I meet 28-year-old fashion designer Desanka Fasiska just seconds after the close of her first independent runway show. She’s backstage at Smashbox studios, surrounded by models and camera crews. Actress Mena Suvari is gushing over her feminine, embroidered collection and Desanka is soaking up the love. There were a few minor hiccups - like the model who snuck on a bra because her breasts had ballooned overnight – but otherwise you’d never have guessed Desanka was a first-timer. I catch up with her a week later and find out how it feels to lose your runway show virginity.
So how was your first time?
It was overwhelming, especially knowing it was all for me. I had done my college show and Gen Art, but they are group shows. It’s a lot of pressure when it is just about you.
What was the most stressful moment for you?
Right at the beginning I tricked myself into believing that the wrong music had been put on. Actually it was all fine but in my mind I was like “oh my god, it screwed up!” It was retarded. I definitely saw a couple of mistakes that got past me. Like one girl had just got her period, so her boobs were really big. She snuck a bra on and you could see it. Even so, I think we did a pretty good job for the first time.
How do you know Mena Suvari?
She came to my office before the show and got some clothes. She’s very sweet. It’s funny…I’m sure that in New York, celebrities don’t visit younger designers like myself quite so readily.
How much did it cost to put on the show?
In Los Angeles it is way less expensive to put on a show than it is in New York. I happened to get some sponsors but it was about $15,000 total. It was hard decision to make, but I have been around for three years now and I felt like this was the time to do it.
How did you get into the fashion business?
I had no idea what I wanted to do when I graduated high school. But I was artistic and a clothes horse, so my mom pushed me into going to FIDM (fashion school) even though I didn’t really want to. Then I moved to San Francisco and enrolled in the fashion design program at the Academy of Art. It was the first time in my life that I had ever excelled in school. Afterward I wound up getting a scholarship to study in Paris for a year.
What was it like being in Paris?
It was lonely time in my life. I didn’t know anybody, and I was living in this really remote part of the 13th arrondissement. Not very young or hip. I stayed in a lot and kept myself busy by creating things. I got to really know myself as a designer there. And at school I learned about hand sewing techniques, how to do little tiny stitches, and tracing and pattern-making. Pretty much all of my classmates ended up at Givenchy. Even though I was super lonely there, I was very inspired.
So how did you come to start your own line?
After Paris I went to New York and looked for jobs for a year. It was right after 9/11 and no-one was hiring. I am terrible at being subordinate anyway, so I thought maybe I should be my own boss, start my own line and have more creative freedom. So I moved back to LA. I had about $50,000 saved up and I went through it really fast – but at the end of it, I had a collection.
Why start your line in LA versus New York?
There is a thriving fashion industry here and it is a lot easier to break in here too. I have a lot of friends in Los Angeles that started their line with no fashion design experience whatsoever, but who are successful.
Seems like LA designers tend to abandon LA Fashion Week after a while and migrate to New York Fashion Week instead.
Well, New York is the fashion capital of America, if not the world. I will probably go to New York, although I would like to do both. I would like to stay true to Los Angeles.
Desanka grew up in Ladera Heights and currently lives in West Hollywood. Desanka.com
Posted by Caroline Ryder
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