Where Photos Reign in Fashion, Paintings Offer Fresh Perspective from Clothing Designer Ivey Abitz

Nov. 9, 2010 - PRLog -- New York designer Cynthia Ivey Abitz has forgone photography and released her latest fashion collection in the form of original paintings, just as haute couture design houses did decades ago. Her clothing line, Ivey Abitz, has mainly shown photographic look books in past collections. But this holiday season, the Ivey Abitz look book has a nostalgic pen-to-paper flare.

A trained oil painter who studied portrait painting and design in college, Ivey Abitz made her living painting portraits for several years before debuting her clothing line to the public in 2006.

Cynthia Ivey Abitz explains about painting, "When I'm painting my garment designs, I feel connected to the history of design - and of life itself - that has brought me to this point in time. Designing garments through a computer program is not an option for me, which is mainly what's taught in design schools today. A machine is getting in between me and my ideas that way. But painting my designs allows my hand to directly connect to my ideas and give them life."

Painting makes Ivey Abitz feel especially connected to her ancestry, which includes world-renowned American painter and teacher Robert Henri and the famous American painter Mary Cassatt. In the early 1900's, Henri was a leading figure of the Ashcan School. His work now hangs in museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum in New York City. Cassatt's paintings and drawings are highly sought after and found in the most prestigious private collections, museums, and institutes around the world.

About her ancestral connections, Ivey Abitz says, "It is an honor and an inspiration to know that my family lineage is connected to Henri and Cassatt. They challenged people to view the world differently through their artwork. I think the world is a far better place for having their paintings in it. Painting was the language they both used to express their values and ideals. I enjoy combining garment design and painting to express mine."

Painting is a large part of the design process for every Ivey Abitz collection, whether or not the paintings are featured in a collection debut. Ivey Abitz debuts a new collection about every three months.

When asked how her paintings stand up to photographs, Ivey Abitz explains, "Paintings get to the essence of a collection. They allow lines and colors, the essential elements of design, to sing. They express the ideas and feelings behind my garment design."

As a complement to the paintings featured in the new holiday look book, Ivey Abitz uses detailed studio photography on its website to provide a complete visual documentation of the finished garments.

"Ivey Abitz is all about quality and detail," the designer explains. "We use photography to show the execution of sewing detail and design detail so the client knows exactly how a design looks: front, side, and back. They don't have to visit our studio in person to see the detail. They can be on the other side of the globe and still view the quality and uniqueness that makes Ivey Abitz something that can't be found anywhere else. The photographs become their eyes and hands, and the paintings help with their imagination."

By presenting clients with an idea in the form of a painting, Ivey Abitz says she is giving them a launchpad for imagining themselves in an outfit.

"Our clients enjoy identifying with the paintings and projecting themselves onto them. It's a much more liberating process than viewing the garment designs on a model in photographs. With paintings, the client feels like she is part of the creative process and takes ownership of her new garments."

That creative process also involves clients choosing fabrics for their new custom made garments. Some Ivey Abitz designs have as many as forty fabric choices, creating one-of-a-kind garments for a client's individual tastes and preferences. For many clients, the shopping experience itself is highly personalized. It is so personalized, Ivey Abitz has many clients who only want Cynthia, the designer herself, to do the choosing for the design and fabric combinations.

Cynthia explains the personalized process, "Some of our clients love ordering the ensembles just as they are shown in the Look Book. Others give me a list of their favorite Ivey Abitz designs, and then I give them fabric suggestions. It's part of the creative process for them, and it's part of the creative process for me. As an artist, I am creating individual wardrobes for our clients through my designs. I get to know our clients personally, and it's a meaningful and enjoyable process for them and for me."

In addition to viewing the collection of Holiday 2010 paintings online, some of them are currently available through complimentary postcards, available by signing up to the Ivey Abitz mailing list through their website, IveyAbitz.com.

Ivey Abitz garments are sold exclusively through the designer at http://IveyAbitz.com.

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Founded in 2005, Ivey Abitz designs vintage inspired clothing for women and men. Made to order through IveyAbitz.com.

Ivey Abitz designs give a nod to the past yet stay firmly in the present. Some describe them as vintage inspired clothing or antique inspired garments for modern everyday life. The garments give respect and dignity to the wearer, others, and life itself. Clothing is exquisitely created by hand just for you in New York City with the finest natural fabrics available. Ivey Abitz creates original designs that are naturally elegant and whimsically commonsensical for creative souls, for everyday life, and for every occasion.