Today we’d like to introduce you to Merline Labissiere.
Merline, a Miami- based designer, fell in love with the idea of marrying architecture and fashion design at an early age. The young Haitian-American designer graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design in 2011. Although pursuing a degree in architecture brought her to SCAD, Merline discovered fashion was the fuel to her creative passion. Her architectural background continues to inspire her designs and other avenues of art. As a Project Runway Season 14 contestant airing on Lifetime, Merline got the opportunity to design a winning look that was manufactured and sold nationwide for Heidi Klum’s intimate’s line. Along with her passion for fashion, her brand “Merline Labissiere” started a non-profit teaching fashion for inner-city youth. Recently, she has given presentations on her journey in entrepreneurship and starting a non-profit to students and alumni at the SCAD Museum of Art. Merline’s passion to combine fashion and architecture and show the world a new perspective appears in every piece designed for the creative woman working in a professional environment. Currently, you can find her on this season of Project Runway All-Stars.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a sweet and sour road. Some of the difficulties for me moving back to Miami has been networking and having resources available. The advice I would give to young women would be to create a community where you can have support for your dreams.
We’d love to hear more about Merline Labissiere.
I’m a fashion designer and I design for the modern woman in the business world. The one thing I’m really proud of is my non-profit Provoke style fashion camp. I really wanted to give back to students that didn’t have a voice or the same opportunities as me growing up. I wanted to take my whole experience and go back and provoke the next generation to think big that they can do exactly what I do. I believe what sets me apart from others is that I merge architecture and fashion together in my designs and how I love to encourage people in their crafts.
Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
All the 99u books. Plus, I watch a lot of Ted Talks that inspire and motivate me to create.
Contact Info:
- Address: https://www.merlinelabissierecouture.com/
http://www.provokestylefc.org/ - Website: http://www.merlinelabissiere.com/
- Phone: 305-763-5616
- Email: teamlabissiere@merlinelabissiere.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merline.labissiere/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mlabissiere
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
