long sleeves, its sexy and yet cozy at the same time. I think I want to live in this sweater forever. It’s perfect. Here is one online store that has most of the Enza Costa collection for spring 2012. 

The gold uneven necklace with purple stone was added for texture and detail. I’m not sure where I got it from but I think it was pretty inexpensive. You can achieve this look with any long necklace. I like that the necklace isn’t symmetrical it adds more for the eye to look at.  

Added Note: if you haven’t entered our LOLLYCLOTHING giveaway make sure to do so. There is still plenty of time to enter. HERE

Thanks and remember to keep it here for more: wordsfromtherunway

-Dana Elizabeth 

We are thrilled to have been included in an exciting new promotion. WFTR has been selected by LOLLY clothing to participate in their, “Spring Forward with Lolly Scarf Giveaway.”  LOLLY contacted us recently with the exciting news. We just received the scarves today and can not wait to show them to you. But first a bit about LOLLY:

Lolly Clothing is “for the city girl with a bit of earth, wind and fire in her blood, Lolly reinterprets artisanal traditions with a gritty, street-smart aesthetic. Innovative washes, organic prints and bohemian silhouettes conjure an urban-gypsy mystique.” 

Now if you are at all like me, you will agree that a girl these days isn’t one demential. She’s sophisticated and mysterious. She encompasses elements that go beyond simply what she wears. However what she wears is extremely important. Finding a company that can express who she is internally and one that helps her express that through her style is a company WFTR believes in. We think Lolly is spot on. They also sent us a lookbook for their spring collection. And we aren’t lying when we say, we want to wear every single piece in the line. 

LOLLY is also a company that believes in giving back to the artisans that have inspired, and helped to create the company itself. Each collection that LOLLY creates is inspired by skilled artisans from all over the world. Because LOLLY utilizes these traditional techniques they wanted to help support the artisans of the world by donating a portion of their profits to Aid-to-Artisans.  (We create economic opportunities for artisan groups around the world where livelihoods, communities, and craft traditions are marginal or at risk.) Another reason why we believe in the bohemian-city-chic company.  A company that gives back internationally and nationally is one you simply can’t ignore. 

Above is an image of the scarves we received today. 

Now we are sure you are wondering how do we get our lovely hands on one of those scarves? WFTR has teamed up with LOLLY and are offering one lucky reader their chance to win one of LOLLY’s new 2012 spring scarves. Details can be found here. 

We know how important it is to be spring ready and beautiful. We want to help so we encourage you to visit LOLLY Clothing. Find out more about the company and share LOLLY on twitter, facebook and with your friends and family. Don’t forget to share us too! 

Thanks, and keep it here for more:

Wordsfromtherunway - Dana Elizabeth 

Adam Brody and I at The Premiere of Damsels in Distress (Taken with instagram)

Thanks for entering our contest. Make sure to enter our Glitzylips contest which is under our gift giveaway tab. Thanks for supporting wftr and make sure to tell your friends about us. Love, Fashion forever. 

Team WFTR 

Congratulations to Visceral-beauty, she’s won our PIXIE palette giveaway! Make sure to check in with us to see our latest giveaways and tell your friends about www.wftr.net 

Keep it here for more: wordsfromtherunway 

-Dana Elizabeth 

When I was young my mother always told me to follow my gut. If you are like me, maybe someone along the way has given you similar advice. I’ve always tried to follow her words hoping that it would lead me in the right direction. Thankfully 9 times out of 10 my gut has been right. I like to think that this philosophy spans more then just the everyday decision. It can be used when contemplating a fashion trend or simply what to wear to a cocktail party. 

Fashion is a lot like the weather. It’s often unpredictable, although we do have those that try to predict and forecast. It arrives and changes with each new season. It can change our minds when deciding what to wear on any given day. It has the ability to make you feel happy, sad, or even frustrated at times. But if you follow a few rules, and your gut I’m quite sure you’ll manage. 

Rule #1 Color:  Why it’s so important to pay attention to it. Most individuals believe that they simply can’t wear certain colors. But you are wrong, it’s about finding the right hue to complement your visage and skin tone. If you find the right shade it can open a whole new spectrum, or rather wardrobe for you to choose from. Color analysis is your first step in finding the right hues for you. Lora Alexander has spent years analyzing color, so much time that she’s made it her life work. Check out her website here to find your shades. 

Rule #2 Silhouette:  Identifying what silhouette you possess is half the battle. Dressing for your shape is key. Knowing how to minimize your flaws, and draw attention to your assets can change everything. Duclet  is an amazing company that can get you started. Not only do they also offer color analysis, but they can also determine what your silhouette is and how best to dress for your body type. They also give expert advice on what to wear, and how to wear it.  

 Rule #3 Trend:  Keeping up with the latest trends can be scary not only for those that are unsure of what to wear, or how to wear it but for your wallet as well. But you don’t have to break the bank to keep up with the latest fashion fixes. Sometimes you can get away with buying a few new accessories, or revamping an old staple to make it look new. I always find that adding a new statement piece, whether its a piece of jewelry or a new pair of shoes can totally change your outfit and keep you right on trend with the latest fashions. By replacing just one item you can fool your friends and colleagues. You’ll have them wondering, how does she do it? Click on the accessories link to take you to The Budget Fashionista. She has great tips, and links to sites where you can save big.

Rule #4 Feel Good: This last step could be the most important. Because, honestly unless you feel amazing in what you wear no one will give you a second look. It is so important to find something that when you wear it you feel confident. At the end of the day this is where it matters most. Not how much you spent, or whether or not its a couture designer or bridge line. It matters how you feel when you look in the mirror. This is when your gut comes into play. Follow what it says, if you think you can pull it off then do it! Confidence is the key to any winning look. 

I believe it was Christian Dior who said: Zest is the secret of all beauty. There is no beauty that is attractive without zest. So Zest it up ladies! 

and just for fun, here’s a small article on following your gut instincts. Enjoy! 

Remember to keep it here for more: wordsfromtherunway 

-Dana Elizabeth