Safi, the line designed by Crystal Mercer of Little Rock, takes the ambience of world music and applies it to wearable signature pieces and body-care products as well as custom home-decor items.
The name "Safi" means "fresh" in Swahili -- "my design philosophy is fresh, creative, eclectic, cultural and universal," Mercer explains. She uses a bold mix of ethnic patterns, colors and natural materials for products inspired by her surname, Mercer, the name for a merchant in textiles. "I started sewing in college for a small stipend to help pay for my tuition, and the itch to stitch never left me," she says.
Safi Custom Home Body made its debut in February. It became official when Mercer directed and designed costumes and scenic elements for George C. Wolfe's play The Colored Museum at Philander Smith College. The core of Safi is actually its home fashions ... machine- and hand-stitched draperies, pillows, wall tapestries, and the like. Then comes the custom clothing, for men, women and infants. Jewelry pieces are made up of metal, bright fabrics, hemp ties, and stones -- "crystals are my favorite," Mercer says.
Signature pieces include the Safi "Baset" Ruffled Wrap Skirt, "Let Her in Leather" Chained Suspended Earrings, "An Evening With ..." Iconic Tee, and the "Vintage Goddess" Machine- and Hand-Stitched Drapes. "However, I love to stretch my creativity and create new things," Mercer says. Ninety-eight percent of her work is made to order.
Her favorite clothing silhouette ... "anything high-waisted," she says. "I love to accentuate the natural curve of the body." Her favorite fabric is cotton, which she tells of her family once picking in Mississippi.
Safi prices vary. The body-care line includes "Don't Be Ashy" Hair, Palm + Body Balm, $10; and "Give Me Some Sugar, Mama" Body Polish, $15. Jewelry pieces range from $10 to $35; drapes, $40-$120. All are available online at etsy.com/shop/PoppySAFIshoppeCCM.
Mercer has gained "hundreds" of fans on her Facebook page. "Most times, they will send me links to similar designers and requests for things that they've seen online," she says. "The love is continuous and overflowing. Also, they love to see other Safi fanatics in their [favorite] Safi separates. It's an exciting network of fresh, stylish people from around the world."
Mercer wants to expand the home decor line and add more clothing for women and babies. "My baby muse is my niece, Claudia Gisele Mercer," she says. "I've made her a wall tapestry for her nursery and I want to make her clothes that can grow with her as she transforms."
And the Color
of the Year is ...
Excuse me while I put on my marsala-colored long johns.
Marsala is the name of the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year. It's described as "a naturally robust and earthy wine red." (Marsala is, in fact, a wine grown in an Italian region of the same name.)
"This tasteful hue embodies the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal while its grounding red-brown roots emanate a sophisticated, natural earthiness," according to press information.
But it's not that deep "wine" wine. It's more like a paler, subdued wine, actually resembling dried blood. But it's the new color for fashion, beauty and industrial design products as well as home furnishings and interiors.
Marsala is among Pantone's colors for spring 2015. Other hues include my two favorites, Scuba Blue (a turquoise) and Lucite Green (an aqua), as well as Toasted Almond, a good marsala complement color; Aquamarine; Classic Blue; Strawberry Ice; Tangerine; Custard; and Gray.
From the Little Rock to the Red Stick
Having made a successful 2014 debut, Oneofakind Baton Rouge Fashion Week -- the new sister event to Little Rock Fashion Week -- will return Feb. 23-28 to downtown Baton Rouge with new and returning designers.
"The response received in 2014 was phenomenal," founder Brandon Campbell, executive producer of Little Rock Fashion Week, says in a news release.
Arkansans who will present their designs include Lacie Cupani of Cupani Fashion, Little Rock Fashion Week 2014 Clothing Line of the Year, Treva "DivaStyl" Burns (Merocki), Jennifer Smith (Ms. Smitty), Chris Young (Christopher Youngstar) and Campbell himself (iME Clothing).
Events throughout will lead up to the "Big Night" on Feb. 28 at the Capitol Park Museum, 660 N. Fourth St. Also featured will be the returning kids' fashion show, For Kids by Kids.
Fashion Week officials already donated $1,500 to the Louisiana Museum Foundation to restore a rare military uniform worn during the War of 1812. The Louisiana State Museum's exhibit, featuring the uniform and marking the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans, is scheduled to be unveiled in early 2015.
For aspiring and established models, Oneofakind Baton Rouge Fashion Week will have a model search at 4-8 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Capitol Park Museum, and again at 1-5 p.m. Jan 31. Volunteers for the week are also being sought. For more information on all of the above, see http://batonrougefashionweek.com.
Sweatin' me
Anybody out there whose Christmas-gift receipts left them still longing for just a simple, chic, hang-around-the-ski-lodge cable-knit turtleneck tunic sweater ... one with a real turtleneck, not one of those that pooches out and becomes a cowl-neck after a few weeks?
I think I've found just the sweater, and at a good price: Woman Within's Pullover Turtleneck Sweater With Cable Knit Details, $19.99 -$22.49 at Onestopplus.com or Womanwithin.com. Offered in eight colors, it's a relaxed-fit, 28-inch cotton sweater with cable front and arms, smooth back and rib-knit trim on the neck, cuffs and hem. Sizes range from 12W-40W. I've tried it and like it. Want it a bit more fitted? Order a size down; it stretches easily.
Just in case
Here's a footnote on the Mujjo Leather Wallet Case (Dressing Room, Nov. 9), the sleek, vegetable-tanned leather smartphone case from the Netherlands. I'd mentioned the fashion accessories for the iPhone 6 ($40.58), but the company also still has cases for the iPhone 5s ($45.65), one of which I had a chance to view. It's more of a gentleman's accessory ... simple and unassuming, sophisticated and upscale-looking. Since the last column, the company has also debuted its Leather Wallet Case 80 Degrees (also $45.65) for the iPhone 6 Plus. Designed to complement the larger phone, it positions essential cards to fit in at an upward angle, rather than the horizontal placement via the slanted-top pockets on the previous wallet cases. By the way, Mujjo has heretofore introduced its phone cases and sleeves in tan or black, but now it has introduced a leather wallet case lineup for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in gray. It's a precursor to the company's Desaturated collection -- "defined by its lack of color, creating an exceptional gray tone that's as bold as it is subtle."
Visit mujjo.com/store.
High Profile on 12/28/2014