Exclusive Sublet Clothing Interview

In this chaotic world it’s amazing how many happenstance occurrences align us with our future. Eco friendly clothing designers Tara and Inessah of Sublet Clothing know this as their website tells:

“After responding to a Craigslist sublet posting during college, Inessah found herself dragging two suitcases up three flights of stairs to meet her new roommate, Tara. Finding themselves with a lot in common such as Inessah being unable to find a more permanent place, and Tara living her motto, “the more the merrier,” the initial two weeks turned into three months.

Two years later, after having worked traditional careers, Tara and Inessah missed the spontaneous community, independence and creativity they felt when subletting. So over lunch one day, they decided they would create their own permanent sublet through Sublet Clothing.”

Now, their beautiful clothing line which is comprised of sustainable materials such as bamboo, hemp and organic cotton, is being sold across the country from New York City all the way to Seattle. By bringing a keen eye for styles that appeal to all women, Sublet Clothing has shone a bright light on what awe-inspiring environmentally responsible fashion should be.

These two coincidental roommates turned business partners are an empowering inspirational force behind positive social change. One needs to look no further than the design of the Sublet Clothing website to be inspired by the colors, imagery and fresh feel which radiates from the clothes to the friendship behind the scenes.

With the success of their recent fall line launch party earlier this month, the two minds behind Sublet Clothing answered a few questions about life, fashion and fruit.

What made you take the leap from the concept of Sublet Clothing to the actual company?

Tara: I’ve always been interested in collaboration with people within the amazing creative community in New York City- Inessah being a part of it. We both have a deep appreciation for the environment and sustainability, so when she suggested an organic clothing line, I thought it would be the perfect way for us to foster this creative community, while utilizing both our talents to inspire social and environmental change. It took a big leap of faith and a lot of trust in one another to take the next step and make our idea a reality, but we both couldn’t be happier that we did.

Inessah: I went to school for fashion design, but have always been pretty obsessed with the Earth. For awhile I was convinced I’d be an environmental scientist. Since finding an equal passion in design, I’ve wanted to find ways to incorporate those two influences into my life. Tara has a very similar ethos and we thought it’d be fun, so we just jumped in and try to take one step at a time.

What motivates you to keep on working?

Tara: Inessah motivates me. Sometimes she bakes pumpkin spice bread, which helps. I think we motivate each other because we both know that there are a million things to do, but looking at them one at a time makes things more manageable. We also look to other people moving towards the same goal, and it feels good knowing we’re know working towards a more sustainable future. And what is more motivating than that?

Inessah: Everything. The process, the challenge, the amazing people we get to interact with. We just had a launch party and it was wonderful- really fun and interesting people all working together to make it a success. It’s not always easy, but it’s definitely never boring. When something goes right, however small, it’s great to share it with someone, especially Tara. That motivates me to keep going- to keep on having moments like that.

Is there a theme to Sublet Clothing, such as purity or simplicity?

Tara: Yes, simplicity definitely comes into play because we realize sometimes the simplest solution is the best one. And that can apply to fashion, as well as life. We also want our pieces to be versatile from day to night. That is important to us because we know that when you wake up and you don’t have your whole day planned out, you have to be ready for what comes along.

Where do you see Sublet Clothing in five years?

Inessah: In an overwhelming marketplace, it’s hard to find clothing with consistently good design, fit, quality and functionality. All of these are taken into consideration when we’re designing and we’d like to be considered the go-to source for eco-apparel that’s truly wearable.

What has been the hardest part of this business? The best?

Tara: There are a lot of challenges to starting a business, less yet an organic clothing line. Learning about each aspect of what we need to do is certainly very hard. This is everything from finding a reliable and fair-wage paying manufacturer, to locating just the right photographer.

That being said, though challenging at times, this is also how we meet great people to work with, and that is one of my favorite parts of Sublet: overcoming obstacles with other people, and having shared the outcome. That is how we grow this community.

Why eco friendly clothes?

Inessah: As mentioned before, Tara and I have overlapping ethos. These issues of sustainability, the environment, design, community- are all things as individuals we really cared about before we met each other. So creating Sublet Clothing seemed like a really natural extension of us.

Did you always have ambition to be in the fashion industry?

Inessah: Yes, but that’s something I didn’t realize until I spent 2 years studying the wrong thing. I knew it wouldn’t make me happy, so I just quit, transferred schools and haven’t looked back.

What are three things you take with you in your purse every day?

Tara: Notebook, metrocard, and if they’re in season, a clementine.

Inessah: iPod, sharpie, and usually some kind of grocery item- I won’t take plastic bags at stores. This choice has led to some unfortunate crushed fruit incidents.

Here are some sneak peek looks at designs from the Fall ’08 Collection.

The Beylah Skirt ($165) is made from a mix of merino wool, hemp and lyocell. This skirt will be available starting in August in a range of colors from pond, mahogany, black and fern. The skirt’s simple and elegant shape comes from the tucks in the front and darts in the back. Shown here with an accent brooch and the Becca Top.

The pleated sleeves of the Becca Top ($115) create a romantic and modern look that’s perfect to wear to a business meeting or to a dinner date. The femininity is enhanced with long ties that can be worn up or down. Set to premier in August, the colors available are: taxi, evergreen, berry, black, natural. It’s comprised of organic cotton, bamboo and spandex.

The Belinda Dress ($275) is made out of 100% bamboo denim twill dyed to a beautiful indigo color. It is a versatile closet staple that can be worn layered with a cute tee underneath, a svelte sweater on top, or alone on those hot summer afternoons. Accented with chic detailing around the bust, this pleated dress has gorgeous lines that suit a women’s body and will be available starting mid-August.

To see pictures from the Sublet Clothing Spring ‘08/Fall ‘08 Launch Party click here.

For more information visit http://subletclothing.com.