Interview with Hillary Taymour, Founder and Creative Director of Collina Strada

Collina Strada: designer Hillary Taymour talks about brand’s success

Founded in 2009 by Hillary Taymour, Collina Strada is a brand and a platform for climate awareness, social awareness, change and self-expression. The designer offers easy-to-wear clothes, imbued with a fluid attitude without fear. Collina Strada embodies humor and youth.

Founder Hillary Taymour

Hi Hillary, thank you for accepting our invitation! Would you like to explain us your background?

I grew up in Los Angeles with a passion for horseback riding; once I grew up I attended a design school and then moved to New York in 2010.

What’s your creative approach to design?

I start with fabrics that I believe to be conscious and prints that I then print on Rose Silk… In a nutshell I can say that I am obsessed with colorful print on print.

Then I just think of what I would want my friends to wear to certain occasions; for example: “What is she wearing to the beach?” or “What does he wear to dinner?”

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Which designer or artist are you most inspired by?

I love most art, I am mostly inspired by the streets of Chinatown in NY though.

We have seen some of your custom made on Hoka One One sneakers, can you tell us more about it?

I work with Hokas to use them on the runway. for this reason I just embellish these sneakers in order to match them with the looks. They are not for sale and hard to replicate but I think they work well with the whole concept.

It is commendable that you are truly inclusive in communicating your aesthethics and also careful about eco-sustainability. Do you think the fashion system is moving well in these directions?

Yes, It is definitely heading in these directions, there is no other way to approach fashion now. We all have to think consciously if we want to continue to consume the way we have been.

I am also hopeful to see inclusiveness in fashion more and more as the years present themselves.

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Never before has fashion had to rely on digital as in this period. How do you interface with the world of technology?

I loved the challenge of relying on digital content this year, it was fun to think outside the box and create content that I felt really happy with.

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In the occasion of “Guccifest”, Collina Strada was selected as artist and you created “Collina Land”, can you explain us better how did it work?

We had been working on digital worlds for a couple of months and when Gucci approached us I was so excited to be able to bring to life a project like this and with such an important partner as Gucci. It is a video game with five worlds in which you can play. The “Collina Land” video was essentially the video game trailer: we 3D scanned all the collection’s models in their looks as players and shot them on a green screen to incorporate the looks into the trailer. Then we imported them into the game and gave them unique movements that could best reflect their personalities and outfits.

In Collina Strada virtual game, there is the focus on sustainable activities, can you tell us a little bit more about your engagement in the eco-friendly field?

I think it is extremely important to continue an “eco-friendly narrative” during this time. We have to be conscious of the impacts that climate change is having on our planet. If I can turn it into a fun playable game with incentives, why not?

“Season after season, our goal remains the same: to encourage self reflection through clothing”

Do you believe that this approach can be helpful and can spur young creative who enter this sector?

Yes I hope so, I hope I can show young creatives that they can have their own unique voice and not follow the herd and still have success.

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Can you tell us something about upcoming projects? Where do you see Collina Strada in five years?

Lots of things I’m not allowed to say but get ready for shoes and some fun collaborations soon! I hope that I am in a position to continue to provide conscious clothing and still have fun in five years.

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CONTACTS

Sito Web: www.collinastrada.com

Instagram: @collinastrada

Posted By

Camilla Bianchi

Studentessa di comunicazione presso l’università IULM di Milano. Da anni attratta dall’high fashion e da tutto ciò che gravita intorno a questo mondo, con particolare interesse al tema "scottante" dell’ecosostenibilità. Fortemente determinata e curatrice dei dettagli.