When best friends, Gela Nash-Taylor and Pamela Skaist-Levy, started their own fashion label with just $200, no-one could have predicted what came next. As their vision grew, so did the fashion phenomenon that is Juicy Couture.
In 1999, it moved into sportswear, with velour tracksuits. Juicy Couture then created a kids’ line, swimwear and accessories line.
To celebrate our one year mark of alexandalexa.com carrying the brand’s kidswear collection, our P.R star, Anna Reid, caught up with co-founder and creative director, Gela Nash-Taylor to find out how she became such a fashionable mum, what having a Barbie doll double means to her.
With ageless looks and an inimitable spirit, Gela Nash-Taylor is enviable to say the least. Gela and her husband, Duran Duran bassist John Taylor, split their time between sunny Pacoima, California and a beautiful old country estate in Wiltshire, England.
ANNA: Together you and Pamela have achieved worldwide success, what advice would you give to the younger generation in order to achieve their goals?
GELA: You have to have an inherent love and passion for what you do. We infuse everything with a massive dose of humour. Follow your heart and let yourself be inspired.
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ANNA: A lot of our readers are fashion-focussed mums. What is your stylish mum motto, how do you think we should be dressing our kids?
GELA: Fashion is the most obvious form of self-expression. I dressed both my children in vintage rosebowl finds – Zoe was a Victorian doll or a depression era dust bowl girl… or a girl from the Russian revolution, Travis my son was pure nirvana grunge… always allowing them to have fun and indulge their ever changing style moments, which are a reflection of their personalities and their creativity.
Now all grown up, Gela's daughter Zoe, Gela and Karla Otto from Juicy Couture's Fashion Night Out last year
ANNA: With the success of your new vintage-inspired label, Bird, do you think there is demand for ‘Little Bird’, i.e. for kids?
GELA: Baby bird …so heavenly
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ANNA: Have you encouraged your children to pursue creative careers?
GELA: Yes , absolutely. One is a writer, one a visual artist and another a burgeoning designer… and all are fashion obsessed!
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ANNA: Will there ever be a juicy boys range? What would that be like?
GELA: We have newborn to 9 months inspired by LA surf and English rock
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ANNA: How did you feel about being made in to real Barbie dolls?
GELA: I grew up with Barbies. It is the most iconic doll; we were beyond excited about being Barbies…as were our dogs!
Gila & Pamela's Juicy Couture Barbies
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ANNA: Do you ever tire of the glitz and glamour?
GELA: Never …”live for glamour” is our motto, which is creative and ever changing and always infused with a sense of humour.
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ANNA: What did you both want to be when you grew up?
GELA: I wanted to be an actress. I have always been an over the top clothes fanatic – I have the perfect job!
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ANNA: What would your dream world be like?
GELA: I live in my dream world. I work with my best friend ever day and I love what I do. I think we have made it possible for a lot of young designers to fulfil their dreams too.
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ANNA: Finally, what is your most coveted kid’s piece from the Juicy range?
GELA: The juicy couture tracksuit of course!
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To celebrate our one year anniversary with Juicy Couture, we are offering 10% off your next Juicy Couture puchase until Monday, October 5, 2010. Just enter TLWJUICY during the checkout process!
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