My way or no way!
What would this brand be like if they were a person? Is a question that echoes in our heads. This time it was Collina Strada that became our center of attention. As the question gets ever louder in our head, we figured “Who else can answer this other than Hillary Taymour herself?” With great anticipation we proceed, lot ask and a lot to answer.
Motivation and inspiration are contagious, that’s for sure. She leads a rebellion, a very fashionable rebellion that is! Ideas take shape, notes get cleverly left behind and powerful messages get delivered in a unique playfulness. Each garment is a statement, each garment is a win. All these elements intertwine with fabrics, hide behind studs or colorful stripes, and even get spoken out in graphics. Oh, the things that we can’t keep our eyes off… Collina Strada stands out with the way it delivers, taking 70’s London punk scene and reinventing it as their own. This adopted DNA, is pioneering an avant-garde aesthetic, leading fashion and music in a very expressive state of being. Unafraid to speak its truth and core values, Collina Strada directs fashion towards being an impactful form of art.
Who likes being told what to do anyway? Hillary Taymour listens to nobody but herself. The avant-garde, sustainable, New Yorker mother of Colina Strada focuses only on what she wants. Keeping authentic to herself, Hillary explains “ I just make clothes that I love and want to wear. I think it’s super important when designing to make sure you are making clothes you want to wear.” Collina Strada is a place that makes its own rules, likes to push boundaries, and do things slightly differently. Talk about an anarchist!
Hillary takes time to look outside the box. She creates these experiences for clothes and people that make the foundation of her brand. Outside of the box approach stands at the heart of anything Collina Strada. Runway looks get designed around people, concepts get realized around clothes… Hillary explains his designing process as “I start with fabrication, localization of production first and make sure I can make a product in a sustainable way before I even start with the cut or patterns.” She takes fashion as a form of expression, a way to show yourself to the world.
Building values, showcasing culture and tapping into the intricate texture of the streets’ memories, Collina Strada keeps local. Supporting the local artisanship and her sustainable approach, she bases her production where her roots are based, in New York. Keeping true to her essence and to herself, “being honest” is truly authentic in Hillary’s world.
Interview by Murat Şentürk
From Based Istanbul N°43 – The Winners Club Issue. “For us, winning is deciding to embark on a journey. Ask yourself aloud: If this is a race, who else but me can make the rules? Welcome to the winners club!” Buy your copy now!