SOBBING ON FIFTH: SOF Scoop: Lindsay Degen of DEGEN

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

SOF Scoop: Lindsay Degen of DEGEN

Lindsay Degen is quickly gaining speed - and a cult following. And we're pretty obsessed over here because she's doing it with a line that's so different, so stand-out, and so incredibly crafted. Her hand-knit designs are so unmistakably DEGEN, making them must-haves for that pop of crafty cool. With the fashion world taking serious note and a recent Victoria's Secret team-up, we were dying to ask Lindsay a few questions.

(image from DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: One of the many things really interesting about DEGEN and your background is that knitting is such a bigger design phenomenon than I think a lot of us realize. Can you talk a little more about that world – what it was like to study at RISD and what your biggest influences were?

Lindsay Degen: The craft of knitting has definitely expanded in a huge way to be practiced by tons of younger people- not just old ladies. I think this phenomenon is similar to yoga in the way its hype has spread. I don't think I was really aware of the "trend" until I graduated from college. At RISD I studied knitting in a fine art context. I was one of 2 or 3 people who really just focused in knitting. At school and still today I draw influence from body stuff. I am interested in making fashion art pieces that allow the audience to embrace and even laugh at body parts, functions, and shapes. Hopefully my work makes people feel more comfortable talking about it.

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: Where do you find inspiration for your designs now?

LD: Again the body is a huge inspiration to me but also color and texture is important in my "design" or rather, making process.

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: How have you found the reaction to your collections? LD: Surprisingly my collections have been well received so far. Some people think my work is too crafty but that may be because they are used to looking at collections that are made by people operating hi tech machines elsewhere. There are not many hand made collections at fashion week.

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: What has been a really memorable stand-out moment since DEGEN started becoming so successful?

LD: The most memorable moments have been: my first shoe order from Solestruck, my WWD cover, working with Todd Selby and really being able to collaborate with some amazing designers, and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (which is actually today) but will air on TV December 10th. [DEGEN's directional, playfully cool knitted pieces were on display at the Victoria's Secret Pink show - see more here: http://www.style.com/stylefile/2013/11/degen-victorias-secret-weapon/]

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: Where do you hope to see DEGEN go in the future?

LD: I hope DEGEN continues to be a creative counter voice to the mainstream, consumer culture- based shows in NY. I hope babyDEGEN hits babies all over the world.

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: How would you describe your personal style?

LD: I think first and foremost- comfortable. I love a great sweater, some Levi's and Docs.

Fall/Winter 2013 (image via DEGEN-NYC.com)

SOF: A question we always ask on the blog: what is the last thing you bought?

LD: I just moved into a new apartment so I am on a home good kick- last thing I bought was this mug thats really awesome with a yellow rubber dipped handle.

Handbags and Hugs,

Astor

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Our Story

We are Sutton and Astor Van Brigsby. We were born and raised on Park Avenue, a mere hop, skip and 30-second ride with our driver, Morton, from Fifth Avenue. Oh, yes, there was a time when our daily shopping trips were what chick-flick montages were made of – sales assistants scurried at our beck and call, we did lots of twirling in front of fitting room mirrors without spilling our glasses of champagne, and doormen helped Morton help us into the car with stacks of hatboxes – which had shopping bags of clothing and shoes inside of them, because we’re not really into hats. But our designer RTW-filled reality came crashing to a traumatizing end when our father went ballistic one day – WHY we do not know – and cut up our credit cards. Apparently, it bothered him that we had spent his secretary’s annual salary in one trip to Bergdorf. He completely cut us off, I mean stone cold. With the exception of health insurance, cell phone bills, cable and electricity, we are COMPLETELY on our own. Left to our own devices to stay as well dressed as before but on a salary that doesn’t even compare to our past allowance. So, I, Astor, took a job in fashion and Sutton took a job in beauty. It is all we know and love, after all, and we figured that way we would have our bases covered with discounts – what else is a girl to do? If you’re like us, trying to keep a closet stocked with the kind of stuff Bill Cunningham will notice you in on a less-than-desirable salary, join us, won’t you? We’ll support each other, we’ll have cry fests over things we can’t have – and we’ll come up with ways to make the number of those things less and less by hunting sample sales, scouring the internet for discounts and even DIYing up our own versions. We WILL get through this together.