Designer Dossier: Raleigh Denim
Whoever said “opposites attract” never met Victor and Sarah Lytvinenko, the Raleigh-based husband-and-wife team behind Raleigh Denim. They share a passion for denim, collecting, The New Yorker, egg whites and of course, each other.
Breaking into the design scene at FashionSPARK 2006 and again, redefined at FashionSPARK 2007, Raleigh Denim is poised to become a household name when their men’s collection debuts in Barneys New York – yes, Barneys – this spring. Here’s what the dynamic duo have to say about life, love, design and veggies.
AB: Who are your favorite designers?
VL: Sarah
SY: Diane Von Furstenberg, Nicolas Ghesquière (Balenciaga), Alessandro Del’Aqua
AB: Who/what is your biggest influence?
VL: People who are doing what they love.
SY: Nature, History and the passage of Time (old things and techniques), Creative People.
AB: Favorite article of clothing?
VL: My jeans.
SL: Slim black jeans, a solid pair of boots, and my grandfather’s driving cap.
AB: Favorite color?
VL: Six-month worn in indigo.
SL: Unfair question! They’re all so great. When pressed I say pea green, bright red-orange and really warm grey.
AB: What’s for breakfast?
VL: Egg white and pork chop sandwich with Frank’s hot sauce
SL: Egg whites, spinach and pesto on an English muffin.
AB: What’s in heavy rotation on your iPod?
VL: The Rosebuds, Miles Davis, Bon Iver, Count Basie with Frank Sinatra, Jay Z, Beirut ,Sigur Ros, Kanye West, Crystal Castles, Sanotgold, Lykki Li, Fleet Foxes.
SL: Ratatat, rosebuds, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Beirut.
AB: How do you work?
VL: Every day is different. In general we collect things, old and new. Things that tell stories, are innovative, beautiful, colorful, smart, and work from them.
SL: I accumulate things I like: pictures, sketches, notes, objects, and then use their characteristics – be it pattern, color, structure, etc – as inspiration.
AB: She . . .
VL: eats like a rabbit, carries herself with grace, and likes to get her hands dirty.
AB: He . . .
SL: can fix almost anything, cooks like “yum”, can’t beat me at Scrabble and is my best friend.
AB: If you weren’t designers, what would you be?
VL: A wine maker.
SL: Sad and bored.
AB: East Coast rap or West Coast rap?
VL: East Coast hands down.
SL: East.
AB: Favorite place to cocktail.
VL: Poole’s. The Foundation.
SL: Poole’s makes the best drinks. Also, can’t wait for Foundation to open downtown.
AB: If you could be anywhere in the world . . .
VL: In our shop making things.
SL: Southern France
AB: Favorite/best trend?
VL: Scarves for men.
SL: Riding boots, scarves anytime
AB: Worst trend?
VL: Clothes made overseas.
SL: Jeans that are too low in the back.
AB: A bit of advice to give . . .
VL: give a damn.
SL: Advice I try to live by: Design like you give a damn. Advice for everyone: Do what you love to do, and don’t forget all the people who make it possible.
AB: Who’s got style?
VL: Andre Benjamin.
SL: Cate Blanchette, Audrey Hepburn.
AB: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
VL: Not needing sleep.
SL: The ability to fly.
AB: I wish . . .
VL: Olive trees grew well in NC.
SL: I had a horse and was a really good swing dancer.
AB: On your night stand?
VL: Harry Potter, the New Yorker and Magneto our cat.
SL: Harry Potter, the New Yorker, and a plant.
What’s the longest you’ve worn a pair of jeans?
VL: A year without washing except for a swim in the ocean. They are beautiful and are hanging on my wall.
SL: Longest in one go, before washing: 3 _ months.
AB: Your jeans are meant to be . . .
VL: worn every day.
SL: worn out, literally. Worn out to party and worn out until they fall apart.
AB: On tap for next season.
SL: For ladies: colors! For men and women the silhouette to look for is thin, but not rock-n-roll skinny, with a medium rise and straight leg.
AB: In 20 years . . .
VL: who knows?
SL: who knows . . .
AB: Always
VL: Eat your greens.
SL: Eat your veggies.
AB: Never
VL: Back down.
SL: Don’t try.
{images by Nick Pironio}
I love these designers and I especially love your blog. I am so happy I found it.