Fashion and music thrive in the Twin Cities. MN Fashion brings the two scenes together for Voltage: Fashion Amplified, a runway show featuring the cities’ best designers and musicians.
In its eighth installment, Voltage offers a fresh twist on the traditional runway show. Local bands provide the musical setting as models strut their stuff wearing the latest fashions from local designers.
This year’s show features fashion from the womens clothing line, Idle Child. Sisters Becky and Ellie Neimeyer, the Idle Child duo, create clothing inspired by the musicians they love.
The Neimeyers open up with Modern Midwest about the line of clothing they are featuring at Voltage and share the musical playlist that inspires their bohemian designs.
“We get an idea and put all of our energy into one garment at a time.”Becky and Ellie Neimeyer of Idle Child
Where do you find your inspiration for your work?
Our current collection, Gypsy Moon, was inspired by the women behind the music we love, such as Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin and Lana Del Rey. We don’t go into this knowing what the complete collection will look like. We get an idea and put all of our energy into one garment at a time. From the initial sketch to fabric store visits, patterning, and final fitting, each garment is a very organic process. We’re always working with music on… we have multiple Pandora stations in heavy rotation.
Fairy Romper by Idle Child. Photographed by Kimberly Musteen at Lake of the Isles
Who are a few of your favorite local fashion designers?
We loved Tim and Thom’s winter line that they showed during fashion week in February — great vision and styling. We also love the way Emma Berg translates art into her clothing.
What are you most looking forward to at Fashion Amplified?
We’re excited about so many aspects of Voltage! Showing at First Avenue, live music combined with a runway show, and all the incredible designers showing. Being so new to the scene here we feel like a garage band opening for Led Zeppelin.
Sketches from Idle Child’s current Gypsy Moon collection. Photo courtesy of Idle Child
Working with MNfashion for this event and seeing their vision for the future of Minnesota fashion has given us reason to stay up late, work after work and invest money in the collection we are creating. It makes it worthwhile knowing that an organization believes in what you are doing.
Photoshoot for Idle Child at Hymie’s with Lissa from the band, ON AN ON. Photo by Ellie Niemeyer
Idle Child’s Playlist
Get inspired for your own projects. Here’s a sampling of 10 songs that Ellie and Becky listen to while creating their fashion line.
Listen to Idle Child’s playlist
1) Going To California – Led Zeppelin
2) On Your Side – Icarus Himself
3) Remember Our Heart – Alexander Ebert
4) Little Wing – Jimi Hendrix
5) Summertime Sadness – Lana Del Rey
6) Headlights – Night Moves
7) Mind Mischief – Tame Impala
8) Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
9) Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
10) Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Photo-shoot for Idle Child at Hymie’s with Lissa from the band, ON AN ON. Photo by Ellie Niemeyer
Idle Child
idlechild.us
Voltage: Fashion Amplified
MN Fashion
Saturday, June 8, 2013, 7 p.m.
First Avenue