We had the pleasure of speaking to the lovely Pricilla Barroso founder of Crowned Bird! Check out our interview as Pricilla discusses the highs, the lows, and the Jacket that jump started it all.
“Fashion & Design, It’s obviously like second nature to you. When was it that you said, this is what I love, this is what I want to do with my life? ”
“You know it was such a random thing. I could say that oh, my grandmother was a seamstress and she owned a tailor shop in Brooklyn. I could say all that, and it is true, but I feel some things are inherited. I have this tailoring in me that’s just natural. I was going to go to school become a plastic surgeon and about halfway through high school decided to really just go for it! I didn’t even know what for I just wanted to design. I went to San Francisco to study industrial design and it just wasn’t inspiring me. I went with a friend to go visit the FIDM campus and was just blown away! The hallways were lined up with glass displays with old Chanel dresses. Amazing things that I feel are tangible and inspiring. I felt so inspired from that one trip and I ended up applying and receiving a scholarship.”
We’ve read your bio and done some research on your company Crowned Bird. Tell us more in depth about Crowned Bird and a Crowned Bird girl-woman?
“It’s such a personal brand, you know? It really goes back to my past, my childhood… It’s really taking a chance putting something that personal out to the world. I definitely didn’t design to be on trend or with the masses or anything like that. I just did it because like, I felt like I had to, you know? It’s whimsy contemorary for the everyday, but not for the everyday girl. It’s not for everybody and I don’t want it to be *laughter*. It doesn’t need to be and thats what makes it special.”
I kind of flippedout when I heard this spoiler: “My next venture is going to be back into menswear.” Pricilla’s potential for menswear gives us hope for men everywhere!
The Jacket
“My boyfriend and I were going on a dinner date or something like that, or he was picking me up from school and I asked him to bring me a jacket because it was getting cold. He had walked into that tailor shop to get me a jacket. He came up to the school with this big expensive jacket. He told me if I wanted to make my own that I could exchange it and do that! I was like I CAN DESIGN MY OWN JACKET? We actually just went back immediately and I exchanged it and within 5 minutes I sketched out the back that I wanted, and the front, I’ll take this, I love the plaid… Literally within 10 minutes we were in and out and I had my own jacket. So four months later I went back to pick it up and he had already duplicated it and called it ‘The Pricilla Coat’ and had it on the racks to sell. Then he just hired me on the spot.”
At this point I’m incredibly inspired! Who knew a slight chill could domino into such perfect opportunity. But needless to say if ever the moment to discover a true craft, that was it! No, it gets even better check this out:
What inspires your personal style, you as Pricilla? Who inspires you maybe even sonically are there any artists that may inspire you personal look?
“I like to say if Audrey Hepburn and Zooey Deschanel had a style child it would be that pretty much sums me up. If I could mold those eras and add the new sense of modern course to it, I’d love that.”
Following this we carry on about Zooey Deschanel insanely adorable style and there is much laughter!
“Travel inspired me more than anything and color. I usually design in silence, no music. I don’t like to even follow other designers because I feel like I can start to get caught up in other people’s ideas. You can be easily influenced as an art form, I mean if you want something completely original you kind of have to isolate yourself a little from the masses.”
What can we expect from you soon, by the end of the year or maybe this time next year?
“I do have some things I’ll be filming and working with on the side. It’s a different type of show I’m working on I can’t really talk too much about it, really exciting. I’m opening up a store; I was looking at storefronts in Williamsburg and Green point so I will be relocating the brand to NY! Being able to sell worldwide online is very exciting lots of things are happing really soon!”
“It’s so incredible to know that this is all going to happen. Not even knowing how or when but you know why and you know that it is, you know?”
For those of us that just can’t get enough Crowned Bird, Where can we follow you?
“You can follow me on instagram @CrownedBird. It is the one form of social media I personally manage. Also you can check out the shop at CrownedBird.com!”
Incredible! Thanks readers and the biggest thank you to Pricilla for allowing us to pick your brain, so fun! Please check out more Crowned Bird and continue reading Sonic Eclectic weekly!