(From left) AMY SARABI, 24, winner of the 2007 GenArts' Fresh Faces in Fashion contest, and the only US designer to receive the 2008 international Duperré Award from the SF-based Arts of Fashion Foundation; YALING HOU, 31, textile designer and founder of the home- and fashion-accessories line Flowie; MARIE POTESTA, 33, knitwear designer, winner of the 2006 CFDA scholarship and winner of GenArts' 10th Anniversary Styles 2008 Avant-Garde Award in May; DUANE LUCAS-HARPER, 30, sculptor, furniture designer, fine-art photographer and inventor of a new interactive fine-art digital-printing method. Shot on location in Foster City by Keeney + Law.
AMY SARABI traveled to Paris to study at the Duperré School of Applied Arts last summer, but she's not fleeing SF any time soon. The CCA graduate, who's making waves in international circles for her debut collection of avant-garde, mushroom-inspired pieces, has been working on her next collection, this time inspired by the pinecone. What's the best compliment she's received? "When people are puzzled at how something could be created," says Sarabi, who, as her day job, designs menswear at Old Navy. "I take a lot of pride in the construction of my garments, so I appreciate it when's someone's like, 'How did she make that? I don't understand.'"
Since YALING HOU graduated from the Academy of Art University's BFA textile-design program, the Taiwan native hasn't wasted a minute launching her own line of floral tabletop accessories, bags, pillows and fabrics, which is sold online and in stores across the country. Of the patterns she's designed in her signature relaxed-California aesthetic, her favorite has sentimental value. "I love my wedding bouquet pattern," says Hou, who's now working on a new collection of Flowie women's apparel. "I had three weddings! My husband is Japanese, so I had a wedding in Japan, one here in City Hall and one in Taiwan."
Unlike most young designers who are just starting out, MARIE POTESTA had the rare chance in 2007 to show her debut collection of black-and-white op-art knitwear at NYC's Fashion Week, where she had a taste of the behind-the-scenes pressure. "I opened my garment bag, and a zipper had gotten pulled on one of the trims," Potesta recalls. "I thought 'Oh my gosh, I'm going to unravel this entire sweater and she's going to be wearing a piece of lint on the runway.' But it all turned out OK." It certainly did: Her designs have already appeared in the pages of Women's Wear Daily, and Potesta is in the midst of producing a new line here in SF.
SF has long held its position as a birthplace for innovative design—and for good reason. Just ask DUANE LUCAS-HARPER, who finds inspiration for his one-of-a-kind utilitarian metal sculptures in the angles of new buildings being constructed: "I love walking the neighborhoods and seeing the steel, concrete and metalwork going up in SoMa and on Market," says Lucas-Harper, "There are things I notice about buildings that are there purely for aesthetics, which I really appreciate." Others appreciate his aesthetic as well—his fine-art photography hangs in the living rooms of biotech CEOs and his sculptures grace the lobbies of local companies.
Web Exclusive, Yaling Hou:
What is your favorite design store in San Francisco?
I love Fillmore Street. When the weather's nice, the whole street is so pretty. I used to go there a lot when I lived near there. The original Zinc Details is great for design. They have a lot of local designers and feature artists' drawings on the walls that they're always changing.
What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I like watching Law & Order a lot—all the different versions. It's my favorite show and it's always on reruns. I also like action comic movies like Spider-Man and X-Men. I also know how and enjoy doing all the coding and programming for my website.
What is your favorite print from your line?
The Jenny print. It's one flower from a photo of a daisy I took. This flower started the whole business. ... I named it after my friend Jenny from Indonesia who I met at the Academy of Art. Before she left the country, I made her a handbag as a gift and she was the first person to say, "Maybe you can make a living doing this!"
(On Sarabi): Marc by Marc Jacobs black-wool bubble dress (338) at Marc by Marc Jacobs, 415,447-9322. (On Hou): Anuschka Hoevener white blouse ($427) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Hussein Chalayan skort ($300) at Harputs Market. Anuschka Hoevener knit belt ($383) at Harputs Market. stockings and ring, stylist's own. (On Potesta): Ann-Sofie Back black dress ($547) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Stockings, model's own. (On Lucas-Harper): Comme des Garçons black button-down shirt ($345) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Maison Martin Margiela belt ($345) at Harputs Market. Jeans, model's own.
