Creativity her world

A young fashion designer, Isabella Rose Taylor, talks about her profession and studies

March 04, 2015 05:31 pm | Updated 05:31 pm IST

Fashion designer, Isabella Rose Taylor

Fashion designer, Isabella Rose Taylor

A teenybopper who thinks beyond her age, Isabella Rose Taylor has established herself as a full-fledged designer in the United States. Never mind that this American is only 13 –– an age when her contemporaries are either busy playing computer and video games or pursuing other activities as per their age. She on the contrary is a second year college student and makes funky outfits for teenagers. She insists that she achieved all this on her own terms and as part of natural progression on her part.

Isabella, who was in the Capital recently to deliver a lecture, TEDxJanpath, at the American Center, is open to the idea of collaborating with an Indian designer. “I met Tarun Tahiliani at his office at Chhattarpur. Though nothing concrete has materialised so far, I hope to be working with him in future projects.”

At the outset of the interview, Isabella makes it clear that it has not been an easy ride for her. She slogged to make a career out of designing. “The steady progression in career was due to the fact that I started drawing when I was only three.”

Instead of discouraging her like most parents do for the fear that art may not be a lucrative career, her parents, both doctors, “fully backed her to express creativity in any form. Initially, it was drawing and then it was designing.”

Corroborating this, Caesar, her father says, “When Isabella started drawing on canvas both Sherry, my wife and I, would be around her. We took time from our busy schedules to make Isabella feel that we support her in every endeavour; every form of creativity. We supported her dream and it hard work which has brought her all the name and fame. It was her flair and passion for drawing which has made her a designer.”

“I was just eight when I became a designer. What started as a hobby soon became a profession. Instead of attending an institute of fashion, I would access information from a number of sources. Soon I got noticed and would be stopped on the streets. I made use of technology by making dresses online.

My business acumen skills have improved ever since I became member of Dells Women’s Entrepreneur Network.”

Is it common in the U.S. to become a designer while in one’s teens?

“No; it is not common. But I was brought up in a different way. At an early age my parents instilled in me values, determination and ability to believe in myself.

They categorically told that once I set a goal I need to deliver. It has been a slow process; not an overnight one like some people think.”

Isabella acknowledges the fact that her privileged background has helped her and without the solid backing of her well-to-do parents, she could never have fulfil her dream.

“Many wannabe artists are not able to realise their potential because their parents are not well off. There are so children from marginalised families in the U.S. and India who do not have the financial back-up to pursue their hobby. I am fortunate to have been born in a wealthy family which gave me complete freedom to pursue creativity in any form.”

It was her first show at the Austin Fashion Week which acted as a catalyst.

“I presented the fall winter collection in 2012 at the Austin Fashion Week. Since then there has been no looking back.

What I specialise in are ready-to-wear T-shirts for teenagers like me. I make drawings both abstract as well as figurative which are then emblazoned on T-shirts. They are popular with teenagers.”

What about experimenting in handcrafted goods?

“Handcrafted T-shirts take a lot of time and would be very expensive in the U.S. We require to produce goods at a fast speed and all my dresses are machine made. From the price point, each dress should be affordable.”

Even though Isabella does not dabble in handicraft, she nevertheless appreciates and acknowledges the work of Indian craftsperson who produce such “wide array of fabulous work.”

Like India’s Tathagat Tulsi, who completed M.Sc. while he was only 12, Isabella has also completed high school and is now in her second year of college.

“I am doing a course in fine arts from the Austin Community College.”

Surely, her journey from obscurity to stardom hasn’t been a cakewalk. There have been pitfalls but she has taken them in her stride.

“Initially, I got negative feedback. It was harsh for someone who was trying to make her presence felt in the field of fashion.

But I kept going not allowing my motivation to come down.”

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