More 2008 Hot 20 Under 40 Picks
(From left) AMY SARABI, 24, winner of the 2007 GenArts' Fresh Faces in Fashion contest, and the only US designer to receive the 2008 international Duperré Award from the SF-based Arts of Fashion Foundation; YALING HOU, 31, textile designer and founder of the home- and fashion-accessories line Flowie; MARIE POTESTA, 33, knitwear designer, winner of the 2006 CFDA scholarship and winner of GenArts' 10th Anniversary Styles 2008 Avant-Garde Award in May; DUANE LUCAS-HARPER, 30, sculptor, furniture designer, fine-art photographer and inventor of a new interactive fine-art digital-printing method. Shot on location in Foster City by Keeney + Law.
AMY SARABI traveled to Paris to study at the Duperré School of Applied Arts last summer, but she's not fleeing SF any time soon. The CCA graduate, who's making waves in international circles for her debut collection of avant-garde, mushroom-inspired pieces, has been working on her next collection, this time inspired by the pinecone. What's the best compliment she's received? "When people are puzzled at how something could be created," says Sarabi, who, as her day job, designs menswear at Old Navy. "I take a lot of pride in the construction of my garments, so I appreciate it when's someone's like, 'How did she make that? I don't understand.'"
Since YALING HOU graduated from the Academy of Art University's BFA textile-design program, the Taiwan native hasn't wasted a minute launching her own line of floral tabletop accessories, bags, pillows and fabrics, which is sold online and in stores across the country. Of the patterns she's designed in her signature relaxed-California aesthetic, her favorite has sentimental value. "I love my wedding bouquet pattern," says Hou, who's now working on a new collection of Flowie women's apparel. "I had three weddings! My husband is Japanese, so I had a wedding in Japan, one here in City Hall and one in Taiwan."
Unlike most young designers who are just starting out, MARIE POTESTA had the rare chance in 2007 to show her debut collection of black-and-white op-art knitwear at NYC's Fashion Week, where she had a taste of the behind-the-scenes pressure. "I opened my garment bag, and a zipper had gotten pulled on one of the trims," Potesta recalls. "I thought 'Oh my gosh, I'm going to unravel this entire sweater and she's going to be wearing a piece of lint on the runway.' But it all turned out OK." It certainly did: Her designs have already appeared in the pages of Women's Wear Daily, and Potesta is in the midst of producing a new line here in SF.
SF has long held its position as a birthplace for innovative design—and for good reason. Just ask DUANE LUCAS-HARPER, who finds inspiration for his one-of-a-kind utilitarian metal sculptures in the angles of new buildings being constructed: "I love walking the neighborhoods and seeing the steel, concrete and metalwork going up in SoMa and on Market," says Lucas-Harper, "There are things I notice about buildings that are there purely for aesthetics, which I really appreciate." Others appreciate his aesthetic as well—his fine-art photography hangs in the living rooms of biotech CEOs and his sculptures grace the lobbies of local companies.
Web Exclusive, Yaling Hou:
What is your favorite design store in San Francisco?
I love Fillmore Street. When the weather's nice, the whole street is so pretty. I used to go there a lot when I lived near there. The original Zinc Details is great for design. They have a lot of local designers and feature artists' drawings on the walls that they're always changing.
What is something most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I like watching Law & Order a lot—all the different versions. It's my favorite show and it's always on reruns. I also like action comic movies like Spider-Man and X-Men. I also know how and enjoy doing all the coding and programming for my website.
What is your favorite print from your line?
The Jenny print. It's one flower from a photo of a daisy I took. This flower started the whole business. ... I named it after my friend Jenny from Indonesia who I met at the Academy of Art. Before she left the country, I made her a handbag as a gift and she was the first person to say, "Maybe you can make a living doing this!"
(On Sarabi): Marc by Marc Jacobs black-wool bubble dress (338) at Marc by Marc Jacobs, 415,447-9322. (On Hou): Anuschka Hoevener white blouse ($427) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Hussein Chalayan skort ($300) at Harputs Market. Anuschka Hoevener knit belt ($383) at Harputs Market. stockings and ring, stylist's own. (On Potesta): Ann-Sofie Back black dress ($547) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Stockings, model's own. (On Lucas-Harper): Comme des Garçons black button-down shirt ($345) at Harputs Market, 415-923-9300. Maison Martin Margiela belt ($345) at Harputs Market. Jeans, model's own.
More 2008 Hot 20 Under 40 Picks
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